Welcoming Families From Around the World

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

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

·          I would research more information on Jamaica just to make sure that I am clear about their values and        beliefs.

·          Have students to meet and greet the child with passion, while showing pictures from his/her country.

·          Allow child to bring any personal belongings that are allowed in the classroom environment; this will help    the child to relax.

·         Set up a conference meeting with family to learn more about the child.

·        The child will be allowed to choose activities that interest them the most; this will include playing games, reading and showing Literature of diversity.

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

Building relationship between professionals and families is essential for the well-being of young children. Getting to know the family and learning more about the child will show them the respect that they deserve. In order to get respect, we as professionals, will also have to give respect. The family will benefit from a safe, caring, sharing, and loving classroom environment filled with diversity. 

The Personal Side Bias

Back when I was doing home health service a friend, and I went to apply for a sitting job in a private home. When talking to the interviewer on the phone, I was told that two people were needed for the job, but after the interview only one person was hired. The young lady that was handling the interview was talking and only looking toward me. It was like my friend was not sitting there. The interviewer was disrespectful and prejudice because of the color of our skin. My friend is highly dark complexion black female, and I am fairly light complexion. I felt real bad because of the way my friend was treated; the interviewer did not acknowledge her at all. I was hire to take care of the interviewer parents along with another person which was a white female.

The white female decided that the job was not for her after working a few weeks, so she decided to quite. I was the only one working for a while, but it was hard taking care of three people. I went to her and complained, the interviewer stated she could not find anybody, at that time I took the opportunity to express my feeling on how she treated my friend and if she did not hire somebody right away I was also leaving. She apologized and asked did I think my friend would come and help her out. She saw that her love ones needed help, and it was no time for prejudice, so she diminish equity and took a chance on calling my friend back for an interview.

I had no idea that my friend would be mistreated on an interview. Most times if a person is not going to hire you; they would say I will try and get back with you, but this interviewer did not talk to her at all. This incident was a tough one because I knew that I needed the job. My friend and I discussed the situation together, and suggested that I go on to work and she would try and find something else to do.

After the interviewer could not find another person to work right away, she went on and called my friend. She apologized to her and made excuses like so much was on her mind. My friend said she would think about it and call her back. Again we discussed the matter, and it was decided that my friend needed a job. She accepted the job because she had to take care of her family. So they both turned an incident in to an opportunity and showed greater equity.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions can be intentional or unintentional that will cause hostile or negative reaction. Microagressions is used every day within the society whether it is verbal or nonverbal; this is a way to insult or target people at any cost. It is also environmental slights, snubs, derogatory, or negative messages to bullet people based solely upon their marginalized group membership; this is to degrade, intimidate, threat, or make one feel lesser than a human being if they do not belong to a majority group (Laureate Education, 2011) One microagression situation I witness all the time is young boys and men wearing their pants below the butt. I was sitting in my car in front of the grocery store when I heard one boy say to the other one pull up your pants; no one wants to see your plumber butt. When all this was happening, I thought in my mind no he did not say that, I knew it would be a problem because it seen like some people looks for trouble.

 My observation experiences this week influenced my awareness of the remarks I have made in the past about other people. We should be mindful of what we say and think about other people. You can be black, white, Chinese, Japanese, etc. the color of your skin do not mean nothing. God created each of us in a different ways and I do not believe that he is pleased with the way we treats each other. I have learned that microagressions is a reflection of our worldviews and making racial remarks to other can cause serious consequences within the society. Therefore, we should be mindful of what we say and think about other people. You can be black, white, Chinese, Japanese, etc. the color of your skin do not mean nothing.

 Reference

 Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in Everyday Life. [Webcast]. Baltimore, MD Author

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

After watching the video and reading this week assignment on diversity and culture, I decided to call up some friends who I though may have had culturally issues different from my own. The two questions I asked them were what is your definition of culture? And, what is your definition of diversity?


After all three of my friends replied to my questions, I realized that we all had the same similarity about culturally beliefs. The answers they gave me concerning culture, I combined them together. It was stated that culture is the upbringings of how people was raised, what they believe in, their values, gender role, language, clothing, food and the way they behave within the society. Another answer they gave is culture also is a mixture of people in the US that make up the population and are influenced by other peoples.


The answers they gave for diversity is that it is a generation of peoples that are different in many ways. They all have different point of views in which they see the world around them. But all three of them stated that everybody is unique in their own way no matter what color the skin maybe.


I enjoyed talking to all them about the subject matters, but really I thought since my friend Pam was a Jehovah witness she would have talked more on religion matter. But, all of the answer was close to what I have been studying this week on culture and diversity. We all agreed on one thing, no matter what cultural differences we have, God see everybody as being the same.


In my opinion, I think all aspects were addressed in the conversation. They talked a little on surface culture as well as deep culture, but the role of education and young children and their family’s relationship with professionals was never mention. All aspects of culture are essential in today’s society and it is very important for each individual to understand what role it plays in our lives.


In thinking about my friends definitions of culture and diversity, it has influenced me a great deal knowing that their ideal concerning the two questions was just as strong as mind. Before this class, I knew the definition to the questions, but I did not know just how deep it really was. So the concept I had before this class about culture and diversity has been guided with more understandings.

My Family Culture

I cannot imagine living in another country, but if it comes to a disaster that completely devastated my country I would diffidently leave. My family and I being among the survivors of this catastrophic event, is going to be very hard but is a part of life. The ability to deal with new changes will be very difficult. Having to adjust to a new environment and learning a new language is of importance in order to survive this cultural shock. I will also get to know and respect the values and beliefs of this country, but at the same time I would be eager to share my knowledge as well.

After much consideration I decided that my family photos are very important my deceased mother mother’s ring that I bought her many years ago. My cell phone to find loved ones lost in my country catastrophe. There are so many more personal items I would have loved to take in addition but was not an option. But most important the rest of my family will be traveling along with me who includes my son, daughter, and two grandchildren.

My photos are very important to me because they are memory of the mind, they are memories forever. Being able to look back and see all the good times with family makes me smile, knowing that they are now lost forever. My mother mother’s ring helps me to feel her presence, it makes me feel very close to her and visualize my youthful years and see that I am my mother’s daughter. My cell phone is to help me to connect/or try to find other families and friends that maybe lost in the disaster.

After reflecting upon each item, I decided to keep my mother’s ring because I cherish her memory the most. I learned from answering these questions that family culture is very important. I asked myself, what if my family and I do have to relocate and start over in another country. Will my family and I survive after living here in the US for many years? Or, will we adjust and learn their language fast, quick, and in a hurry? Culture is race, ability, lifestyle, and language. (Laureate Education, 2011)

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Family cultures: dynamic interactions [video webcast]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?

Reactivating My Blog

Hello everybody, I am looking forward to learning and getting new information from reading your blogs. I am sure that I will enjoy reading each one of them and hope that you all enjoy reading mine as well. Good luck in this course on diversity and equity.

Ida Cabbil
http://ida.cab.blogspot.com.