Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length) The one hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that I keep all my biases outside of the classroom. I would embrace their culture, make them feel accepted and most definitely respect any traditions they may have.

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length) The one goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to diversity, equity and social justice is that we as early childhood professionals continue advocating for children and their families. I would also like everyone to treat all children and their families equal and fair.

A brief note of thanks to your colleagues As I reflect back on the past eight weeks of this course, I want to thank my instructor and my fellow colleagues for the opportunity to not only learn but to grow professionally. The weekly discussions and blogs offered us the opportunity to share various childhood stories and experiences. It is very heartwarming to leave this course knowing that our love of children will allow us to accept their diverse cultures. I would like to leave you all with this last thought. The same way we all had someone “stand up for us” at one time in our childhood, or on our job. Let’s go forth and do the same for children and their families. Best of luck to everyone as we all continue on our academic journey.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The name of “your” family’s country of origin – I chose the country of Trinidad/Tobago as my family’s country of origin.

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family .I work at a high quality child care center. There is not much to do as I get ready to meet the new child and her parents from Trinidad/Tobago. My classroom is already set up to meet the needs of any child, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or what handicap they may have.my preparation will be to 1) ask some of her new classmates to work with her ( Bokey) and show her around the classroom .2)Bokey and her parents will meet the front office staff, the kitchen staff ,the custodial staff. This will let the parents know who the rest of the staff is. We will return to the classroom and 3) the parents will get a chance to see the playground area, where the children will be playing during outdoor play time. 4)The important thing is to let the parents feel comfortable  and welcome.5) I have to establish a relationship that is pleasant and warm. I want the parents to see that I have respect for them .their language, culture and way of living.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family The goal is for my co-workers and I to continue to foster healthy growth and development by offering the social ,emotional, cognitive and physical (gross and fine)skills to Bokey.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

     I recall my dad telling me about a movie called Imitation of Life. It was about a struggling young actress with a six-year-old daughter sets up housekeeping with a homeless black widow and her light-skinned eight-year-old daughter who rejects her mother by trying to pass for white. It starts Lana Turner, John Gavin, and Sandra Dee. I believe it was set in the 50’s when times were very hard for blacks. The daughter continues to deny her mother through her adulthood. She experienced prejudice when her boyfriend who was white realizes that she’s black and wants nothing more to do with her.  When she gets news that her mother is very ill and is near death, she returns home ,only it was too late. She is obviously devastated over the death; she drapes her body over her mom’s coffin as it lies on a horse drawn carriage in the street .Crying she is calling out to her mom, apologizing. Only it was too late.

     I believe when the young struggling actress and her daughter befriend the homeless black widow and her daughter, true equity was diminished. They did not discriminate because of the homeless widow and her daughter’s race or any other aspect of their identity. After watching this movie, I felt sorry for the daughter, especially after she rejects her mom so many times. And when she finally decides to accept her , not only is it too late, but sadly, her mother cannot tell her  how proud she is of her because she has finally come around to accepting who she is and where she came from. On her mother’s death bed, she accepted the fact that she was black, because that was her mother. She was living a privilege life, passing as the norm. She wanted opportunities that as a black child she would not have been able to get at that time, during the 1950’s.