Competent Communication

For this week's blog assignment had me to think long and hard about someone who has competent communication skills. I have met many people in my life that demonstrates positive and effective communication, but competent; where the person is clear from beginning to end is quite hard. But because we are able to use a politician for an example, I would have to say President Obama. He's has a tendency to speak very well and keep me engaged as to what he has to say next, that’s how effective his communication skills are and should be.

President Obama is someone I would like to model my own personal communication behavior after of, reason being; if I can catch an audience attention and keep them focus for a long period of time and their just as engaged at the end of my speak as they were at the beginning than I know that my communication skills is effective.

Interdependence is what I set forth when communicating with others.

Interdependence means that what we do affects others and what others do affects us (O’Hair, Wiemann, 2009 p.6). We have to build our lives around affective communicators and implement that from ourselves to others as well.

       Resource

        

        

       O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2009). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

        

Chapter 1, “Communication: Essential Human Behavior” (p. 26)

Professional Hopes and Dreams

One hope that I have when I think about working with diverse children and families is forever be compassionate to their needs. Always making sure I represent a diverse classroom at all times; so that children’s cultural are welcomed and embraced.

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is doing my part to introduce children to a nonbiased classroom and teach them the importance of love, respect, kindness and empathy for others.   

To all my fellow colleagues, it has really been a pleasure reading your blogs and corresponding to one another discussion questions. I have learned from you and most of you all have inspired me during this course. It’s even clearer to me as to why my passion is so eager to grow during this educational journey. It is colleagues like you that challenge and encourage me to pursue my career in early childhood education. I wish each one of you nothing but the best during your journey at Walden and in your career.

                       

Best Regards

Carrie Bell

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The name of “your” family’s country of origin

The name of my family country origin would be "Mexico"

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family

1. I would first make sure I learn as much as I can about their cultural.

2. Understanding the cultural values of this country, so that I would be prepared and equipped to help met the needs of the families I come in contact with.

3.  It would be imperative to making sure I’m bias free towards anything that may not be the norm for me.

4.  Demonstrate to children and their families that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to implement fairness and equality.

5. Just making sure, that I make myself available to the families at all times.

  

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family

These preparations will benefit my career as early childhood educator in learning how to work with children of Hispanic cultural backgrounds. And hopefully the cultural group that I come in contact with will learn from me; the benefits of being equal and presenting justice.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

I can remember like it was yesterday, my daughter’s was joining Girl Scouts for the first time. She was about ten years old and she was so excited about starting Girl Scouts. The meeting took place in Hopkins, MN at a community center. My daughter and I walked in the room and you would have thought we were the president of the U.S., the room became completely silent. It was no warm welcomes or hello, how are you doing? My child looked at me and said, “Mom is we in the right room?” I was just speechless, because of the rudeness we encountered from all of the adults present. Not one parent came up to use, nor did they speak even after I said hello. It was like my child and I did not even exist to them. I have experience quite of few episodes of biasness, prejudice and some form of oppressions, but never did I think my child would be subjected to this type of treatment at her age. We were the only people of color in the room, maybe out of ten to fifteen Mothers and daughters. I could sense my child was not comfortable; therefore, I excused us out of that environment. That incident was very disturbing not only to me, but my child. She had to endure such negative behavior from these women, and their children. I actually feel sorry for the children; for the parents are setting them up for self-destruction. Any time a child is being raised to see race before the person, than they are headed for a rude awakening in life.

     

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

These women surely showed the true definition of biasness, prejudice and oppression by their actions. I guess by making me and my child feel uncomfortable was their way of showing us that we was not welcome. And what makes this incident so terribly sad; this was a “Girl Scout” meeting. Girl Scouts of America do not, under any circumstances tolerate racial discrimination or any form for that matter. The message that these parents are sending to their children that do not share the same cultural background as themselves, is to treat other’s indifferent, which in the long run will come back to haunt them; for one day these girls will be adults in life and will have to work with and around people of other cultural backgrounds, and my question is, “What will they do then?”  

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

As I have stated before, I have been subjected to biasness, prejudice, and even oppression at some point in time in my life, but for my daughter to have had to endure such a negative incident as such was quite devastating. I know that I can’t save my child from situations such as that one, but being it was a Girl Scout meeting really showed the beliefs of what certain people value, and compassion, and character was not one of them.

 

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

With this particular incident taking place, I end up contacting Girl Scouts of America local office, and they were very apologetic for what had happen. They sent my daughter and me three free tickets to Valley fair, a loco fair in MN. The representative also gave me information to other location in the area for my child to join. She did explain that she would contact the Girl Scout leader over that area to resolve this issue. As she explained, it is the responsibility of the Girl Scout Leader’s to make each girl feel welcome. Hopefully, after this incident something positive came out of it for the next girl and her family of African American race. 

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

This week topic in regards to racism microaggression can be elaborated in regards to many examples that happen every day in America.

I moved back to the South after living in Minnesota for over nineteen years; did I experience racial microaggression, sure I did, more frequent than others. But it wasn’t until my children and I move to the South when my son experienced it for the first time, and it was so very obvious.

We moved to these apartments in a low income neighborhood, because it was what I could afford at the time. My son was twenty-one years old and had never been in trouble before as a child, teen or young adult. I think the most he had ever done in high school was being caught in the hall without a hall pass; outside of that he was a good kid. He happened to be waiting on a friend that he meet through me job to go sight seeing Tennessee, because he was new to the area. As he waited on her, a Southaven, MS policeman drove by and got out his car to ask my son, “why was he just sitting outside?” and my son replied “I’m waiting on a ride.” He told my son to stand up so that he could check him for weapons, and my son was like what! By this time I could hear the commotion; so by now I’m walking outside to see what was happening. And he told me to step back, I explained that he was addressing my son, and I needed to know what this was about. This man tells me that there was a shooting two blocks over about a week ago and he was just riding by and happen to see my son sitting there, so he took it upon himself to see who my son was. If this was not racial profiling, please tell me what is? I explained to the officer that I have a two year degree in Criminal Justice, and I know my rights. He seemed to have backed off a bit after me saying that. But one thing I have learned about police officer’s, they profile victims are mainly people who live in poverty areas, and minorities. You never see police ride out in the upscale suburbs and harass those people unless they are called out there.

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people

Now that there is an educated name for the forms of discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes, I have gained a much broader perspective in regards to microaggression. I have always tried to live by the notion to treat people accordingly to the way I want to be treated. I try not to judge nor place stigmas on people race, cultural or religion. The statement Dr. Sue made in terms of unintentional microaggression in regards to race can be unintended to be hurtful, but the person receiving the message could be an insulted (Education Inc., 2010).This teaching has help me become mindful and more aware as to how I will address people of other cultural groups on my job or just in every day converstions.

Reference:

  Course Media: "Microaggressions in Everyday Life" (approximate length: 27 minutes)
In this program, Dr. Derald Wing Sue presents a lecture about the concept of microaggression in everyday life

Perspective on diversity and Culture

Their definition of culture

Their definition of diversity

*My Mother definition of culture is what we appreciate and value.

My Mother definition of diversity is being different.

*My friend Bethany is Caucasian and she lives in Minnesota, her definition of culture is what we are raised to believe or accustom to.

My friend Bethany definition of diversity means to her is accepting other’s for who they are.

*My Auntie Rosie was raised as a Catholic, and she feels that culture is defined as acceptance of what we value and believe in.

My Auntie definition of diversity is understanding that we are different people, who have various beliefs.

Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples? My reflection of the answers pertaining to culture and diversity that I have studied that’s included in the above answers would be each person elaborated on what their beliefs and values were in regards to culture and diversity in similar ways.

Examples are the values and beliefs that certain cultural group holds; such as acceptance, understanding our differences and beliefs we are accustom to.

Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

I don’t believe that there was anything my friends and family omitted, because each person was honest and straight forward about the questions being asked.     

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

I would have to say as individuals we all hold certain values, norms, and beliefs. This may come from how we were raised and what we were taught as children. We have the right to our on beliefs, I feel that it is important to be able to conversant, and listen to others in regards to their culture values and how they feel about diversity, because this helps us to understand why we are different and unique. And when this happens, you gain a better perspective of others.  

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

If my life took a turn for the worst and I experienced such catastrophic incident, the three most important items I would bring would be my bible, a family picture, and keep sake item of my dog Gracie.

1.    My bible is a book that I turn to in a time of refuge. It has rooted and grounded me into the person I am today. My faith and belief in Christ has given me the strength to do the impossible.

2.    Having a picture of family who was not able to come or may have lost connection during this incident would remind me of our time spent (Memories).

3.    Knowing that my dog Gracie wouldn’t be able to come, I would have to take a picture of her with me. I love my dog just as much as I love my children.

If I were told to give up the other two items upon arrival, as pain for it maybe, it would have to be the photos of my family who was left behind or I lost connection with and my bible. Some people may find it a bit strange for me to give up my bible. But I’m pretty familiar with most of the scriptures in the bible. I would have to keep the photo of my dog Gracie. I’m such an animal lover that I truly believe knowing that I couldn’t see my dog anymore would just be devastating to my heart.

My insights in regards to leaving this country to migrate to another country would be hard, but knowing that my family is with me would make the transition easier. I believe after a while becoming adapted to the lifestyle of this other country wouldn’t be so hard. Of course anything you are accustomed to and you have to give that up is always difficult.  What we practice in our country in regards to accepting other culture beliefs this would be our time to embrace those feelings