"Somewhere in America"--The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

This week in my Master's program on Teaching and Diversity, we were asked to recount memories of witnessing or experiencing bias, prejudice and oppression as well as what feelings this brought up.  In addition, what and/or whom would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equality.  While I have enjoyed many privileges as a middle-class, white, Christian, heterosexual woman (most of which I had not ever considered before this course marking how internalized they are), I have also experienced classism, gender bias, ageism,  and racial prejudice that hindered personal relationships.  I can also recall incidents in my own life that I felt these types of social injustices, and many more instances witnessing the reality other friends, co-workers, and even strangers in different minority groups face in regards to bias, prejudice and oppression.  Every single time, it hurt.  Every single time it lead to feelings of confusion, insecurity and mistrust.  No matter what age, what ethnicity, what gender, what religious background, what economic status or what sexual orientation, these incidents not only hurt individuals, but society and our collective futures.

I recently came across a video of three fearless girls, Belissa Escobedo, Rhiana McGavin, and Zariya Allen, entitled "Somewhere in America".  Although this is not a personal account, their insights into the realities of social injustice across the country really struck a chord with me and left me with a powerful message.  Two specific points that I feel are extremely important for early childhood professionals to hear are:
1.  The greatest lessons we teach, we won't remember teaching.
2.  The greatest lessons we learn, we don't remember learning.

So much of what we do sends an unconscious message to children, and so much of what children learn is absorbed from the adults that surround them.  So, to answer the most important question about who or what will have to change for opportunities of greater equality, it is each and every one of us.  How can we achieve this?  Through self-reflection, open conversations, mindful attitudes and actions, and the courage to speak out against such injustices in the moment and in larger social arenas.  I hope these three fearless girls inspire you to think more deeply about these issues, each of our own contributions as well as both our personal and public responsibility to address them.  The answer really is:  Together, we can change the world!