May 7, 2008
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Text Journal 4 – Knowledge Acquisition
Until the 1990’s, the problems of multi-ethnic and cultural diverse female population faced had never been acknowledged. However, it was during this era that women of color practitioners performed thorough studies and provided reports of their findings. Prior to these studies, information concerning the particular issues for these particular groups was minimal because of the unawareness of white female writers. Nevertheless after this information was provided, the white female writers acknowledged that these particular issues should be added to the concern of gender opposition.
The 1990’s era also marked the onset of further studies to understand and to help improve the conditions of the multi-ethnic cultural diverse female population. Brown (1990) expressed the urgency for minority women therapists to become more involved in the research. These women involvement would offer a more introspective view for these particular groups of women, which would help to provide a better understanding for proper care and assistance.
Values are essential to an overall view of life for the multi-ethnic and cultural diverse populations. The dimensions of values vary in each culture. However, there are five fundamental values in every culture: family, respect, harmony, spirituality, and cooperation. Each of these values serves to give each culture a sense of meaning, a stronger bond between them, and focus on the things that are most important in life.
Social construction is a theory that helps the worker to understand the influences that a person has experienced in their life and how they understand and perceive things. It encourages healing to the client because the worker learns to “talk with rather than talk to” the client. This helps to give the client and voice and an understanding that what they have to say is important and the worker wants to hear them.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Final Examination - Self Awareness
May 8, 2008
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Self-Awareness – Final Examination
Being born and raised in South Carolina in the early 1960’s to the late 1970’s provided me limited access to the knowledge and the awareness of other cultures outside that of African Americans and Whites. I lived there for seventeen years and the only other cultures that I can recall ever-hearing mention of were Spaniards and Native Indians, and that of course was in my history classes. I would often hear people refer to others, including some of my relatives as being mixed with Indian, which explained their beautiful quality of their hair (long and wavy) and their strong facial bone structure.
I recall how I would braid my hair after it was straightened to make it appear wavy, and I would always draw attention to my straight nose and high cheekbones. I did this because I wanted to be identified with the group of people that others seemed to consider as attractive. Even if they had a dark complexion, it did not seem to matter. However, it is unfortunate that there were other cases where darker complexions mattered immensely. I.E., people with a dark skin tone and course hair, a broad nose and large lips, were the brunt of most folk’s jokes, especially from people of the same race. Regrettably, that included those in my own household, my adopted mother and half-brother.
My next-door neighbors fit that description, and were often referred to by many people as a “black and ugly” family, both parents and children. My adopted mother and half-brother often highlighted those descriptions as well whenever they spoke of them. I would get so angry with them and wanted to tell them about themselves, but I was always too afraid because of the severe punishments that I would have had to suffer. She had been beaten me so many times that I never wanted to give her another reason. All she needed was an excuse. Even if she so much as thought that I was thinking of doing something wrong, I would be beaten. So needless to say, I remained silent, removed myself from their presence and held my anger within. I never understood people because this family had no control over the way that they looked, and regardless of how they looked they were really nice people. My adopted mother and half brother were always so nice to them whenever they were around them, but from their conversations at home, they were only pretending. Nevertheless, regardless of how they felt about them, I sincerely liked them, and their children and I were friends. I recall the times that I wanted to tell them the things that were said about them, but I refrained. On one hand the reason was because I feared my mother, and on the other hand, I felt that it would hurt them and I never wanted to do that.
One of the most painful memories from my past happened when I was about eight years old. My godmother had came to visit and wanted to take me back home with her. I was happy and excited and really wanted to go, but my adopted mother did not allow it. I started crying and after my godmother left; my adopted mother looked at me, slapped me and said to me, “Stop crying with your black, ugly self.” Needless to say, that I started bawling after that. Not only had I been disappointed, but also my heart had been crushed. It was at that point that I realized that she identified me the same way as the people that she and my half-brother always made fun of and spoke badly about. I had always felt that they never liked me, but at that time, I summed it to the fact that it was due to my dark complexion and I was ugly to them.
Afterwards, I never wanted to be around them again. So, I kept to myself most of the time. The only time that I was around them was at dinnertime, and on Sunday’s when we went to church. Regrettably, my adopted father did not spend much time at home, but whenever he was there, I enjoyed him. He was my safe haven. He always tried to make me laugh, and we would watch army and western shows together. He was a funny guy, and in his own way he managed to make me feel wanted and special. My adopted mother and half brother would talk about him too when he wasn’t at home. After all he was also very dark-skinned. Their complexion is what some people consider as fair-skinned. I believe that my adopted mother once mentioned that she was mixed (bi-racial, if you will). She had naturally very pretty wavy long hair. I used to enjoy combing it for her. Her reaction on that day still remains with me to this day. However, praise God, due to His healing touch, it doesn’t cut as deep anymore.
Another issue that I had to deal with in my younger years was the not so covert verbal expressions of male’s reactions to my anatomy. My body was that of a typical African American woman. I had the small waistline and the protruding derriere. Needless to say my soul brothers would often make degrading comments pertaining to the latter stated feature. As a matter of fact they would never address me by my name, but rather by my anatomy. I unfortunately suffered the consequences because my adopted mother would never allow me to wear pants. My aunts always gave me pants and nice pantsuits, but the only way that I could wear them was to sneak them in my book bag to school and change into them. I did this quite often because all of my friends wore pants.
Another racial experience I recall occurred when I was in Junior high school. It was the segregation between the light-skinned and the dark-skinned girls. They each remained within their own “complexion” groups. If ever a dark-skinned girl was with the light-skinned girls, she had to be extraordinarily pretty and dress really nice. I remember the fights between the two groups. The dark-skinned girls would say to the light-skinned girls that they thought that they were white and that they were better than them. The light-skinned girls would say to the dark-skinned girls that they were black and ugly and had nappy hair. I disliked the constant friction between them, because I wanted to befriend some of the light-skinned girls who weren’t mean. And not to mention that they were considered the popular group, so whoever hung out with them, was considered “cool.” In the later years of Junior High School, I made friends with some of them. Once all the animosity had subsided between the groups. I also remember that it seemed that all the guys, especially the cute ones, always liked the light-skinned pretty hair girls. That part didn’t matter to me too much though because I was not allowed to date anyway. And not to mention, I never felt that anyone would really want to date a “black ugly” girl.
I came to New York City in 1978 at the age of seventeen. It was during that time that I was introduced to the world of multi-ethnicities and cultures. Seeing these people was quite strange and somewhat confusing to me. Here I was a country girl around groups of people that sounded funny and looked very different from all the people that I had ever known. There were so many accents, dialects and various skin complexions and hair textures. Our neighborhood consisted of the West Indian and Latino populations. However, my family referred to all Latino’s as Puerto Ricans, and all West Indians as Haitians. It was later on as I came to know the people in our community that they consisted of various ethnicities and cultures.
I had another racial experience was with my biological mother. She always lectured my sisters and I about marriage. She would tell us that dark-skinned people should marry light-skinned people if they wanted to have pretty children. In her opinion, two dark-skinned people should never have children together, and offered us a few examples. She pointed out that was the reason that her and my father had such beautiful children. She referred to her complexion as pecan tan and father is dark-skinned. I recall that she once experienced problems with her skin, and I honestly thought that she was going to have some sort of a breakdown. She was crying and upset that her skin was getting blotchy. She had my sisters and I looking all over New York City for Ambi skin cream. This was skin bleach. She was literally petrified that her skin might become dark. She later on introduced me to the stuff and told me that it would make my skin beautiful. I started using it and my skin started lightening up, so I continued using it for a while. However, after a while my skin became blotchy. I will never forget greeting my dad at the door one day, and he noticed my skin and commented “baby, don’t you know that black is beautiful”. I took those words to heart, and never used skin bleach again. After all, my dad is a very handsome, very dark-skinned man.
Long story short, as a result of my mother’s counseling about marriage, I married a very fair-skinned Chinese, West Indian man and had two beautiful light-skinned babies. My mother was pleased with her grandchildren. I guess it’s because they were light-skinned. She did not seem concerned about the state of my marriage. However, I would not trade my children for anything else in the world. They were the only things that my ex-husband and I got right.
My best experience of the multi-ethnicities and cultures was in church. I became a member of a church that consisted of African Americans, Latino’s, Italians, and Indians. My Puerto Rican baby-sitter and girlfriend named Libby, brought me to the church. I had never before witnessed so many different races fellowship together in one body. When I attended church in the South, and it seemed that everyone got along well. When it came to church everyone attended churches with people of his or her own race. No one at this church seemed bothered by the fact that their neighbor sitting next to them looked different to them. I will also never forget the warmth of the ushers that greeted me when I entered the doors. They treated everyone the same. They offered a loving smile and a warm hug. To be honest that’s what kept me coming back. I was made to feel that I belonged there.
As I summarize the various experiences that I have had in the areas of oppression, I realize that even now, years later that I could possibly harbor some underlying wounds that were never dealt with, and thus, never healed. These covert wounds probably causes me to have thoughts and feelings that view others through tented glasses. I must examine my heart to see whether or not there is any residue that remains from the stereotypes that I grew up with and around. While I am certain that God has already done a great healing within me, I believe that there is still more that needs to be done. I believe that God presents certain areas in our lives, at certain times when He has prepared us and He knows that we are ready to be processed through the healing.
Taking this class in this season was no mistake. Ironically enough, during this semester, I also took Afro Americans in New York City. Needless to say, the things that I learned in that class in addition to what I was learning in UDP, stirred up some emotions inside of me that I never even knew existed. We studied the history of slavery in New York City, and their many sufferings of oppression. I.E., how they were forcibly brought over from Africa to New York City. After their harsh and sometimes deadly laboring of building many of the structures which still remains today in the Tribeca area, and laying the cobble stone streets, the white people decided that they no longer had a need for the black slaves and decided to chase them uptown to Seneca Village. Only to later have the white people there chase them out of Seneca Village (Now known as Central Park) because the black people’s area had become an eyesore to the neighborhood they did not want them there either. We studied how the white people mimicked and degraded black people in their roles of slavery during their performances of minstrelsy. This semester was indeed emotionally draining, but it was also a time of healing.
Understanding Diverse Populations has taught me to take a closer examination of myself as well as others. As I do this, I will realize that people are a product of their environment, of what they grew up around and whom they grew up with. As mentioned in one of our group discussions, no one is born a racist, neither prejudice. It is a reaction that occurs once a child or person has been introduced to it. To prove this point, watch children as they play in parks during their younger years, you will see that they approach any child that is close to their own size; they don’t make judgments according to the color of their skin, nor the texture of their hair. This is the way that God intended it for all human beings to be. Unfortunately, there is an enemy whose sole purpose is to destroy the love of all mankind.
Oppression is the greatest tool the enemy uses to keep people from reaching their God intended potential. He sets the plan in motion from childhood. He uses those who have the greatest influence in their lives to speak negatively and degradingly to them. They grow up with these perceptions and they pass it along to their children and it continues throughout the generations. I realize now that this is what happened to me. From a very young age, I was taught that dark skin was ugly, and that people would not love me because I was ugly and dark-skinned. I carried that burden throughout most of my young adult years. It caused me to make a lot of bad decisions in my life. I dated, and gave my all to anyone who would tell me that I was pretty, and I married someone that could give me pretty light-skinned children, that my mother would accept.
However, one day I came to know the Lord and His unfailing and unconditional love for me. I discovered that He loved me and had created me in His own image. I had been fearfully and wonderfully made. One day in my distress, I cried out to God to help me. I asked Him to help me to see myself as he saw me. I asked Him to help me to love myself as He loves me. He did. I realized that although I am black, I am not ugly and it really did not matter who loved me as long as He loved me. That encounter changed my life. I determined in my life that I would not be a reflection of what I grew up believing, but rather just the opposite. I would set my mind to empower others women especially to love themselves. From since that time God has presented me with many opportunities to do just that, and it began with my own children. Praise God! He has given me the eyes to see deeper and a heart to feel deeper. It’s as though He allows me to see the soul of man and to act upon it by helping to build them up.
I have noticed that over the past couple of years God has sent young men to me as well as ladies to encourage. This was new to me because in my past, I was always pro-women. Whenever there was a problem between and man and a woman, I always took the woman’s side. I would not even listen to the man’s side. I also realize that I stereotyped many of my young black brothers. I recently discovered that I had a dislike for thug-like characters. I despised how they dress, how they act, how they talk, and their lack of mannerism. I remember in the good “old days” that they had a certain level of respect for women. But these days, they don’t seem to even care if their mother is with them. However, since studying UDP and interacting in our small groups, and hearing from some of my brothers, I have gained a level of care and concern for them. I understand now that their behavior is a result of what they have experienced in their lives. They witnessed their fathers, and their father’s fathers being oppressed and beaten down. They had to develop a defense mechanism to make people notice them, respect them and in some cases even fear them. I now find that whenever I see them on the subways and buses, I want to approach them and share the love of God with them. I want to try and encourage them and help to build them up and give them a broader perspective for a brighter future for themselves. I want to mother them because I feel that maybe they lack the nurturing of a mother, because their mothers are a part of the workforce trying to provide for her family and unfortunately do not have enough quality time to spend with them.
Another group that I somewhat struggled with was the GLBT population. Not that I dislike them in anyway. I just figured that I would have a problem assisting them if they were to ever approach me as a social worker to assist them with their relationship. My struggle was that if I were to do that, I would be working against everything that I believed in as a Christian. However, that was clarified when I was told that as a social worker, my concern of focus is not necessarily the relationship, but the problem.
During this semester I have gained a more in-depth awareness, respect and love for other minorities. After learning of the sufferings that we have all experienced throughout the years, I’ve come to realize that our cultures share much commonality. We are all denied certain rights and privileges because of our race, gender, ethnicity, and lifestyles. We are labeled to accommodate the white race. Some of us have been raped of our land, cultures and native language. All of these sufferings are a travesty to all of mankind. I believe that God has called me to be one that will do my best to make a difference in these communities.
What I would like to do to assist the minority population is possibly start by joining alongside other people and groups who are already operating to assist the minority population. Not people or groups that are in it for self-recognition, but who those who work out of sincere concern to improve the lives of others. This would help me to gain some insight and learn how it’s done.
I would also like to see what I could do in my own neighborhood. Possibly build a small group organization to discuss the needs of the neighborhood, and make contact with those that can make a difference. There are many oppressed people in my neighborhood and there is much help that is needed. Maybe I could find a way to gain access and utilize one of the abandoned buildings to start up a soup kitchen for the poor. Possibly began a neighborhood woman’s hotline to build up and encourage the women.
My church could also serve as a source because they do outreaches to communities with needs. My Pastors would be a great source of influence to train, help build up and prepare me for my work ahead as a social worker. After all they care for God’s flock on a daily basis. I would also continue to study and attend social work conferences and lectures, to gain all the knowledge that I can in this changing world.
One strength that I posses is that have a sincere heart and love for God’s people. I want to help them and teach and empower them to help themselves. My weakness probably lies within realizing that not everyone is saved and will be able to relate from a Christian perspective. If I am going to be effective in the world, I will have do whatever I need to do to reach them, and move aside and allow Christ to change them.
I have truly been blessed in this class. I am thankful for the relationships that I have built and strengthened. I look forward to continuing this endeavor to work towards helping to build up the kingdom of God.
“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy, He will crush the oppressor.” Psalm 72:4
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Self-Awareness – Final Examination
Being born and raised in South Carolina in the early 1960’s to the late 1970’s provided me limited access to the knowledge and the awareness of other cultures outside that of African Americans and Whites. I lived there for seventeen years and the only other cultures that I can recall ever-hearing mention of were Spaniards and Native Indians, and that of course was in my history classes. I would often hear people refer to others, including some of my relatives as being mixed with Indian, which explained their beautiful quality of their hair (long and wavy) and their strong facial bone structure.
I recall how I would braid my hair after it was straightened to make it appear wavy, and I would always draw attention to my straight nose and high cheekbones. I did this because I wanted to be identified with the group of people that others seemed to consider as attractive. Even if they had a dark complexion, it did not seem to matter. However, it is unfortunate that there were other cases where darker complexions mattered immensely. I.E., people with a dark skin tone and course hair, a broad nose and large lips, were the brunt of most folk’s jokes, especially from people of the same race. Regrettably, that included those in my own household, my adopted mother and half-brother.
My next-door neighbors fit that description, and were often referred to by many people as a “black and ugly” family, both parents and children. My adopted mother and half-brother often highlighted those descriptions as well whenever they spoke of them. I would get so angry with them and wanted to tell them about themselves, but I was always too afraid because of the severe punishments that I would have had to suffer. She had been beaten me so many times that I never wanted to give her another reason. All she needed was an excuse. Even if she so much as thought that I was thinking of doing something wrong, I would be beaten. So needless to say, I remained silent, removed myself from their presence and held my anger within. I never understood people because this family had no control over the way that they looked, and regardless of how they looked they were really nice people. My adopted mother and half brother were always so nice to them whenever they were around them, but from their conversations at home, they were only pretending. Nevertheless, regardless of how they felt about them, I sincerely liked them, and their children and I were friends. I recall the times that I wanted to tell them the things that were said about them, but I refrained. On one hand the reason was because I feared my mother, and on the other hand, I felt that it would hurt them and I never wanted to do that.
One of the most painful memories from my past happened when I was about eight years old. My godmother had came to visit and wanted to take me back home with her. I was happy and excited and really wanted to go, but my adopted mother did not allow it. I started crying and after my godmother left; my adopted mother looked at me, slapped me and said to me, “Stop crying with your black, ugly self.” Needless to say, that I started bawling after that. Not only had I been disappointed, but also my heart had been crushed. It was at that point that I realized that she identified me the same way as the people that she and my half-brother always made fun of and spoke badly about. I had always felt that they never liked me, but at that time, I summed it to the fact that it was due to my dark complexion and I was ugly to them.
Afterwards, I never wanted to be around them again. So, I kept to myself most of the time. The only time that I was around them was at dinnertime, and on Sunday’s when we went to church. Regrettably, my adopted father did not spend much time at home, but whenever he was there, I enjoyed him. He was my safe haven. He always tried to make me laugh, and we would watch army and western shows together. He was a funny guy, and in his own way he managed to make me feel wanted and special. My adopted mother and half brother would talk about him too when he wasn’t at home. After all he was also very dark-skinned. Their complexion is what some people consider as fair-skinned. I believe that my adopted mother once mentioned that she was mixed (bi-racial, if you will). She had naturally very pretty wavy long hair. I used to enjoy combing it for her. Her reaction on that day still remains with me to this day. However, praise God, due to His healing touch, it doesn’t cut as deep anymore.
Another issue that I had to deal with in my younger years was the not so covert verbal expressions of male’s reactions to my anatomy. My body was that of a typical African American woman. I had the small waistline and the protruding derriere. Needless to say my soul brothers would often make degrading comments pertaining to the latter stated feature. As a matter of fact they would never address me by my name, but rather by my anatomy. I unfortunately suffered the consequences because my adopted mother would never allow me to wear pants. My aunts always gave me pants and nice pantsuits, but the only way that I could wear them was to sneak them in my book bag to school and change into them. I did this quite often because all of my friends wore pants.
Another racial experience I recall occurred when I was in Junior high school. It was the segregation between the light-skinned and the dark-skinned girls. They each remained within their own “complexion” groups. If ever a dark-skinned girl was with the light-skinned girls, she had to be extraordinarily pretty and dress really nice. I remember the fights between the two groups. The dark-skinned girls would say to the light-skinned girls that they thought that they were white and that they were better than them. The light-skinned girls would say to the dark-skinned girls that they were black and ugly and had nappy hair. I disliked the constant friction between them, because I wanted to befriend some of the light-skinned girls who weren’t mean. And not to mention that they were considered the popular group, so whoever hung out with them, was considered “cool.” In the later years of Junior High School, I made friends with some of them. Once all the animosity had subsided between the groups. I also remember that it seemed that all the guys, especially the cute ones, always liked the light-skinned pretty hair girls. That part didn’t matter to me too much though because I was not allowed to date anyway. And not to mention, I never felt that anyone would really want to date a “black ugly” girl.
I came to New York City in 1978 at the age of seventeen. It was during that time that I was introduced to the world of multi-ethnicities and cultures. Seeing these people was quite strange and somewhat confusing to me. Here I was a country girl around groups of people that sounded funny and looked very different from all the people that I had ever known. There were so many accents, dialects and various skin complexions and hair textures. Our neighborhood consisted of the West Indian and Latino populations. However, my family referred to all Latino’s as Puerto Ricans, and all West Indians as Haitians. It was later on as I came to know the people in our community that they consisted of various ethnicities and cultures.
I had another racial experience was with my biological mother. She always lectured my sisters and I about marriage. She would tell us that dark-skinned people should marry light-skinned people if they wanted to have pretty children. In her opinion, two dark-skinned people should never have children together, and offered us a few examples. She pointed out that was the reason that her and my father had such beautiful children. She referred to her complexion as pecan tan and father is dark-skinned. I recall that she once experienced problems with her skin, and I honestly thought that she was going to have some sort of a breakdown. She was crying and upset that her skin was getting blotchy. She had my sisters and I looking all over New York City for Ambi skin cream. This was skin bleach. She was literally petrified that her skin might become dark. She later on introduced me to the stuff and told me that it would make my skin beautiful. I started using it and my skin started lightening up, so I continued using it for a while. However, after a while my skin became blotchy. I will never forget greeting my dad at the door one day, and he noticed my skin and commented “baby, don’t you know that black is beautiful”. I took those words to heart, and never used skin bleach again. After all, my dad is a very handsome, very dark-skinned man.
Long story short, as a result of my mother’s counseling about marriage, I married a very fair-skinned Chinese, West Indian man and had two beautiful light-skinned babies. My mother was pleased with her grandchildren. I guess it’s because they were light-skinned. She did not seem concerned about the state of my marriage. However, I would not trade my children for anything else in the world. They were the only things that my ex-husband and I got right.
My best experience of the multi-ethnicities and cultures was in church. I became a member of a church that consisted of African Americans, Latino’s, Italians, and Indians. My Puerto Rican baby-sitter and girlfriend named Libby, brought me to the church. I had never before witnessed so many different races fellowship together in one body. When I attended church in the South, and it seemed that everyone got along well. When it came to church everyone attended churches with people of his or her own race. No one at this church seemed bothered by the fact that their neighbor sitting next to them looked different to them. I will also never forget the warmth of the ushers that greeted me when I entered the doors. They treated everyone the same. They offered a loving smile and a warm hug. To be honest that’s what kept me coming back. I was made to feel that I belonged there.
As I summarize the various experiences that I have had in the areas of oppression, I realize that even now, years later that I could possibly harbor some underlying wounds that were never dealt with, and thus, never healed. These covert wounds probably causes me to have thoughts and feelings that view others through tented glasses. I must examine my heart to see whether or not there is any residue that remains from the stereotypes that I grew up with and around. While I am certain that God has already done a great healing within me, I believe that there is still more that needs to be done. I believe that God presents certain areas in our lives, at certain times when He has prepared us and He knows that we are ready to be processed through the healing.
Taking this class in this season was no mistake. Ironically enough, during this semester, I also took Afro Americans in New York City. Needless to say, the things that I learned in that class in addition to what I was learning in UDP, stirred up some emotions inside of me that I never even knew existed. We studied the history of slavery in New York City, and their many sufferings of oppression. I.E., how they were forcibly brought over from Africa to New York City. After their harsh and sometimes deadly laboring of building many of the structures which still remains today in the Tribeca area, and laying the cobble stone streets, the white people decided that they no longer had a need for the black slaves and decided to chase them uptown to Seneca Village. Only to later have the white people there chase them out of Seneca Village (Now known as Central Park) because the black people’s area had become an eyesore to the neighborhood they did not want them there either. We studied how the white people mimicked and degraded black people in their roles of slavery during their performances of minstrelsy. This semester was indeed emotionally draining, but it was also a time of healing.
Understanding Diverse Populations has taught me to take a closer examination of myself as well as others. As I do this, I will realize that people are a product of their environment, of what they grew up around and whom they grew up with. As mentioned in one of our group discussions, no one is born a racist, neither prejudice. It is a reaction that occurs once a child or person has been introduced to it. To prove this point, watch children as they play in parks during their younger years, you will see that they approach any child that is close to their own size; they don’t make judgments according to the color of their skin, nor the texture of their hair. This is the way that God intended it for all human beings to be. Unfortunately, there is an enemy whose sole purpose is to destroy the love of all mankind.
Oppression is the greatest tool the enemy uses to keep people from reaching their God intended potential. He sets the plan in motion from childhood. He uses those who have the greatest influence in their lives to speak negatively and degradingly to them. They grow up with these perceptions and they pass it along to their children and it continues throughout the generations. I realize now that this is what happened to me. From a very young age, I was taught that dark skin was ugly, and that people would not love me because I was ugly and dark-skinned. I carried that burden throughout most of my young adult years. It caused me to make a lot of bad decisions in my life. I dated, and gave my all to anyone who would tell me that I was pretty, and I married someone that could give me pretty light-skinned children, that my mother would accept.
However, one day I came to know the Lord and His unfailing and unconditional love for me. I discovered that He loved me and had created me in His own image. I had been fearfully and wonderfully made. One day in my distress, I cried out to God to help me. I asked Him to help me to see myself as he saw me. I asked Him to help me to love myself as He loves me. He did. I realized that although I am black, I am not ugly and it really did not matter who loved me as long as He loved me. That encounter changed my life. I determined in my life that I would not be a reflection of what I grew up believing, but rather just the opposite. I would set my mind to empower others women especially to love themselves. From since that time God has presented me with many opportunities to do just that, and it began with my own children. Praise God! He has given me the eyes to see deeper and a heart to feel deeper. It’s as though He allows me to see the soul of man and to act upon it by helping to build them up.
I have noticed that over the past couple of years God has sent young men to me as well as ladies to encourage. This was new to me because in my past, I was always pro-women. Whenever there was a problem between and man and a woman, I always took the woman’s side. I would not even listen to the man’s side. I also realize that I stereotyped many of my young black brothers. I recently discovered that I had a dislike for thug-like characters. I despised how they dress, how they act, how they talk, and their lack of mannerism. I remember in the good “old days” that they had a certain level of respect for women. But these days, they don’t seem to even care if their mother is with them. However, since studying UDP and interacting in our small groups, and hearing from some of my brothers, I have gained a level of care and concern for them. I understand now that their behavior is a result of what they have experienced in their lives. They witnessed their fathers, and their father’s fathers being oppressed and beaten down. They had to develop a defense mechanism to make people notice them, respect them and in some cases even fear them. I now find that whenever I see them on the subways and buses, I want to approach them and share the love of God with them. I want to try and encourage them and help to build them up and give them a broader perspective for a brighter future for themselves. I want to mother them because I feel that maybe they lack the nurturing of a mother, because their mothers are a part of the workforce trying to provide for her family and unfortunately do not have enough quality time to spend with them.
Another group that I somewhat struggled with was the GLBT population. Not that I dislike them in anyway. I just figured that I would have a problem assisting them if they were to ever approach me as a social worker to assist them with their relationship. My struggle was that if I were to do that, I would be working against everything that I believed in as a Christian. However, that was clarified when I was told that as a social worker, my concern of focus is not necessarily the relationship, but the problem.
During this semester I have gained a more in-depth awareness, respect and love for other minorities. After learning of the sufferings that we have all experienced throughout the years, I’ve come to realize that our cultures share much commonality. We are all denied certain rights and privileges because of our race, gender, ethnicity, and lifestyles. We are labeled to accommodate the white race. Some of us have been raped of our land, cultures and native language. All of these sufferings are a travesty to all of mankind. I believe that God has called me to be one that will do my best to make a difference in these communities.
What I would like to do to assist the minority population is possibly start by joining alongside other people and groups who are already operating to assist the minority population. Not people or groups that are in it for self-recognition, but who those who work out of sincere concern to improve the lives of others. This would help me to gain some insight and learn how it’s done.
I would also like to see what I could do in my own neighborhood. Possibly build a small group organization to discuss the needs of the neighborhood, and make contact with those that can make a difference. There are many oppressed people in my neighborhood and there is much help that is needed. Maybe I could find a way to gain access and utilize one of the abandoned buildings to start up a soup kitchen for the poor. Possibly began a neighborhood woman’s hotline to build up and encourage the women.
My church could also serve as a source because they do outreaches to communities with needs. My Pastors would be a great source of influence to train, help build up and prepare me for my work ahead as a social worker. After all they care for God’s flock on a daily basis. I would also continue to study and attend social work conferences and lectures, to gain all the knowledge that I can in this changing world.
One strength that I posses is that have a sincere heart and love for God’s people. I want to help them and teach and empower them to help themselves. My weakness probably lies within realizing that not everyone is saved and will be able to relate from a Christian perspective. If I am going to be effective in the world, I will have do whatever I need to do to reach them, and move aside and allow Christ to change them.
I have truly been blessed in this class. I am thankful for the relationships that I have built and strengthened. I look forward to continuing this endeavor to work towards helping to build up the kingdom of God.
“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy, He will crush the oppressor.” Psalm 72:4
Friday, May 2, 2008
Women of Color - Text 2
April 29, 2008
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Cultural Competence with Women of Color (Lum - Chapter 13)
I would say that “women of color” would be considered in the minority status. However, this assumption is not based on numbers, for such is not the case. Rather, it is based on the fact that these particular women are made to feel inferior by those in authoritative positions. They hold inequitable status in power, and they have limited or no access to resources in relation to the superiority in power, and resources of the governing majority. (Pg. 179)
If ever there were a cause for social justice and human rights, the fight for women of color should rank in the top five. Throughout history these women have silently suffered from sexual, mental and verbal abuse, unjust employment advantages and compensation, and the lack of proper healthcare. They have not been properly informed, neither afforded many opportunities to express their sufferings to people (groups) that hold positions to make a difference. The dilemma is that as far as these individual groups of women issues are concerned, are included in the overall comparison of women in general. Their issues are viewed from a macro perspective rather than a micro perspective. African Americans, Hispanic American, Latinas, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans, Hawaiian’s, are the groups that make up the women of color population. Each of these groups is individually identified by different cultures that require personal and individual needs.
As an example, because of the disregard to their individuality, many will not seek professional help in abusive situations. Some of the reasons are that the woman fears that because of their race, or immigration status, that either they will be deported, or their spouse/partner will be incarcerated if they are reported. This of course would mean the loss of income in their households, which would cause even more problems and tension in their lives. They would be left alone to fend for themselves and their families. Therefore, the abusive situations are not addressed and continue to be an ongoing problem.
As previously mentioned, women of color also face many serious health issues, and amongst the groups are the same health problems. According to statistics, the majority of these groups suffer from obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. The severity of these conditions and the fact that most of them do not seek healthcare services, will usually lead to disabilities and/or premature death. Doctors unfortunately tend to overlook illnesses that are localized to a particular population. The reason is that the illness is not known in the mainstream female population. Therefore, the individual population with the illness continues to suffer, and if it is heredity it is passed on to their children and so on.
Women of color are accustomed to the working environment. They work in order to take care of and to help to provide for their family. However, another problem that they face is that in most case scenarios, regardless of their previous work experience and/or their education, it is most likely that their salaries are considerably lower than that of European women. Many are also covertly prevented opportunities of being promoted because of their race. However, according to statistics there is an exception with Asian women.
It was during the decade of 1975-1985, that women marked history when the United Nations Decade for Women invited women from around the world on the international and intergovernmental agenda. As an outcome of these events, in 1993 at a women’s conference in Vienna, women were given the opportunity to make known to the world the extent of how they have suffered from inferiority and abuse. Their voices were heard and it was added to the human rights agenda. (Pg. 352) Although, this was not specified to “women of color”, it did at least open a door for women in general.
For a social worker to be effective with this particular population, it is essential that they are mindful of the individual needs of the various cultures. The worker should be sensitive to their various areas of sufferings, and also acknowledge that many have never had a voice to express their experiences, nor their needs. It is also quite possible the possible need of additional evaluations, due to the fact that the stress and strain of life might have caused some mental illness and depression, which would prevent the healing process. Therefore the proper evaluations would be pertinent to the overall success of the matter.
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Cultural Competence with Women of Color (Lum - Chapter 13)
I would say that “women of color” would be considered in the minority status. However, this assumption is not based on numbers, for such is not the case. Rather, it is based on the fact that these particular women are made to feel inferior by those in authoritative positions. They hold inequitable status in power, and they have limited or no access to resources in relation to the superiority in power, and resources of the governing majority. (Pg. 179)
If ever there were a cause for social justice and human rights, the fight for women of color should rank in the top five. Throughout history these women have silently suffered from sexual, mental and verbal abuse, unjust employment advantages and compensation, and the lack of proper healthcare. They have not been properly informed, neither afforded many opportunities to express their sufferings to people (groups) that hold positions to make a difference. The dilemma is that as far as these individual groups of women issues are concerned, are included in the overall comparison of women in general. Their issues are viewed from a macro perspective rather than a micro perspective. African Americans, Hispanic American, Latinas, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans, Hawaiian’s, are the groups that make up the women of color population. Each of these groups is individually identified by different cultures that require personal and individual needs.
As an example, because of the disregard to their individuality, many will not seek professional help in abusive situations. Some of the reasons are that the woman fears that because of their race, or immigration status, that either they will be deported, or their spouse/partner will be incarcerated if they are reported. This of course would mean the loss of income in their households, which would cause even more problems and tension in their lives. They would be left alone to fend for themselves and their families. Therefore, the abusive situations are not addressed and continue to be an ongoing problem.
As previously mentioned, women of color also face many serious health issues, and amongst the groups are the same health problems. According to statistics, the majority of these groups suffer from obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. The severity of these conditions and the fact that most of them do not seek healthcare services, will usually lead to disabilities and/or premature death. Doctors unfortunately tend to overlook illnesses that are localized to a particular population. The reason is that the illness is not known in the mainstream female population. Therefore, the individual population with the illness continues to suffer, and if it is heredity it is passed on to their children and so on.
Women of color are accustomed to the working environment. They work in order to take care of and to help to provide for their family. However, another problem that they face is that in most case scenarios, regardless of their previous work experience and/or their education, it is most likely that their salaries are considerably lower than that of European women. Many are also covertly prevented opportunities of being promoted because of their race. However, according to statistics there is an exception with Asian women.
It was during the decade of 1975-1985, that women marked history when the United Nations Decade for Women invited women from around the world on the international and intergovernmental agenda. As an outcome of these events, in 1993 at a women’s conference in Vienna, women were given the opportunity to make known to the world the extent of how they have suffered from inferiority and abuse. Their voices were heard and it was added to the human rights agenda. (Pg. 352) Although, this was not specified to “women of color”, it did at least open a door for women in general.
For a social worker to be effective with this particular population, it is essential that they are mindful of the individual needs of the various cultures. The worker should be sensitive to their various areas of sufferings, and also acknowledge that many have never had a voice to express their experiences, nor their needs. It is also quite possible the possible need of additional evaluations, due to the fact that the stress and strain of life might have caused some mental illness and depression, which would prevent the healing process. Therefore the proper evaluations would be pertinent to the overall success of the matter.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Cultural Competence with First Nations Peoples (Lum - Chapter 9)
April 24, 2008
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Cultural Competence with First Nations Peoples (Lum - Chapter 9)
In order to establish a healthy and efficient client/worker relationship with First Nations people, it is essential for the social worker to be very sensitive, knowledgeable and familiar with their background and their cultures. The social worker should exercise self-awareness, patience, respect, a non-judgmental attitude, and an open-mind to help ease the hearts and the minds of these people. They are to remain mindful of the painful experiences that this group has suffered from the U. S. government who robbed them of their land, and stripped them of their indigenous culture. The social worker should also be aware that they too might possibly be perceived as an adversary who works for the government.
The U.S. enforced a policy with the sole intent to eradicate the indigenous culture. They took the children of the First Nations families and communities. Placed them into church boarding schools and homes of white families, where they were harshly disciplined and forced to learn the American culture. The children would be severely punished whenever they spoke in their indigenous language. This painful process of change forced the children to lose sight and value of their indigenous heritage. If and when they were to ever return home, they would no longer be able to identify with their culture.
Germ warfare was another means by which others tried to destroy this group of people. It did however unfortunately have a great impact in the First Nations community. It was reported that British and American people willfully spread measles, smallpox and cholera throughout the Native communities. These epidemics annihilated 95 to 99 percent of the indigenous population.
These incidents are a mere summary of the sufferings that First Nations people have experienced throughout the years, and in some states continues even to this day.
First Nations people had always managed to care for themselves and their communities. They never sought assistance from those outside of thier community. They governed themselves well, and survived off their own land. Nature is an essential element to this group of people and they faithfully and diligently labored to maintain their land. The land was very prosperous with rich and fertile soil.
The wicked mind and greedy hearts of those on the outside knew the value of their land and decided that they wanted it and would take it by any means necessary. Nevertheless, they discovered that this would not be an easy task, because First Nations people were a very strong, united and dedicated people. Therefore, they would need to find a way to weaken the Natives. As previously mentioned, they separated their children from them. They brought diseases in to eliminate the vast majority. They even found a way to confuse their minds, by introducing them to alcohol. And after forcing them to a point of vulnerability and inadequacy, they labeled them as incapable of governing themselves. Hence, taking advantage of this opportunity to come in and take full control of the people and their land.
How can a social worker assist a people who were robbed of their land and forcibly stripped of their dignity, identity and culture? Especially when even the social worker might be viewed by this people as the enemy. Answer: Hopefully, a social worker that is culturally competent can help in many ways. Because they are equipped with the knowledge that they have acquired about this particular group of people. They are prepared to provide them with as much information as possible. They have researched policies and agencies that can aide these people. They will support and join alongside them to fight for social justice. They will help them to discover ways to reconnect with their culture, and find ways to empower them and give them new hope. The worker will work with a sincere heart of concern and care and intentionally ensure the client that they are on their side and can be trusted.
SWK254N –Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Cultural Competence with First Nations Peoples (Lum - Chapter 9)
In order to establish a healthy and efficient client/worker relationship with First Nations people, it is essential for the social worker to be very sensitive, knowledgeable and familiar with their background and their cultures. The social worker should exercise self-awareness, patience, respect, a non-judgmental attitude, and an open-mind to help ease the hearts and the minds of these people. They are to remain mindful of the painful experiences that this group has suffered from the U. S. government who robbed them of their land, and stripped them of their indigenous culture. The social worker should also be aware that they too might possibly be perceived as an adversary who works for the government.
The U.S. enforced a policy with the sole intent to eradicate the indigenous culture. They took the children of the First Nations families and communities. Placed them into church boarding schools and homes of white families, where they were harshly disciplined and forced to learn the American culture. The children would be severely punished whenever they spoke in their indigenous language. This painful process of change forced the children to lose sight and value of their indigenous heritage. If and when they were to ever return home, they would no longer be able to identify with their culture.
Germ warfare was another means by which others tried to destroy this group of people. It did however unfortunately have a great impact in the First Nations community. It was reported that British and American people willfully spread measles, smallpox and cholera throughout the Native communities. These epidemics annihilated 95 to 99 percent of the indigenous population.
These incidents are a mere summary of the sufferings that First Nations people have experienced throughout the years, and in some states continues even to this day.
First Nations people had always managed to care for themselves and their communities. They never sought assistance from those outside of thier community. They governed themselves well, and survived off their own land. Nature is an essential element to this group of people and they faithfully and diligently labored to maintain their land. The land was very prosperous with rich and fertile soil.
The wicked mind and greedy hearts of those on the outside knew the value of their land and decided that they wanted it and would take it by any means necessary. Nevertheless, they discovered that this would not be an easy task, because First Nations people were a very strong, united and dedicated people. Therefore, they would need to find a way to weaken the Natives. As previously mentioned, they separated their children from them. They brought diseases in to eliminate the vast majority. They even found a way to confuse their minds, by introducing them to alcohol. And after forcing them to a point of vulnerability and inadequacy, they labeled them as incapable of governing themselves. Hence, taking advantage of this opportunity to come in and take full control of the people and their land.
How can a social worker assist a people who were robbed of their land and forcibly stripped of their dignity, identity and culture? Especially when even the social worker might be viewed by this people as the enemy. Answer: Hopefully, a social worker that is culturally competent can help in many ways. Because they are equipped with the knowledge that they have acquired about this particular group of people. They are prepared to provide them with as much information as possible. They have researched policies and agencies that can aide these people. They will support and join alongside them to fight for social justice. They will help them to discover ways to reconnect with their culture, and find ways to empower them and give them new hope. The worker will work with a sincere heart of concern and care and intentionally ensure the client that they are on their side and can be trusted.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Beverly Daniel Tatum - Questions
March 12. 2008
SWK254.N – Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Journal 6
What can I influence?
In October 2006, my family and I moved out of a middle class neighborhood in Brooklyn into what is seemingly a lower class neighborhood in Queens. My reason for this analysis is my recent observations of my new neighborhood. I find it rather strange that I did not notice these things when first moving there. My only focus was the 2-family home that we were moving into, in which I really like. What I have noticed is that there is only one bank (CitiBank) located on a 10-12 mile main boulevard in the entire neighborhood. There are plenty of bodegas, bars, Chinese and Soul food restaurants and liquor stores. It is a neighborhood filled a minority population of Middle Eastern Indians, Latinos and African Americans. There is exceedingly poor bus service, and mostly ancient and minimal updated buses serving the neighborhood. What amazes me about the area is the difference in simply crossing the Boulevard. On one side of the Boulevard are homes, some brand new, some old, and a few dilapidated. On the other side of the boulevard are apartment buildings and some homes. I believe that the apartment buildings are considered projects. Almost everyday, I witness many oppressed and depressed looking people. Some of them appear to be strung out on drugs, or something else. I see young and old men and ladies hanging out in front of the bodegas on the boulevard.
As I think of my new location and ask myself what can I influence; I would like to try and find a way to encourage people to stand up for what rightfully belongs to them. As an example, recently, I found myself waiting for a bus for over 45 minutes. It was a cold, windy and rainy Saturday morning, and there was no bus shelter to stand underneath to protect me from the horrendous weather. When a bus finally arrived, I asked the driver why he was running late, he said that he was on time. (According to the bus schedule, it seemed that he was correct, if that was indeed his scheduled time) I then asked did he know what happened to the bus before him and he did not. I inquired about a number to call in complaints. He suggested that I do just that. Afterwards, needless to say as the other patrons boarded the bus frustrated, wet and tired of waiting as well, while boarding the bus began to complain. In the driver’s defense, I told them that his bus was on time. It was the one prior bus to his that did not come. I mentioned that we could complain to each other for the remainder of the day and get no results. However, it would be more beneficial if we were to call the MTA and file our complaints. After all we are paying customers and deserve quality service.
How am I making this a more equitable environment?
I try making my neighborhood a more equitable environment by being kind and fair to everyone that I meet. I try not to ostracize any population. Although, I will admit that when I first saw the Middle Eastern Indians, it caused me some reluctance in different ways, because 911 and the present war that we are involved in is always on my mind. And I am constantly reminded of those things whenever I see this particular population. I often wonder whether or not they could be some of the people who are involved in the acts of terrorism and whether their stores help to support the terrorist activities. I try really hard to put these thoughts aside and support those in my community. Because I came to realize that the lack of support would cause businesses to move away from the neighborhood. And that would not be good for the neighborhood. When I first moved there, I would always go back to my old neighborhood to do my shopping. However, I don’t want to have a hand in denying my neighborhood opportunities to prosper, because I would prefer to see it thrive, rather than decline. Therefore, I will choose to do my part to help.
Who is included in this picture and who isn’t, who has had opportunities in my environment and who hasn’t?
As previously mentioned, there are Middle Eastern Indians, Latinos and African Americans in my neighborhood. There are very few whites that remain. I have not been here very long, and it is hard to say who has and have not had opportunities in my neighborhood. I would imagine that if there were whites that lived here and had they not left, the neighborhood would probably be considered a prime location in the city. The area is within a 15-minute radius of both JFK and LaGuardia airports. Which means that it is near all the major hotels. It has a major artery boulevard that connects to three major highways (the Vanwyck Expressway, Belt Parkway and the Conduit). It is approximately fifteen minutes to Green Acres Shopping Mall. It has one of the best and most reliable subway lines in the city. (The A train) I would imagine the minorities have not had many opportunities because when the white people left, 95% of their opportunities went with them (businesses, affordable and better housing). The neighborhood seems to have become a neighborhood that the city has forgotten. It’s possible that businesses and quality of education left with the population.
What can I do about that?
The first thing that I can do is to be prayerful. This neighborhood could definitely use some godly intervention. Even with all the churches that are located there, there is such a darkness (oppression) that rests over the neighborhood. I would imagine that I could do some research and find a way to become an advocate for my neighborhood. Maybe write letters to the state senators and congress. I could try and get other people in the neighborhood involved. Help them to see and to believe that they can restore life to the neighborhood. Help to find a peaceful way to stand up and fight. I could try and find positive ways to bring attention to our neighborhoods, so that the politicians would take notice and become involved as well. And honestly speaking now would be the best time to do just that, considering that we are in the season of presidential elections and they are hungry for votes.
SWK254.N – Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Journal 6
What can I influence?
In October 2006, my family and I moved out of a middle class neighborhood in Brooklyn into what is seemingly a lower class neighborhood in Queens. My reason for this analysis is my recent observations of my new neighborhood. I find it rather strange that I did not notice these things when first moving there. My only focus was the 2-family home that we were moving into, in which I really like. What I have noticed is that there is only one bank (CitiBank) located on a 10-12 mile main boulevard in the entire neighborhood. There are plenty of bodegas, bars, Chinese and Soul food restaurants and liquor stores. It is a neighborhood filled a minority population of Middle Eastern Indians, Latinos and African Americans. There is exceedingly poor bus service, and mostly ancient and minimal updated buses serving the neighborhood. What amazes me about the area is the difference in simply crossing the Boulevard. On one side of the Boulevard are homes, some brand new, some old, and a few dilapidated. On the other side of the boulevard are apartment buildings and some homes. I believe that the apartment buildings are considered projects. Almost everyday, I witness many oppressed and depressed looking people. Some of them appear to be strung out on drugs, or something else. I see young and old men and ladies hanging out in front of the bodegas on the boulevard.
As I think of my new location and ask myself what can I influence; I would like to try and find a way to encourage people to stand up for what rightfully belongs to them. As an example, recently, I found myself waiting for a bus for over 45 minutes. It was a cold, windy and rainy Saturday morning, and there was no bus shelter to stand underneath to protect me from the horrendous weather. When a bus finally arrived, I asked the driver why he was running late, he said that he was on time. (According to the bus schedule, it seemed that he was correct, if that was indeed his scheduled time) I then asked did he know what happened to the bus before him and he did not. I inquired about a number to call in complaints. He suggested that I do just that. Afterwards, needless to say as the other patrons boarded the bus frustrated, wet and tired of waiting as well, while boarding the bus began to complain. In the driver’s defense, I told them that his bus was on time. It was the one prior bus to his that did not come. I mentioned that we could complain to each other for the remainder of the day and get no results. However, it would be more beneficial if we were to call the MTA and file our complaints. After all we are paying customers and deserve quality service.
How am I making this a more equitable environment?
I try making my neighborhood a more equitable environment by being kind and fair to everyone that I meet. I try not to ostracize any population. Although, I will admit that when I first saw the Middle Eastern Indians, it caused me some reluctance in different ways, because 911 and the present war that we are involved in is always on my mind. And I am constantly reminded of those things whenever I see this particular population. I often wonder whether or not they could be some of the people who are involved in the acts of terrorism and whether their stores help to support the terrorist activities. I try really hard to put these thoughts aside and support those in my community. Because I came to realize that the lack of support would cause businesses to move away from the neighborhood. And that would not be good for the neighborhood. When I first moved there, I would always go back to my old neighborhood to do my shopping. However, I don’t want to have a hand in denying my neighborhood opportunities to prosper, because I would prefer to see it thrive, rather than decline. Therefore, I will choose to do my part to help.
Who is included in this picture and who isn’t, who has had opportunities in my environment and who hasn’t?
As previously mentioned, there are Middle Eastern Indians, Latinos and African Americans in my neighborhood. There are very few whites that remain. I have not been here very long, and it is hard to say who has and have not had opportunities in my neighborhood. I would imagine that if there were whites that lived here and had they not left, the neighborhood would probably be considered a prime location in the city. The area is within a 15-minute radius of both JFK and LaGuardia airports. Which means that it is near all the major hotels. It has a major artery boulevard that connects to three major highways (the Vanwyck Expressway, Belt Parkway and the Conduit). It is approximately fifteen minutes to Green Acres Shopping Mall. It has one of the best and most reliable subway lines in the city. (The A train) I would imagine the minorities have not had many opportunities because when the white people left, 95% of their opportunities went with them (businesses, affordable and better housing). The neighborhood seems to have become a neighborhood that the city has forgotten. It’s possible that businesses and quality of education left with the population.
What can I do about that?
The first thing that I can do is to be prayerful. This neighborhood could definitely use some godly intervention. Even with all the churches that are located there, there is such a darkness (oppression) that rests over the neighborhood. I would imagine that I could do some research and find a way to become an advocate for my neighborhood. Maybe write letters to the state senators and congress. I could try and get other people in the neighborhood involved. Help them to see and to believe that they can restore life to the neighborhood. Help to find a peaceful way to stand up and fight. I could try and find positive ways to bring attention to our neighborhoods, so that the politicians would take notice and become involved as well. And honestly speaking now would be the best time to do just that, considering that we are in the season of presidential elections and they are hungry for votes.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
New Race
February 20, 2008
SWK254.N – Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Journal 5
RACE CHANGE
· You woke up tomorrow only to find out your race had changed.
Go through the list and respond about whether your “change” in race has helped you to identify more with the privileges listed, less, or somewhere in between? How so?
1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.
Answer: Probably identify less because most people prefer to remain within the company of their own race, in which I would not consider a privilege.
2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford in which I would want to live.
Answer: Identify more with this privilege because “my new race” usually does not experience problems of discrimination in any neighborhood, which is truly a privilege
3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.
Answer: Identify more because most people seem comfortable around “my new race” which is a privilege.
4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” is not a stereotype for theft, which is a privilege.
5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
Answer: Somewhere in between, because if it is constructive representation I would feel proud, if it is an embarrassing situation, I would feel ashamed.
6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
Answer: Identify less with this privilege because of the discoveries of “my new race” ancestors and the agonizing and degrading things that were done to other races in order to accomplish what is known as our national heritage and/or civilization.
7. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.
Answer: Identify more because the textbooks are slanted towards “my new race” which is a privilege.
8. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privileges.
Answer: Identify less because white privileges is not documented as such, therefore, it is not a privilege.
9. I can go into a supermarket and find the staple foods, which fit with my cultural traditions, and go into a hairdresser’s shop and fine someone who can cut my hair.
Answer: Identify more, because it is a privilege to not have to travel far, nor search for these items and opportunities.
10. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.
Answer: Identify more, because if I were to use checks or credit cards, “my new race” will not be asked for identification to prove that I am the owner of the presented document, which is a privilege.
11. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.
Answer: Probably more, because police and school officials tend to be quite concerned for the safety of “my new race” children, which is a privilege.
12. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or illiteracy of my race.
Answer: Identify more because it I would not be judged, rather most likely my behavior would be summed up as just having a bad day, which is a privilege.
13. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.
Answer: Identify more because it is a privilege of being accepted for who I am as an individual, which is a privilege.
14. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.
Answer: Identify more because I would be only be expected to represent myself
15. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.
Answer: Identify more of a privilege because my only need for concern would be myself
16. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world’s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” is not expected to understand other languages, but rather “they” are required to learn mine because they are in my country.
17. I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.
Answer: Identify more because government officials mostly consist of “my new race” that constitutes the policies to accommodate “my new race”. This is a privilege because when and if “my new race” makes enough noise, things changed.
18. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to ”the person in charge,” I will be facing a person of my race.
Answer: Identify more because finding someone of “my own new race” would most likely mean that they would see things my way, which is a privilege
19. If a traffic cop pulls me over, or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.
Answer: Identify somewhere in between because regardless of race, the penalty will need to be paid, however, “my new race” is usually not labeled for trouble.
20. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.
Answer: Identify more because these items are always available in a majority in practically every neighborhood
21. I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared.
Answer: Identify more because the agenda’s of such meetings are programmed to meet “my new race” expectations
22. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.
Answer: Identify less because it is most probable that I would be hired because of “my new race” in order to help balance out the racial stats.
23. I can choose public accommodations without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” is usually treated with respect and dignity
24. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me.
Answer: Identify more because the law takes preference to “my new race”, and medically “my new race” is treated with superiority
25. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” in most cases is treated rather fairly
26. I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color and have them more or less match my skin.
Answer: Identify more because it is obvious that whoever invented blemish cover and band-aids had “my new race” in mind.
SWK254.N – Understanding Diverse Populations
Professor Mayra Lopez-Humphreys
Journal 5
RACE CHANGE
· You woke up tomorrow only to find out your race had changed.
Go through the list and respond about whether your “change” in race has helped you to identify more with the privileges listed, less, or somewhere in between? How so?
1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.
Answer: Probably identify less because most people prefer to remain within the company of their own race, in which I would not consider a privilege.
2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford in which I would want to live.
Answer: Identify more with this privilege because “my new race” usually does not experience problems of discrimination in any neighborhood, which is truly a privilege
3. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.
Answer: Identify more because most people seem comfortable around “my new race” which is a privilege.
4. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” is not a stereotype for theft, which is a privilege.
5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.
Answer: Somewhere in between, because if it is constructive representation I would feel proud, if it is an embarrassing situation, I would feel ashamed.
6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization,” I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.
Answer: Identify less with this privilege because of the discoveries of “my new race” ancestors and the agonizing and degrading things that were done to other races in order to accomplish what is known as our national heritage and/or civilization.
7. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.
Answer: Identify more because the textbooks are slanted towards “my new race” which is a privilege.
8. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privileges.
Answer: Identify less because white privileges is not documented as such, therefore, it is not a privilege.
9. I can go into a supermarket and find the staple foods, which fit with my cultural traditions, and go into a hairdresser’s shop and fine someone who can cut my hair.
Answer: Identify more, because it is a privilege to not have to travel far, nor search for these items and opportunities.
10. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.
Answer: Identify more, because if I were to use checks or credit cards, “my new race” will not be asked for identification to prove that I am the owner of the presented document, which is a privilege.
11. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.
Answer: Probably more, because police and school officials tend to be quite concerned for the safety of “my new race” children, which is a privilege.
12. I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or illiteracy of my race.
Answer: Identify more because it I would not be judged, rather most likely my behavior would be summed up as just having a bad day, which is a privilege.
13. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.
Answer: Identify more because it is a privilege of being accepted for who I am as an individual, which is a privilege.
14. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.
Answer: Identify more because I would be only be expected to represent myself
15. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.
Answer: Identify more of a privilege because my only need for concern would be myself
16. I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world’s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” is not expected to understand other languages, but rather “they” are required to learn mine because they are in my country.
17. I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.
Answer: Identify more because government officials mostly consist of “my new race” that constitutes the policies to accommodate “my new race”. This is a privilege because when and if “my new race” makes enough noise, things changed.
18. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to ”the person in charge,” I will be facing a person of my race.
Answer: Identify more because finding someone of “my own new race” would most likely mean that they would see things my way, which is a privilege
19. If a traffic cop pulls me over, or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven’t been singled out because of my race.
Answer: Identify somewhere in between because regardless of race, the penalty will need to be paid, however, “my new race” is usually not labeled for trouble.
20. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.
Answer: Identify more because these items are always available in a majority in practically every neighborhood
21. I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared.
Answer: Identify more because the agenda’s of such meetings are programmed to meet “my new race” expectations
22. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of race.
Answer: Identify less because it is most probable that I would be hired because of “my new race” in order to help balance out the racial stats.
23. I can choose public accommodations without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” is usually treated with respect and dignity
24. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me.
Answer: Identify more because the law takes preference to “my new race”, and medically “my new race” is treated with superiority
25. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones.
Answer: Identify more because “my new race” in most cases is treated rather fairly
26. I can choose blemish cover or bandages in “flesh” color and have them more or less match my skin.
Answer: Identify more because it is obvious that whoever invented blemish cover and band-aids had “my new race” in mind.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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