Competent Communication

Think of someone (family member, celebrity, or friend) who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context.  What behaviors does this person exhibit that make him or her effective?

The one person I could think of who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context would be my 5^th grade teacher, Mrs. Lewis.  She was an excellent teacher and also a great role model for me.  When I entered into junior high school, Mrs. Lewis made sure her class met their expectations.  Mrs. Lewis was more like a second mother to me and showed that nurturing and kind relationship towards her students.  She always carried the most beautiful smile and I was able to open up to her about many issues.

Over the years, as Mrs. Lewis and I became older, we also became closer.  I would sometimes go by her classroom after school and listen to some of the daily stories about her little ones.  She was the chief of her classroom and I admired her for that.  I can truly say that she played a part of where I’m at today and also assisted me to become a successful leader in life.  I am so thankful I was able to gain her trust; something I would pass on to my kids.

Would you want to model some of your own communication behaviors after this person? Why

I consider myself as an honest, amusing, and open; love to give advice, and a great listener.  I love to sat back and listen to other people problems and give my true reply.  I know you have to respect other individuals view points and sometimes we don’t be on the same page.  Mrs. Lewis was a magnificent woman that had her own ideas about what she expected out of a child.  That’s why it is so important to be a great listener and understand what a child is saying, once you grasp the situation, the individual will suddenly open up to you.  

                       Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds would be having the power set values and principles that recognize diversity and become aware of cultural bias. 

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to be a loving and compassionate educator for my children and their family.  I want to be able to increase their academic achievement and hope for high expectations for their future.

I would like to say this has been an overwhelming learning experience for me these pass seven weeks.  I have met some caring and considerate classmates who I have enjoyed throughout this course, through your posts and blogs.  I would like to thank my peers and Professor for all of their support in sharing their personal reflections and wish you all LUCK!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

                                        

     

The new child and family I’m going to be working with as a social service therapist is from the country of Tonga.  Even though I know nothing about this country, Tonga; I’m ready to prepare this family with five things that will help them be culturally responsive in their new environment.

1.   I would do some research and give the family information about local translators, medical care, and education in the area

2.   I would learn some basic words that the family use; such as Hello and How may I help you

3.   Learn some of their views about education, that will give me a better sense on how she was treated

4.   Show large labels in the classroom about Tonga’s cultures (food, pictures, people, costumes, and music) and talk about it

5.   Also, do research about their dominant culture, in reference to their race, religion, language, and family structure

I want to make this family feel welcome and hopefully the information will benefit me and the child about her background culture.   By helping me relate more to them on an individual basis, I also want to be a dedicated and supportive therapist they can rely on. Lastly, I want to give their child the best I can give in learning about a new culture.   

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

  

One very unpleasant memory I have is of an incident where I experienced bias, prejudice, and oppression on a hot day while living in the South.   On this particular day, my boyfriend, who is biracial, and I were walking together in a shopping mall, along with my son.  Two little old ladies were standing at the entrance talking and when we walked pass by, one said, “This is unbelievable, everyone should stay with their own color”. 

Without hesitating, we stopped in our tracks and confronted these ladies.  I wanted to know why she said, “I just think it’s just a shame and whites should stay with whites, and blacks should be with blacks”.  One then looked at my boyfriend and said, “You look white and should be with a white girl”.

My boyfriend said, “Well, my mom is black, but my dad is white, so now who should I be with?”  We walked away and left them standing there, with their mouths hanging open.  Although I looked calm, I was simmering on the inside, but I was glad I confronted these two black women.  People are still prejudice about color and their behaviors will change when they want it to change.  We may never be accepted by others, but then we don’t eat or sleep with them, nor do we depend on them. 

Race relations have really increased in this generation and it’s our country that needs to become more accepting of the different cultures.  Individuals that date outside their race still face challenges from bigoted individuals.  Racism exists and it really doesn’t matter where you live, although I have found racism in practiced more openly in the South, where in the North, it is hidden. 

It is my decision to date someone I fell in love with and he just happens to be biracial and together we can overcome any obstacles that come our way. After growing up and learning and knowing better, I have truly begin to accept the way people look at each other.  This is not going to leave and hopefully one day it will get better for future generations, who are more open-minded and tolerant.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

        Racial microaggressions create an unfriendly and invalidating environment for people of color saps their spiritual and psychic energies, and their cumulative nature can result in depression, frustration, anger, rage, loss of self esteem, anxiety, etc.  This microaggression can also occur nonverbally, and their message conveyed to persons of color is that their contribution is irrelevant.

        I, along with my son traveled to Washington DC some time ago for his internship, on a small airliner.  During this time, the plane was not full and there were plenty of empty seats.  One of the flight attendants, which were white, came over and told us we could sit anywhere because the plane was not going to be full.  So, me and my son decided to sit on the front row, we had more leg room and felt very comfortable for the both of us.  All of a sudden, the flight attendant stated if we could go a couple seats back and let a couple sit on the front row. 

        A course this couple was white and wore business type style clothing and appeared to me to look wealthy. We both looked at each other with a negative reaction and asked the question “Are we being singled out because we are black?”  I wish you could have seen the look on her face, with such a surprise.  I felt resentment and angry at the same time, because we felt like we was treated like second class citizens…mainly because of our skin color.  The flight attendant had a reason for every allegation I made towards her.  I was so mad at this lady, and wanted to tell her a piece of my mind; this really left a bad taste in my mouth.  Most white Americans see themselves as decent and good human beings some just possess a biased racial attitude and engage in discriminatory behaviors.

Perspective on Diversity and Culture

I spoke to two friends and one family member of various ages that was willing to share on providing their insight/ideas on how they think culture and diversity is defined. 

Fatima, my best friend stated that culture is your beliefs and values in which you were brought up in, such as your thoughts and beliefs.

Diversity is being able to understand that individuals has different backgrounds such as (religion, gender, and political choices)

Lindsay says that culture and diversity goes hand and hand, meaning when there are particular groups with different ways of living, such as their language, the way they dress, and the foods they eat.

Diversity is when we accept people living different and being able to accept their differences. 

My guy friend, Calvin stated that culture means people having different traditions and beliefs and he bases it on his experience as a gay guy in the society.

Diversity is the aspect that defines one culture from another, depends on where it originated from

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?  I believe every aspect of culture and diversity is included in my answers I received.  For instance, people with different sexual orientations, different lifestyles, and having are rejected by other people.

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

I believe deep culture have been omitted from these aspects.  Let’s not forget that we all have different social identities and this contribute to our culture and diversity.

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?  It makes me fully understand what culture and diversity really about and everyone thinks different when it comes to defining what culture and diversity is.  Talking to my friends, made me realize that everyone is aware of the different customs, foods and costumes in other countries.  I enjoyed reflecting on the differences that each individual gave, even if they were right or wrong.  It has been stated that ‘cultural is a unique topic to explore.’

My Family Culture

 

If a major catastrophe hit and completely devastated the infrastructure of my country and I was a survivor and had to move to a completely different country and might have to live there permanently.  The three small items that I would take with me that I hold dear and represent my family culture would be (exluding family/son): 

 

1.  All of my photo albums with pictures of my family and friends

2.  The Holy Bible that was given to me by my grandmother at an early age

3.  Supply of paper and pens to write down everything I did and saw throughout my journey

I would explain to others that these three items means a lot to me.  I love to take pictures and collect photos (old and new).  There are so many memories in a photo, pictures of my son, my family and also my close friends.  I don’t want to forget these memories and always keep them near my heart.

Taking my grandmother’s Holy Bible also means a great deal to me.  She gave me that Bible when I graduated from high school and I continue to read it and go by it.  This is where I get my strength and wisdom, from reading the Bible.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me

Philippians 4:13

I can’t lose staying in touch with my family and friends.  I will write down what I see and what I do on a daily basis, so when we do reunite, I will have an awesome story to tell.  I love to talk about different sights and people I met along the way.

Upon arrival and I have to give up two of my personal items and keep one, they would be the paper and pencils and the photo album. This will be so much pain in leaving behind my pictures of my family and friends.  I do know, the Holy Bible will continue to guide me and give me the strength that I most definitely need in times like these. 

I also did gain some insight about myself during this exercise, along with my family culture and cultural differences.  It really made me realize the importance of material things verse the importance of my family and friends.  Just the thought about moving to another country, away from my friends and family would break my heart.  This really makes me want to re-evaluate my priorities of what comes first in my life.  I don’t like to take things for granted, but some things you cannot change.

“We have the ability to achieve, if we master the necessary goodwill, a common global society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by the ethnic, national and local diversities that enrich our lives.”

Mahnaz Afkhami (Iranian-American Human rights activist; b. 1941)