Racism is definitely the one -ism that I can relate to on so many different levels. There are consequences that families and children may experience from the results of racism that I am faced with on a daily basis.
I have never understood the reasoning behind some individuals that do not want their children around "those" people. "Those" people not verbally referred to as African Americans, but those people visually referred to as African Americans. As a Campus Director of a facility that is located in a corporate business park, I am exposed to racism on a weekly basis. It appears as if some families are surprised to see that an African American woman manages my facility. The proof?? As some of these perspective families proceed to tour my facility, they always tend to walk past me searching for "my director". I consistently am asked, "Is your director here?" It is so satisfying to see the facial expressions and body language when I make the announcement that I am the Campus Director.
I sometimes find myself on the defense now when perspective parents come in to tour my building. I have found myself being very self-conscious and careful when I am speaking with these families. I find myself carefully choosing my words and even evaluating the way I articulate my words, so I don't sound ignorant. I honestly feel that there have been some families that did not enroll in my facility due to the color of my skin. I have even been told by the HR department that maybe I am not experiencing racism to the point that I think I am. I have explained to our HR manager who happens to be Caucasian, that she will never experience the things that I experience because we are from two different worlds. I can sense when someone does not want to shake my hand in fear that my skin color is contagious. I can sense the anxieties that surface once these families learn that the fate of their child's early childhood education lies in the hands of an African American.
I will continue to provide our children with the ultimate early childhood experience. I have concluded that the individuals who judge and percieve color is a factor that determines success, I will show them that it comes from the heart and soul. Either you have it or you don't, point blank. The stereotypes remain a product of ignorance, and I will not succumb to anyone's ignorance.
Hi Theresa, thank you for sharing your story with us. I admire the resilience and inner strength you show ignorance. Stereotypes are a product of ignorance. It is so sad when people judge on outward appearances whether skin color, hair color, accents, dress ... these things do not determine who we are nor our competence. You keep being the wonderful person you are - all heart and all soul.
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ReplyDeleteYour observation between people being verbal and using visible cues is incredible. I never really thought of this idea until now. I can reflect back on many of times when I heard people say "those people" and they meant others of a different religion, race, culture, or individuals that had a disability. Your story was touching and heartwarming. You are different but not for the reasons in your story, it is because you are you.
I applaud you! Knowledge is the key to erase ignorance. What people don’t know tends to scare them and when they are frightened they are on the defense. This is why teaching is a calling, it’s not the pay. And becoming an Early Educator is more challenging because we not only need to teach our young students’, but we need to help their families with gaining knowledge and helping them change. We need to be “Super Teachers”, not just “Super heroes”. Vygotsky believed learning first takes place through interactions between people (Smidt, 2006).
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