Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

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.

Observing Communication

My observation took place in a Walmart store near where I live.  I watched a mother interact with her son that appeared to be about three years old.  The mother and her little boy were in the produce section of the store.  They passed the bananas and the little boy expressed that he wanted a banana.  The mother picked up a bunch of bananas and placed them in the grocery cart.  The little boy started to cry and the mother had a blank stare on her face.  The little boy then yelled that he wanted his banana right now.  The mother tried to explain to the son that the bananas needed to be weighed first and then he could have one after they paid the cashier.  The little boy continued to scream that he wanted the banana and the mother kept reinerating that they had to wait to pay the cashier first.  The little boy looked at his mother and said, "Now!".  The mother then picked the little boy up out of the grocery cart and exited the store.

I noticed that the mother used  a very patient soft tone in the beginning.  After her son kept screaming, I could tell that she was becoming unsure of what to do or say.  Her tone turned somewhat firm after her son continued to scream.  I learned that young children have no understanding of what it means to wait due to the fact that fruit needs to be weighed.  I feel that maybe the mother should have told the little boy that his screaming hurt her ears as well as the other people in the store.  I felt  like she did the appropriate thing by taking him out the store instead of allowing him to continue his temper tantrum.  The mother did not use a humiliating tone or mean tone.  She gently removed him from the grocery cart and carried him out the store.    She was very firm, but her son obviously just wanted his banana right then!

 I believe I would have probably handled the situation just as this mother did.  When dealing with two and young three year old children, it is imperative to understand that they do have the patience and understanding of older children.  My own son has the same issue when we go into the grocery store, therefore I have to pack snacks to take with us.  Needless to say, this was defintely a short observation!  

Creating Affirming Environments

As the owner of my own Family Child Care Home, I would incorporate many components in order to ensure that every child and family feel welcomed and respected in my early childhood setting.  An anti-bias rich environment is vital for chilldren to develop a strong and positive self concept and empathy for others through healthy intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

In my Family Child Care Home, I would have many anti-bias materials for the children to have direct assess to.  I will ensure that there are a variety of anti-bias, multi-cultural books, ranging from board books for Infants to Preschool children.  The books will focus around multi-cultural foods, traditions, and celebrations. There will be a variety of multi-cultural puzzles, pictures and posters.  The posters that will be placed on the wall will include all types of families ranging from  all races and ages, reflecting the family base in my facility.  

In my dramatic play area, I will have multi-cultural dolls of all races and genders.  I will also include dress up clothes from all cultures and families that are not stereotypical.  I feel that cultures should be respected but not stereotyped.  I would include music from all cultures such as classical, jazz, music sung in many languages.   I would also encourage families to share some of their cultural traditions with us in order to make strong home/school connections.  I would have a parent communication board posted in plan sight for parents for be informed of important upcoming events and information that they need to be aware of.  

Every child will have space for their personal belongings and also family connections will be evident in my facility.  A family connection board will consist of pictures that families bring in of all family members so the children can feel secure and there is a constant reminder of their family culture while the children are in my care. Personal space is also essential in children feeling comfortable.  I will ensure that there is plenty of soft material for a child to be able to go to if needed in order to sooth themselves if needed.   

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

What I Have Learned

One hope that I have when I think about working with young children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that I continue to make a difference in the lives of the families and children enrolled in my facility and within my community.  I hope that one day each and everyone of can put our differences aside and realize that we are all of the human race, regardless of our sexual orientation, color of our skin, socioeconomic status, and religious background. We all belong and deserve to be treated with equality.

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to continue to work towards Level 6 in surpassing my discomforts and biases. I plan to conduct my Parent's Night workshops on a quarterly, consistent basis to create unity within the early childhood field.  There needs to be a hand in hand partnership between parents and the early childhood professionals in order to ensure that we respect diversity, equity, and social justices of all people.  "The more passion you have about the need of for creating a world of justice and peace for children, the more you will be able to make it a priority in your work (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).  

I would like to thank all of my colleagues for sharing their knowledge and experiences with me!  This course has indeed caused each of us to dig deep into our inner souls and come to terms with our discomforts and biases.  I hope to experience more of your knowledge from the next course if we are together.  Good luck on your future endeavors!

References

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and

             ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young

             Children (NAEYC)

Diversity Is Me

Diversity Is Me

I am the one that does not look like you

I am the one that hurts like you when I’m feeling blue

I am the one that deserves a chance

To be respected and given the opportunity to advance

My skin tone, you ask? It was not my choice

But I was raised and taught by both of my parents to use my voice

Fried chicken, collard greens, red beans and rice

Sometimes I did not want my food, so I fed it to mice

My gender, my race, and my age should not be

 

A determining factor of being treated with equality

You say you don’t want to shake my hand because I am black

Did you get the memo? Being black is something you can not catch

Please do not exclude me because you think I don’t know

For knowledge is key and three degrees later it shows

The world will be a better place if everyone could just embrace and see

That diversity is a part of YOU and ME!

Author-Theresa Johnson

"We Don't Say Those Words In Class!"

There are many times that I have witnessed a child being reprimanded for pointing out someone they saw as different.  One incident that I recall involved myself and a little Caucasian girl that may have been no older than the age of three.

I worked at a Foot Locker store before I began my career in early childhood.  I was helping a customer try on shoes.  I vaguely heard a soft little voice say "What color are you?'  I turned around and there was this cute little blond baby with all signs of curiosity in her eyes.  She was so innocent and she could tell that I looked very different from her.  After the little girl asked me about my color, I did not respond because I was a little unsure of what to say, so the little girl proceeded to ask me again as she followed me around the store.

The little girl's father looked mortified! He kept apologizing to me and saying that he and his wife do not teach differences.  He told the little girl to tell me that she was sorry.  I told the father that I was not offended by any means and there was no need for an apology.  I explained to him that I was impressed by the fact that she was observant enough to notice that she and I were two different colors.  I did ask the father if it would be okay for me to answer her and he said absolutely.  I told her that I was black and gave her a hug!

As the little girl and her mom and dad proceeded to leave the store, the little girl kept turning around, smiling, and waving goodbye to me!

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

There are many different types of families that exist in the world that we live in today.  Many individuals have existing biases that enable them to be accepting of the changes that have transpired and the changes that lie ahead.

Those individuals that believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families need to be educated.  At my facility we do have an inclusion policy that is stated in our parent handbook. I would also tell those individuals that are a program that incorporates all types of family cultures and beliefs.  We serve ALL families and do not discriminate against anyone for any reason.  Literacy is an intricate part of our program and we provide books that revolve around various cultures, foods, race, and gender.  There are actually pictures in my current location that I purchased through Lakeshore that includes a family consisting of two mommies.

I have had a parent to voice her opinion in reference to a lesbian teacher that she did not want her children to interact with.  I told the parent that I respected her preference, but this caregiver was excellent and provided our children with exceptional care.  I told her that if her children were going to be enrolled in our program that this particular teacher would be their caregiver and she had an option of whether she wanted to stay enrolled or not.  I personally do not desire to have those types of parents in my school.  Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to be the best that they can be.