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I share this link that was given to us for this challenge with friends and family. I have reflected and there is no doubt that I have grown and learned so much within this challenge. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn.
I wont say that this challenge isn't hard. I had to self-reflect and come to some hard realizations that I unfortunately have had unconscious biases, and I didn't know all I thought I did about my community and certain cultures so close to my heart.
I plan on continuing to use these resources to learn and educate myself. I want to be the best I can be!
Awesome learning experience!

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Short, Coffee Break Length

The Disturbing History of the Suburbs, An Adam Ruins Everything episode that quickly and humorously educates how redlining came to be (6 minutes)

What Would You Do?: Bicycle Thief Episode ABC's popular show explores the impact of racial and gender bias and prejudice at a family friendly park. Before this video, would you have anticipated this differential treatment?

Medium, Lunch Break Length

Munroe Bergdorf on racism, trans activism and acceptance English activist and model Munroe Bergdorf, known for speaking her mind on trans issues, racism and misogyny, talks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about her own transition, the controversy that led to her being dropped by L'Oreal and why tolerance is not enough (38 mins)

How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them, TED Talk by Vernā Myers, encourages work vigorously to counter balance bias by connecting with and learning about and from the groups we fear (19 minutes)

Long, Sit On the Couch Length

Race In America: Fighting for Justice Bryan Stevenson interview with Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart delves into the state of US racism and racial justice as of October 2020 and explores the role of hope in staying the course (1 hour)

Slavery by Another Name, 90 minutes PBS documentary challenges the idea that slavery ended with the emancipation proclamation. (90 minutes)

Unnatural Causes, Seven part documentary by California Newsreel that explores the impact of racism on health and US healthcare. (4 hours total, episodes have variable lengths)

Once people start to learn about white privilege and America's systems of oppression through history, they often ask, "Why didn't I see this sooner?" It's easy to overlook what we're not looking for. Once you understand the phenomenon of selective noticing, take yourself on a noticing adventure.

1) Watch the Test Your Awareness: Do The Test

2) Go out in the world and change up what you notice. (Some of this will be influenced differently pre/during/post COVID. You may need to rely on memories until we are on the move again!) Here's some of what you might look for:

Who is and is not represented in ads?

Who are your ten closest friends? What is the racial mix in this group?

As you move through the day, what's the racial composition of the people around you? On your commute? At the coffee shop you go to? At the gym? At your workplace? At the show you go on the weekend?

What percentage of the day are you able to be with people of your own racial identity?

Notice how much of your day you are speaking about racism. Who are you engaging with on these issues? Who are you not? Why do you think this is?

What are the last five books you read? What is the racial mix of the authors?

What is the racial mix of the main characters in your favorite TV shows? Movies?

What is the racial mix of people pictured in the photos and artwork in your home? In your friend, family, and colleagues' homes?

Who is filling what kinds of jobs/social roles in your world? (e.g. Who's the store manager and who's stocking the shelves? Who's waiting on tables and who's busing the food?) Can you correlate any of this to racial identity?

Who do you notice on magazine covers? What roles are people of color filling in these images?

If you're traveling by car, train, or air, do you notice housing patterns? How is housing arranged? Who lives near the downtown commerce area and who does not? Who lives near the waterfront and who does not? Who lives in industrial areas and who does not? What is the density of a given neighborhood? Can you correlate any of this to racial identity?

3) Review the Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist, Multicultural Institution with a small group of people at your workplace, faith institution, club, or any organization you're a part of.

Where do you think the organization is right now? What's your evidence? Has the organization evolved in some ways? What caused/allowed for that? Has the organization articulated a desire to evolve towards being an anti-racist, multicultural organization? If not, do you have the power to influence that movement? Who are your in-organization and/or stakeholder allies? If yes, what steps is it taking? Could it be doing more? If so what? Who are your in-organization and/or stakeholder allies?

This can be the hardest part for people new to racial justice work. Engaging in racially mixed settings can trigger age-old power and privilege dynamics. The goal is to be a learner more than a knower, exactly the opposite of what dominant U.S. culture teaches us to be.

Here are some Engagement Tips to guide you:

Enter the process to learn and bridge knowledge gaps.

Enter the process to practice mindful social habits like the ones below.

Work to stay engaged even when your mind and body start sending you signals to shrink or walk away.

Ask clarifying questions.

Acknowledge what you don't know.

Validate others by listening closely and believing the truth and importance of what they are sharing.

Share airtime so that multiple perspectives are shared.

Step Up Step Back. If you are generally quiet, step up and practice speaking more. If you are generally a talker, practice stepping back and listening more.

Notice your biases and judgments as they arise. These are gold for you to excavate your subconscious!

Notice when you are uncomfortable. Reflect on why you're uncomfortable and think about what you can do to build more emotional stamina in this area.

Honor confidentiality. Though you can share what you are learning in general terms, do not repeat stories in a way that can be traced back to the person who shared it.

Find a mentor within your own racial group to support and guide your growth.

If you are white, join a Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ) chapter in your area.

Google who's who in your area by typing in 'Racial Justice" or "Anti-Racist/m" + name of city/town, organization, or sector. A few website visits, emails, and phone calls later, you'll likely have an idea of how to get on the mailing of one or more organizations in your area who are addressing issues of power and privilege. Once you connect to one, it's easy to connect to many!

Research racial justice speakers and see who might be coming to your local university, church, community center, or speaker series.

Take a course or workshop. Community Colleges and Adult Education Centers are a great place to find a course about social justice issues.

Though many people want to jump to action sooner instead of later, action without a vigorous self-education, self-reflection, and multiracial coalition can unexpectedly reproduce the very power and privilege dynamics we seek to interrupt. That said, sometimes acting immediately is called for. Welcome to the messy, imperfect world of challenging the status quo! Here are a few actions that you might consider:

Invite friend(s), family, and/or colleagues to do the 21-Day Challenge with you.

Prepare yourself to interrupt racial jokes. Click HERE for some advice about how.

Interrupt the pattern of white silence by speaking openly with family, friends, and colleagues about what you're doing and learning in the 21-Day Challenge.

Invite friend(s), family, and/or colleagues to join you for one or more of your daily "to-do's" for a low-threshold invitation into the work and introduction to the 21-Day Challenge.

Find out if your school, workplace, or faith group has an Equity Committee. What can you learn from them? Are they open to new members? Join if you can. Support in other ways if you can't.

Find organizations such as The Privilege Institute, your local YWCA, and other non-profits doing racial justice work and support them through donating your time, money, and other resources.

Find a 21-Day Challenge group in your region or sector and reach out to connect with, and perhaps co-create a region or sector specific 21-Day Challenge in the future. Google "21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge + your state, region, or sector"

When the status quo is blatantly racist, disrupt it. No matter how big or small put yourself out there to create change. No need to wait until you are comfortable disrupting; it may never get comfortable, though you will get better at managing discomfort. These actions are generally more successful when done in multiracial coalition. Examples from past participants include:

Demanding administration change the name of a dodgeball team from "The Cottonpickers"

Improving the representation of books in the library by raising funds and purchasing hundreds of new books

Conducting an equity audit within the organization

Creating learning communities to set goals, objectives, and action plans

Disrupting inappropriate language by offering alternative language you yourself are learning

Speaking, emailing, and posting about articles, blogs, movies, and this 21-Day Challenge that you find impactful.

Let people know you are not neutral!

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21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge©

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Short, Coffee Break Length The Disturbing History of the Suburbs , An Adam Ruins Everything episode that quickly and humorously educates how redlining came to be (6 minutes) What Would You Do?: Bicycle Thief Episode ABC's popular show explores the impact of racial and gender bias and prejudice at a family friendly park.

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I want to share that this is important to me for many reasons. One being that it was very hard for me to teach as a white person during Black History Month. When I taught kindergarten, I made sure to touch on important topics and put in as much as I could about the mistreatment of Blacks during the civil rights. Every year I would have a child say, “Mrs. Dodd, you are white, do you hate black people?” To which I wanted to cry. Seeing that I feel like we have regressed racially instead of moving forward like we should be doing, who am I to run from speaking the hard truth? It's so important that I showed these students history, but then also showed them the history of their culture where they stood tall and overcame so much. They should be proud of the generations before them that were able to fight for their rights.

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Upcoming ONLINE Workshop Series

In many ways, the racial injustice being highlighted in this time in history is not new. What IS new is the way racial justice is now being covered by the mainstream media and discussed in every forum. Students are looking to their teachers to help navigate and make sense of what they are seeing.

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In many ways, the racial injustice being highlighted in this time in history is not new. What IS new is the way racial justice is now being covered by the mainstream media and discussed in every forum. Students are looking to their teachers to help navigate and make sense of what they are seeing.

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YWCA Central Alabama is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

I made the choice today that I am going to engage within the conversations happening at the YWCA of central Alabama. You can register to receive a zoom link and attend the zoom to watch great panelist. I am going to see if I can get a friend group together who would like to watch this together and then have some open conversations about some hard topics, we need to educate ourselves on and how we can move forward to make change within our society.

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YWCA Central Alabama commits, communicates, educates, and advocates every day to further our mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and

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A administrator at my school and I have discussed unconscious bias. The Ted Talk below would be something great to show to the staff at the beginning of the school year. This would allow us to have a look within ourselves when we teach and when we decide who we want to mentor.

https://www.ted.com/talks/yassmin_abdel_magied_what_does_my_headscarf_mean_to_you

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I have connected with this site and read through a lot of the blog post and have listened to one of the podcasts so far titled, coaching for equity. I look forward to staying connected and using what I learn to help my co-workers and the people around me.

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Upcoming ONLINE Workshop Series

In many ways, the racial injustice being highlighted in this time in history is not new. What IS new is the way racial justice is now being covered by the mainstream media and discussed in every forum. Students are looking to their teachers to help navigate and make sense of what they are seeing.

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In many ways, the racial injustice being highlighted in this time in history is not new. What IS new is the way racial justice is now being covered by the mainstream media and discussed in every forum. Students are looking to their teachers to help navigate and make sense of what they are seeing.

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From the exercise I did on noticing’ in my community, I wanted to go research my area and see what the demographics are of Shelby County. To say I am shocked is an understatement. We live in a diverse neighborhood, and I was under the impression that the entire county was more diverse.

I would challenge everyone to do this to understand the racial composition of the county they live in, and then think about or research why that is. We all need to notice more things about the community in which we are involved and live.

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Sayings that Diminish or Disparage Native Culture

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Sayings that Diminish or Disparage Native Culture

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I heard a comment made about Native Americans, and I chose to educate the person who said it on sayings that can diminish the Native culture.
As we passed a street that was clearly named after a Native tribe, and it showed that they were having something for the 4th of July, and a comment was made that we should see if we could join their “pow wow” I let this person read the article I had recently read about how to be more respectful of the Native American culture. I challenged them to join this 21-day challenge with me, so I am sending the links to the things I find and then we can discuss them. I saw remorse for the comment that was made, and we were able to talk about how we say things so freely with no regard to how it could be disrespectful to others. That’s something that needs to change not only with us personally, but within our society.

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After Speaking with a friend regarding their sexuality and the things that I could do to better educate myself. I found this podcast that I really enjoyed. This podcast looks at gender and sexuality through news articles. You get a chance to see it differently with the help of experts that are certified to speak on these topics.  Within this certain podcast called, how a judge learned about queer lives. It looks at the story of two lesbian women who were being threatened by the police and who went to the courts for refuge. We can see behind the scenes of what a judge did to better educate himself on the LGBTQ community. He sought counsel to help him understand this certain lifestyle and noted that he needs to progress within his views. He wanted to represent this couple and knew he needed to educate himself on the topic to represent them to the best of his ability. They quoted this judge saying that he is part of the society with all the misconceptions, and now he is in the process of unlearning, so he can help educate the society in which he lives.  I feel very close to the process in which the judge is going through. The process of unlearning. I grew up generationally where this was not something that was discussed in our homes, or in society. I have watched it progress slowly in the last couple of years, yet its just now that I know I must unlearn everything I have learned to understand and give the proper respect to many people around me.

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Follow Up: My Noticing Within My Community 

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Follow Up: My Noticing Within My Community 

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I took the challenge to answer the questions below. I made sure to wait a week to make sure that I had enough time to watch and reflect on the things around me.
Questions:
1. Who is and is not represented in ads? Within the ads that I see on TV, I have noticed that they are pretty diverse. More diverse than I have ever seen before which shows interracial couples, gay couples, and a mixture of ethnicities. I can say however after doing this challenge and really looking at ad’s that there are not many, or not at all, Muslims, or Hispanics that I see as much as I have noticed white, black and Asian people.
2. Who are your ten closest friends? What is the racial mix in this group? Out of my 10 closest friends, its 6 white and 4 black. Beyond those closest to me, many of my friends are black.
3. As you move through the day, what’s the racial composition of the people around you? On your commute? At the coffee shop you go to. At the gym? At your workplace? At the show you go on the weekend? I live in a diverse neighborhood, but I would still say that the majority of the people around where I go to the grocery story, and for some of my commutes are a mix of white and black. My workplace is made up of mostly black teachers and students, with a few white teachers and Hispanic students. I have approximately 60 El students.
4. What percentage of the day are you able to be with people of your own racial identity? I am not usually with many people of my racial identity until I come home in the evening with my family. My Para is Hispanic that I am with all day as well as my EL students.
5. Notice how much of your day you are speaking about racism. Who are you engaging with on these issues? Who are you not? Why do you think this is? I have noticed in this last week that there are very few conversations about racism unless I am in this class discussing it. I do not think that it is a topic on my end that is chosen to not be discussed. It is simply not a topic that has been brought up within any of my conversations. I see how it is easy for me as a white woman to not have to address racism if I chose not to. That is definitely something I have noticed and learned this last week.
6. What is the racial mix of the main characters in your favorite TV shows? Movies? The TV shows that I watch have a great mix of diversity and diverse topics within them.
7. What is the racial mix of people pictured in the photos and artwork in your home? In your friend, family, and colleagues’ homes? This was a great question to think about and then go and notice. All of the pictures within my family’s home are of white people which is all family members. Depending on my friends and their ethnicity, that’s who I noticed was pictured within the photos in their homes, and in their classrooms.
8. Who is filling what kinds of jobs/social roles in your world? (e.g. Who’s the store manager and who’s stocking the shelves? Who’s waiting on tables and who’s busing the food?) Can you correlate any of this to racial identity?  This past week I paid a lot more attention to the people around me when I am shopping, getting gas, eating, and grocery shopping. When I am driving or even in the stores most of the time, I have always felt like there was an equal number of black and whites. What I noticed this last week really took me by surprise. I noticed that most of the workers in the restaurants, managers in the stores, and workers and managers in the grocery store were white. The only place I saw more diversity within the workers was in Target.
I am glad that I chose to do this challenge where I went out into my community and noticed my surroundings. I am definitely shocked that what I thought vs. Reality is different.

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This read outlined the entire history of Islam which is the religion followed by Muslims. As I was reading this article, I looked deep into my unconscious bias. I realized that I indeed have stereotyped many Muslims due to terrorist acts that have been caused around the world. I am going to include the last part of the article, and I believe that it speaks for itself and the unconscious bias many Americans have regarding the Muslims religion.

“In recent years, Islam’s supposed association with terrorism and mass murder has sparked a political debate in many countries. The controversial term “radical Islam” has become a well-known label to describe the religion’s connection to acts of violence.

Recent surveys have found that in countries with high Muslim populations, the majority of Muslims have overwhelmingly negative views of terrorist groups like ISIS.

While Muslims aim to clear up misconceptions about their faith, the religion continues to spread rapidly. Today, Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion. Experts predict Islam will surpass Christianity as the largest religion by the end of the century.” (History.com Editors, 2018)

I did not know that Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion. It makes me wonder where the religion is practiced the most within the United States, and how they are overcoming the misconceptions behind it. I will add this to my research list of things to read and learn about!

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Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions. Islam started in Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia, during the time of the prophet Muhammad's life. Today, the faith is spreading rapidly throughout the world.

Islam Facts

The word "Islam" means "submission to the will of God."

Followers of Islam are called Muslims.

Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah.

Followers of Islam aim to live a life of complete submission to Allah. They believe that nothing can happen without Allah's permission, but humans have free will.

Islam teaches that Allah's word was revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

Muslims believe several prophets were sent to teach Allah's law. They respect some of the same prophets as Jews and Christians, including Abraham, Moses, Noah and Jesus. Muslims contend that Muhammad was the final prophet.

Mosques are places where Muslims worship.

Some important Islamic holy places include the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the Prophet Muhammad's mosque in Medina.

The Quran (or Koran) is the major holy text of Islam. The Hadith is another important book. Muslims also revere some material found in the Judeo-Christian Bible.

Followers worship Allah by praying and reciting the Quran. They believe there will be a day of judgment, and life after death.

A central idea in Islam is "jihad," which means "struggle." While the term has been used negatively in mainstream culture, Muslims believe it refers to internal and external efforts to defend their faith. Although rare, this can include military jihad if a "just war" is needed.

Muhammad

The prophet Muhammad, sometimes spelled Mohammed or Mohammad, was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 570 A.D. Muslims believe he was the final prophet sent by God to reveal their faith to mankind.

According to Islamic texts and tradition, an angel named Gabriel visited Muhammad in 610 A.D. while he was meditating in a cave. The angel ordered Muhammad to recite the words of Allah.

Muslims believe that Muhammad continued to receive revelations from Allah throughout the rest of his life.

Starting in about 613, Muhammad began preaching throughout Mecca the messages he received. He taught that there was no other God but Allah and that Muslims should devote their lives to this God.

Hijra

In 622, Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina with his supporters. This journey became known as the Hijra (also spelled Hegira or Hijrah), and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Some seven years later, Muhammad and his many followers returned to Mecca and conquered the region. He continued to preach until his death in 632.

Abu Bakr

After Muhammad's passing, Islam began to spread rapidly. A series of leaders, known as caliphs, became successors to Muhammad. This system of leadership, which was run by a Muslim ruler, became known as a caliphate.

The first caliph was Abu Bakr, Muhammad's father-in-law and close friend.

Abu Bakr died about two years after he was elected and was succeeded in 634 by Caliph Umar, another father-in-law of Muhammad.

Caliphate System

When Umar was assassinated six years after being named caliph, Uthman, Muhammad's son-in-law, took the role.

Uthman was also killed, and Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was selected as the next caliph.

During the reign of the first four caliphs, Arab Muslims conquered large regions in the Middle East, including Syria, Palestine, Iran and Iraq. Islam also spread throughout areas in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The caliphate system lasted for centuries and eventually evolved into the Ottoman Empire, which controlled large regions in the Middle East from about 1517 until 1917, when World War I ended the Ottoman reign.

Sunnis and Shiites

When Muhammad died, there was debate over who should replace him as leader. This led to a schism in Islam, and two major sects emerged: the Sunnis and the Shiites.

Sunnis make up nearly 90 percent of Muslims worldwide. They accept that the first four caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad.

Shiite Muslims believe that only the caliph Ali and his descendants are the real successors to Muhammad. They deny the legitimacy of the first three caliphs. Today, Shiite Muslims have a considerable presence in Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Other Types of Islam

Other, smaller Muslim denominations within the Sunni and Shiite groups exist. Some of these include:

Wahhabi: This Sunni sect, made up of members of the Tameem tribe in Saudi Arabia, was founded in the 18th century. Followers observe an extremely strict interpretation of Islam that was taught by Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahhab.

Alawite: This Shiite form of Islam is prevalent in Syria. Followers hold similar beliefs about the caliph Ali but also observe some Christian and Zoroastrian holidays.

Nation of Islam: This mostly African-American, Sunni sect was founded in the 1930s in Detroit, Michigan.

Kharijites: This sect broke from the Shiites after disagreeing over how to select a new leader. They are known for radical fundamentalism, and today are called Ibadis.

Quran

Nazaruddin Abdul Hamed/EyeEm/Getty Images

The Quran (sometimes spelled Qur'an or Koran) is considered the most important holy book among Muslims.

It contains some basic information that is found in the Hebrew Bible as well as revelations that were given to Muhammad. The text is considered the sacred word of God and supercedes any previous writings.

Most Muslims believe that Muhammad's scribes wrote down his words, which became the Quran. (Muhammad himself was never taught to read or write.)

The book is written with Allah as the first person, speaking through Gabriel to Muhammad. It contains 114 chapters, which are called surahs.

Scholars believe the Quran was compiled shortly after Muhammad's death, under the guidance of Caliph Abu Bakr.
READ MORE: Why the Quran Was a Bestseller Among Christians in 18th Century America
Islamic Calendar

The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijra calendar, is a lunar calendar used in Islamic religious worship. The calendar began in the year 622 A.D., celebrating the journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.

The Islamic calendar indicates the proper days of Islamic holidays and celebrations, including the period of fasting and prayer known as Ramadan, which occurs during the ninth month of the calendar.

Islam Symbols

As in many religions, there is no single image or symbol of Islam that is universally accepted by all Muslims worldwide.

The crescent moon and star has been adopted in some predominantly Muslim countries as a symbol of Islam, though the crescent moon and star image is believed to pre-date Islam and was originally a symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

In some other applications, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian aid movement, a red crescent indicates that followers of Islam are respected and treated accordingly.

The color green is also sometimes associated with Islam, as it was reportedly a favorite color of Muhammad's and is often featured prominently in the flags of predominantly Muslim countries.

Five Pillars of Islam

Muslims follow five basic pillars that are essential to their faith. These include:

Shahada: to declare one's faith in God and belief in Muhammad

Salat: to pray five times a day (at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening)

Zakat: to give to those in need

Sawm: to fast during Ramadan

Hajj: to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during a person's lifetime if the person is able

Sharia Law

Islam's legal system is known as Sharia Law. This faith-based code of conduct directs Muslims on how they should live in nearly every aspect of their lives.

Sharia law requires men and women to dress modestly. It also outlines marriage guidelines and other moral principles for Muslims.

If crimes are committed, Sharia law is known for its harsh punishments. For example, the punishment for theft is amputating a person's hand. Adultery can carry the penalty of death by stoning. However, many Muslims do not support such extreme measures.

Muslim Prayer

The prophet Muhammad is credited with building the first mosque in the courtyard of his house in Medina. Mosques today follow some of the same principles he established in 622 A.D.

Muslim prayer is often conducted in a mosque's large open space or outdoor courtyard. A mihrab is a decorative feature or niche in the mosque that indicates the direction to Mecca, and therefore the direction to face during prayer.

Men and women pray separately, and Muslims may visit a mosque five times a day for each of the prayer sessions. In addition to hosting prayers, mosques often function as public gathering places and social centers.

Muslim Holidays

The two major Muslim holidays are:

Eid al-Adha: celebrates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.

Eid al-Fitr: marks the end of Ramadan-the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Muslims also celebrate other holidays, such as the Islamic New Year and the birth of Muhammad.

Islam Today

In recent years, Islam's supposed association with terrorism and mass murder has sparked a political debate in many countries. The controversial term "radical Islam" has become a well-known label to describe the religion's connection to acts of violence.

Recent surveys have found that in countries with high Muslim populations, the majority of Muslims have overwhelmingly negative views of terrorist groups like ISIS.

While Muslims aim to clear up misconceptions about their faith, the religion continues to spread rapidly. Today, Islam is the world's fastest growing religion. Experts predict Islam will surpass Christianity as the largest religion by the end of the century.

Sources

Islam, BBC.
Islam: The Second Largest World Religion...And Growing, Religious Tolerance.
Islam Fast Facts, CNN.
Basic Facts About Islam, PBS.
What is Sharia Law and How is it Applied? BBC.
In nations with significant Muslim populations, much disdain for ISIS. Pew Research Center.
Islam Rituals and Worship: Symbolism, The Religion Library.
The Islamic Calendar: TimeandDate.com.

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Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions.

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Even though this is not based solely upon Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s religion, she challenges us to look beyond our initial perceptions. It made me realize in a deeper way what an unconscious bias is. Sure, I have heard the meaning, listened to examples, but it’s not until you yourself are put in the position to see your unconscious bias that the light bulb goes off and you realize how dangerous it is for society today and the stereotypes we place on race, religion, sexuality, etc.

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What do you think when you look at this speaker? Well, think again. (And then again.) In this funny, honest, empathetic talk, Yassmin Abdel-Magied challenges us to look beyond our initial perceptions, and to open doors to new ways of supporting others.

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Today I engaged in a conversation regarding religion and Roe vs. Wade that was overturned. I had been looking at the guiding tips on things to consider when engaging within these types of conversations, and from the list, I used both:
1. Validate others by listening closely and believing the truth and importance of what they are sharing.
2.Notice your biases and judgments as they arise.
This was hard for me. Literally made my anxiety go through the roof. I am not a confrontational person, and I have been raised to not share my political views. I have seen from just standing back and watching that there are many people in my friend circle who have stated if a person thinks a certain way, then they won’t be friends with them anymore. I am very much the opposite and want to hear why people think the way they do. It’s ok to me to have differing opinions. I have been very hesitant to have a conversation with the person that I did today based on all the things stated above. I did it however, and it turned out better than I imagined it would have.  I began the conversation after being engaged with the topic to let this person know why I would be hesitant to have a deep conversation with them about such a heated and personal topic. I think by me being honest upfront that it allowed this person to understand and listen more to see where I was coming from. I am glad to say that we are on great terms and have different opinions on our feelings and that’s ok!  I can tell you the truth and I would not have had that conversation had it not been for this challenge. I would have continued to be voiceless in the back. I have now had two hard conversations and know that I have work to do on communication, but I am getting there and feel slightly more confident than I did.

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I listened to this Ted Talk from Mary Bassett. She is the director of FXB center for health and human rights at Harvard University.
The more I look at racial equity on this 21-day challenge, the more I am realizing that I do not know enough. Do I not know enough because of my “white privilege”? This is one of the hard questions I am asking myself on this journey.  This Ted Talk opened my eyes to a conversation I haven’t thought much about when it comes to racial equity and that is, how does race affect the medical attention you receive? This is called structural racism. Dr. Bassett spoke about the socioeconomic status of Americans and looked specifically at African Americans in New York. It was heartbreaking to hear the percentage of people who will die earlier than others based on their race. With this includes the color of people’s skin and the medical treatment they receive because of that, or simply because they do not live in an area where they have the proper food to eat that will give them nutrients, or maybe they don’t live in an area where they feel its safe to walk outside and exercise. She takes all of this into account when looking at people and the equitable medical treatment that they receive because of their race. This was eye opening for me!  Dr. Bassett made a great point about societal positions. She said that if you have a good one, then you should not waste it and advocate for those who do not. That is what her work aims to do.  In reflection, I need to think about the position I have in society and how the people around me are privileged and marginalized. I wonder what I can do to help.

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Mary Bassett: How Does Racism Affect Your Health?

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How does race affect the medical attention you receive, your baby’s chances of living, and your life expectancy? Mary Bassett says structural racism can impact every aspect of health.

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21 Things You Can Do To Be More Respectful of Native American Cultures

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21 Things You Can Do To Be More Respectful of Native American Cultures

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I found this read to be very informative of the Native Americans. It talks about 21 things you can do to be more respectful of their culture.

This was number 5 on the list. Avoid sayings that diminish or disparage Native culture. Having an opportunity to do this 21-day challenge is so eye opening for me. I am grateful for it, and this is one reason right here. #5 on the list of how you need to be respectful of the Native American culture. I can say that I have used the term “Indian giver”, “lowest on the totem pole”, and “let’s have a pow wow” more times than I care to count. It is so important that we understand our ignorance, even though not intended to be cruel, and make changes. What I have realized in life is that not everyone is comfortable with correcting you if you have offended them or said something that you shouldn’t say again. Learning to be pro active about diversity is really our responsibility. I have enjoyed this so much, that I will continue to find resources and learn regarding many types of diverse cultures, religions, and sexuality.

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Today is Indigenous Peoples Day. A colleague asked me to write and encourage people to not use sayings that reference Native American culture ("let's have a pow wow") or allude to Native Americans as enemies ("circle the wagons"). I realized that besides our thoughtless usage of phrases, we all probably do other things that are disrespectful. I checked in with a few of my friends and colleagues who are Native about things that they wish all of us who are not Native would do or not do. It has led to some eye-opening conversations.

The tips below, in no particular order, are from Tara Dowd, Inupiaq; Randy Ramos, Colville and Coeur D'Alene; James Lovell, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe; Joey Gray, Métis and Okanagan; Vicki Mudd, nondocumented Cherokee and Blackfoot; and Miriam Zbignew-Angelova, Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Sauk/Fox, and African-American and Ashkenazi. Sentences in quotation marks are from them. I want to thank my colleagues for their time and suggestions for resources. This is clearly an area that many of us need to learn more about and do better on, and I'm grateful for their time and energy.

I know that Native American history and identity are extremely complex and can't be covered in a blog post, especially one that is written by a non-Native, but I hope that at the very least, this would be a start for all of us to be more thoughtful in our interactions with our Native colleagues and community members.

1. Understand that being Native means different things to every person. "To some people, it means being Indian. To some, it means being Native. To some it means being American Indian. Native American. Indigenous. Alaskan Native. First Nations. Some folks exclusively use their tribe's name." Here's an , for instance, about the complexity of the term "Native American" and "American Indian."

2. Find out whose land you are on, and honor it. "Remember that every inch of the US land was acquired illegally so that's the deficit that organizations need to understand as they begin working with tribal people and entities." If you don't know whose land you are occupying, here's an awesome where you can enter in your city in the US or Canada and it'll tell you, along with links so you can learn more about the Nations or tribes whose land you are on.

3. Never ask anyone if they're an "enrolled member." There is so much complexity to this question. "You may be 100% eligible and not enrolled." Many people are from multiple tribes. Some people may not have their paperwork for a variety of reasons.

4. Do not lightly claim that you have Native American heritage. Don't lightly say things like you have an uncle who was a shaman or your grandmother was a Cherokee princess. "No one is a Cherokee princess. No tribes had that term in the history of Indigenous people so just stop with that non-sense. Along with this, you don't become Native just because your DNA test says you are. Like just DON'T." Here's a thought-provoking on why so many people claim to be Cherokee.

5. Avoid sayings that diminish or disparage Native culture. As mentioned above, don't say things like "let's have a pow wow," "lowest person on the totem pole," "too many chiefs, not enough Indians," "Indian giver," "circle the wagons," etc. These phrases are disrespectful, and we still use them every day. "Spirit animal" is another one; some colleagues suggest using "Patronus" instead (that's a reference from Harry Potter.)

6. Don't "play Indian." As this states, "While minstrel shows have long been criticized as racist, American children are still socialized into playing Columbus Day celebrations, Halloween costumes, and Thanksgiving reenactments stereotype Indigenous Peoples as one big distorted culture. We are relegated to racist stereotypes and cultural caricatures." Avoid treating Native communities and members as logos, mascots, costumes, caricatures, etc.

7. Be where people are. Go to the reservation and Native community organizations. Visit your local Native cultural center. Learn about the culture and history.

8. Support Native artists and businesses by buying Native. Buy art, jewelry, clothing, and other items made by Native people and communities. Do not buy "Native" items that are not made my Native Americans and that are just taking advantage of Native culture to make money; be aware of by non-Natives who claim that proceeds from sales are benefiting Natives. These scams are illegal according to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 and should be .

9. Invite an elder or tribal leader to do an opening prayer or invocations at large events. This is a way to honor and to bring attention to the tribes whose land the event is taking place on. But do your research first so you do it right. And make sure you honor people's time, culture, and expertise by providing an honorarium to the leader or organization.

10. Understand that there are over 550 tribal affiliations in the US. They are extremely diverse and have different languages and cultural customs. This is why it is important to do your research. Do not lump everyone together. A colleague mentioned, for example, being asked to represent the tribe whose land the organization was trying to honor, even though she is not a member of that tribe.

11. Don't assume that tribal people get money from casinos. As mentioned in this handy simple guide, "Out of more than 560 Federally recognized tribes, only 224 operate gaming facilities. About three-fourths of those tribes reinvest revenue in the community. In 2006, only 73 tribes distributed direct payments to individual Tribal members."

12. When disaggregating data, make sure to include Natives. Even if they are a small percentage. "I mean, think about it," says a colleague, "They are such a small percentage of the overall population BECAUSE of the injustice done by colonization and ethnic cleansing." It does not help to further minimize people's existence by excluding them.

13. Don't expect every cultural custom will be explained to you. For example, when you are at a cultural event. As a colleague mentioned, "We don't want to feel like an exhibit and have to explain everything going on." Also, there might be times when people are required not to talk about something. If you work with kids, for instance, be sensitive about forcing them to share their culture. "Some things are not meant to be shared."

14. If you're at an event, be thoughtful and patient around time. Events may not start or end on time. This does not necessarily mean that people can't be punctual. They may just value other things more highly, such as creating space to build relationships, or to be inclusive of everyone's stories.

15. Be sensitive during meal times. Food is a significant part of many communities and cultures. A colleague mentioned that in her tribe, elders eat first, and those who are able-bodied are expected to get plates for the elders or for mothers with small children. Be aware when you are at an event and not just jump directly into the food line.

16. Don't say costume when referring to native dance outfits and traditional wear. A dancer's outfit is called regalia. As mentioned in this article on pow wow etiquette: "Often pieces of the regalia are family heirlooms. Regalia is created by the dancer or by a respected family member or friend. The feathers in particular are sacred and highly valued and cared for. The beadwork may take a very long time to complete. Sometimes years have gone into the final completion of a dancer's regalia."

17. Do not assume Native Americans have high rates of alcoholism. Actually, as mentioned , Native Americans have "the highest rate of complete abstinence. When socioeconomic level is accounted for in a comparison group, alcoholism rates are no different for AI/ANs than for other ethnic or racial groups." Adds a colleague, "But alcohol WAS used to obtain illegal signatures for treaties and access to lands and resources that belonged to tribal people. So maybe don't invite Natives to do 'business' in a bar without checking in first."

18. Do not tokenize people. As with other marginalized communities, they'll know if you are only trying to look diverse, or to look good for a grant application or something. Spend time building actual relationships, and ensure people and organizations are equitably compensated.

19. Ensure the voices of Natives are amplified. We've seen when non-Native journalists are paid to tell stories about Native communities and their struggles. Let's ensure the people whose stories are being told are the ones telling them. However, we all need to do our own research and reflections so our Native colleagues are not always having to educate us. [Update: This is my personal blog, so my research and writing on this topic is part of my personal learning and reflection. I would never, for example, allow myself to be quoted in another publication or get paid to speak on behalf of Native/Indigenous communities]

20. Don't bring up the land bridge theory. Many communities are very sensitive to the theory that Native Americans came over from Asia through the Bering Strait. You can read a couple of articles from Native perspectives and , but it may be best not to bring it up.

21. Check your white privilege. "Native people don't have time or the emotional energy to labor through your hang ups around race issues or your identity crisis." Do your work to understand your own heritage and the privileges that come with it, and understand your family's history, including the parts that may be challenging, that may have involved displacing Natives from their land, for example.

22. (Update). Use the present tense. Many of us make the mistake of using the past tense when talking about Native communities, and according to this , "A staggering 87 percent of references to American Indians in all 50 states' academic standards portray them in a pre-1900 context." Many kids believe that Native Americans only exist in the past; they have no understanding of current Native cultures and challenges, and we adults often inadvertently contribute to this. As a colleague states, "the use of only the past tense contributes to the genocidal narrative that we're anything but still here."

I know this is a simplistic list that can't possibly cover hundreds of communities and cultures, but I hope it's a start. Thanks again to all my colleagues. Please let me in the comment section anything I missed or got wrong, or other things it would be important for us all to know.

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21 things you can do to be more respectful of Native American cultures

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Today is Indigenous Peoples Day. A colleague asked me to write and encourage people to not use sayings that reference Native American culture ("let's have a pow wow") or allude to Native Americans ...

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A Look at Race Relations through a Child's Eyes

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A Look at Race Relations through a Child's Eyes

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This video was done in 2012. To me, I feel as though we have regressed even further since then, and it should not be that way. I wanted to watch and reflect on this because I was interested in seeing if I had any of the same experiences teaching 5/6-year-old students in kindergarten. It was very eye opening to see how different children reacted to pictures of a white child and a black child, and how that led to conversations they have heard either at school or at home about race. The consensus was that black children were more positive about race than white children.

I can attest that all my experiences being a minority within a predominately black school system either doing hours for the TEP, student teaching, and now teaching have all been positive. There have been many times where I have entered a predominately white school for the same reasons, and almost felt out of place. That’s just my personal experience, but it matched what I saw within this video clip. I would like to see a video like this today in 2022. Maybe there is, and that’s something I can do to research this topic. I want to see the viewpoint from a child’s eyes today.

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A Look at Race Relations through a Child's Eyes

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| I engaged today with someone through a conversation about their sexuality. I have watched this person transition from a woman to becoming non-binary. Through the process of looking at resources within the 21-day challenge, there were two engagement tips that stuck out to me.
1. Ask Clarifying Questions Notice when you are uncomfortable.
2. Reflect on why you’re uncomfortable and think about what you can do to build more emotional stamina in this area. I realized that I practiced both today. I asked specific clarifying questions to make sure that I am respectful in what their pronouns are. The pronouns are they/them.  I then acknowledged that it can be uncomfortable to me to misstate their pronoun and use she/her because that is what I am accustomed to. I appreciated the honest conversation and within the conversation I was given three things to think about.
1. Don’t over apologize and draw a lot of attention to the fact that you have misstated a pronoun in conversation. Correct it and move on.
2. For someone who is transitioning to non-binary, it can be emotionally exhausting for them to try and tell you it’s ok every time you do not get their pronoun correct. It’s your job to make a conscious effort to learn.
3. We use the pronouns they/them all the time. Example, they ran out in front of me on the interstate. Did you see them at the restaurant? This was a big growing moment for me.
I appreciated the engaging conversation, and that this person took their time to teach me. Of course, it was understood that my intentions were pure, and I appreciated that acknowledgment. I reflected today over this engagement and thought to myself how different our world could be if a multicultural education was brought into our school systems where students are taught how to communicate and listen to learn.

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You Cannot Divorce Race From Immigration

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You Cannot Divorce Race From Immigration

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I chose to listen to this piece on immigration because I want to learn more about immigration and the arguments surrounding what has been going on in our country based on who should be let in? I enjoyed listening to this conversation between NPR’s Rachel Martin and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. Vargas is an undocumented immigrant. He wrote the book "Dear America: Notes of An Undocumented Citizen." He called ICE on himself and asked why he has yet to be deported. He believes that a conversation about immigration must also be a conversation about race. He acknowledges that we must ask the hard questions to get to a place of understanding with the immigration system. Again, I am enjoying this process because I can have access to resources that will help me learn and grow. Within the challenge of this week, I realize there is a lot that I don’t know or understand. Immigration being one of them. This was a great way for me to listen to someone who is a true undocumented immigrant, and here what he believes and knows needs to happen.

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NOEL KING, HOST:

Immigration policy is polarizing - travel bans, family separation, defining who qualifies for asylum. But one thing a lot of people agree on - the U.S. immigration system is broken. Last month, the senior editor of the Atlantic, David Frum, wrote a cover story proposing that the U.S. cut legal immigration by half. He talked about the story with our co-host Rachel Martin.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED BROADCAST)

DAVID FRUM: I don't think most Americans understand how small the benefits of immigration are, the economic benefits, to the legal residents of the United States.

KING: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas is an undocumented immigrant. He wrote the book "Dear America: Notes Of An Undocumented Citizen." He responded to Frum's argument in a lecture at the University of Chicago last night. Rachel talked to Vargas earlier this week, and he told her that a conversation about immigration must also be a conversation about race.

JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS: A cursory reading of U.S. history will tell you that you cannot divorce race from immigration and from who gets to be a citizen. So when they asked me to give this lecture in Chicago, how do I take, you know, advantage of the opportunity that we have to have this conversation that connects race and immigration and talk about how you cannot discuss immigration policy - who gets to go in, who we bar from coming in and then who gets to be, quote, unquote, "a citizen" - until you connect those two things together. This idea that, you know, how much immigration is too much, well, that's a question that we've been asking since the beginning of this country. And to not talk about race and how that is connected to the issue of immigration, to me, is journalistically irresponsible.

RACHEL MARTIN, BYLINE: Do you agree that there are, though, real problems with the overall immigration system? I mean...

VARGAS: Oh, my God. Yes.

MARTIN: ...The immigration courts overflowing, huge backlog.

VARGAS: Absolutely. To me, not only is it broken, but this seems deliberate. You know, both parties have had opportunities to actually act and actually insist on some sort of policy change, but that has not happened. Meanwhile, David in this piece and a lot of news sources, you know, whenever they talk about immigrant labor, they leave out significant facts. According to the Social Security Administration, undocumented workers in the past decade have contributed $100 billion into the Social Security fund. I mean, that fact did not make it into David Frum's Atlantic cover story.

MARTIN: This is such a multilayered conversation and issue. But so much of what prevents a change in the immigration laws is the inability to focus on the specific laws and rules. And so to that end, I mean, do you think that the asylum laws need to be stricter?

VARGAS: I think the asylum laws need to be re-examined. I think the immigration system, as I said, is not only broken, I think it's - I don't think that's an accident, right? I think that needs to be really figured out. Like, who should we let in? For me, part of the reason why I came out was to actually help to force these questions, right? Like, for example, I don't know why I haven't gotten deported. I have no idea. I don't understand how other immigrants can get deported, and I can't.

I actually - during part of my reporting on this issue, I actually called ICE myself back in 2012. And I asked them, you know, hey, I came out as undocumented a few months ago. I haven't heard from you. And this was when Obama was president. And in that year, in 2011, he deported 400,000 people. And I wasn't one of them.

MARTIN: David Frum, who is a vocal Trump critic, agrees with President Trump on this idea of getting rid of a rule that says one member of the family who immigrates to the U.S. can then bring other relatives in. Critics of this policy call it chain migration. Proponents call it family reunification. I mean, Frum says that should stop.

VARGAS: What I find interesting - you know, you made that point, that Frum is a vocal Trump critic - this kind of opinion-oriented punditry. You know, I want facts. I want context. I want opinions to be based from facts and context. His story actually asked some hard questions that we have to grapple with - right? - but not using the kind of context and not reporting the kind of facts that we need to grapple with those questions.

MARTIN: It sounds like - I mean, they're very fundamental disagreements with Frum on a variety of levels. But the main problem, as you see it, is just you don't believe his data.

VARGAS: The data, the - then the arguments. Like, I remember when I was reading the piece, you know, the - one of the things that stood out to me was this argument that, in many ways, immigrants are to be blamed for what employers are doing. There's a line that says immigrants are enabling employers to behave badly. So we are now blaming the people that employers hire so they can have labor. Are we then blaming the people who actually don't have power to set the policies and redefine what the laws even are and who they're for?

MARTIN: The title of your book is "Dear America: Notes Of An Undocumented Citizen," though. The word citizen is important.

VARGAS: I actually think it's the unifying conversation that unites all Americans of all backgrounds. Like, what does it mean to be a citizen in this country? So for the people listening who are, you know, U.S. citizens because they were born here, you know, congratulations, right? The accident of birth (laughter). Then what? How do we realize that our equalities are tied to one another? I've been traveling all across the country in the past eight years, talking to everybody who wants to talk to me, including people who want me detained and deported. And one of the things I ask most of the time is, where are you from?

(Laughter) I remember I was at this event at the University of Georgia in Athens. This was, like, in 2012. And I asked this to a young man - because, you know, people of color always get asked where we're from. Like, where are you from from? And so I have this habit now of asking white people where they're from. So I asked him. And he said, well, you know, I'm American. I said, yes, I know. And then he goes, I'm white. Well, white is not a country. You know, like, where are you from?

And then how did your, you know, ancestors get here? What papers did they have? Was there a visa process we don't know about? Was there a multi-billion-dollar enforcement agency like ICE, you know, trying to lock people up because they didn't have papers? And he said, I don't know. You know, what a privilege not to have to know. What a privilege to have to say, oh, I'm a citizen because I'm born here. But all these other people, you know, they got to go earn it. What does that mean exactly?

MARTIN: Jose, thank you so much for talking with us.

VARGAS: Thank you so much for having me.

(SOUNDBITE OF AVISHAI COHEN'S "ELLI")

KING: That was Jose Antonio Vargas. He's a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and activist.

Copyright © 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.

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You Cannot Divorce Race From Immigration, Jose Antonio Vargas Says

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NOEL KING, HOST: Immigration policy is polarizing - travel bans, family separation, defining who qualifies for asylum. But one thing a lot of people agree on - the U.S. immigration system is broken. Last month, the senior editor of the Atlantic, David Frum, wrote a cover story proposing that the U.S.

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I LOVED THIS! This video is such a good “hook” to begin a lesson on noticing. I am taking this challenge to notice the things around me in my community and these are the questions that I am using. I will go back and post my answers in a week when I have had time to chart my noticing’s. Questions:
1. Who is and is not represented in ads?
2. Who are your ten closest friends? What is the racial mix in this group?
3. As you move through the day, what’s the racial composition of the people around you? On your commute? At the coffee shop you go to. At the gym? At your workplace? At the show you go on the weekend?
4. What percentage of the day are you able to be with people of your own racial identity?
5. Notice how much of your day you are speaking about racism. Who are you engaging with on these issues? Who are you not? Why do you think this is?
6. What is the racial mix of the main characters in your favorite TV shows? Movies?
7. What is the racial mix of people pictured in the photos and artwork in your home? In your friend, family, and colleagues’ homes?
8. Who is filling what kinds of jobs/social roles in your world? (e.g. Who’s the store manager and who’s stocking the shelves? Who’s waiting on tables and who’s busing the food?) Can you correlate any of this to racial identity?

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I used the resource given to us for the 21-day challenge to connect and stay connected to something that will help me become a better educator and overall, more educated. I will use this resource to read about learning for justice and ask myself the hard questions about history, so I can take it into my classroom and teach it respectfully. It’s time that I take responsibility to learn how I can break the barrier and begin to have honest conversations. What I liked about this site is the first article that I came to referred to honest history. It took me back to our conversation we had in our last class about telling the truth; the hard truth when it comes to history. This specific article spoke about how white settlers formed a Republic of Texas in 1836 to continue slavery, which was being eliminated in Mexico. This took place all the way till 1865 when enslavers were still ignoring Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. This was until Black Union Soldiers and Gen. Gordon Granger came to force compliance with the law.

It is embarrassing for me to say that I don’t know about this history. I wasn’t taught this history. I am grateful for this exercise and the things that I know I will learn and hold with me beyond the 21 days.

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Learning for Justice is a community education program of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that centers civic and political action education for everyone.

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This is a video of an incident regarding Mexican Americans that lived in Lemon Grove. This is something that was very educational for me to see. So many times, when I think of racism I automatically think of the history between blacks and whites. Learning about multicultural education and diversity has really opened my eyes to another incidence that I had never known about. The students in this town were segregated for their race, not their abilities. Many of the Mexican American students were born in the United States and spoke English; still they were segregated. From July 23, 1930, when the school board met, to March 12, 1931, when the decision was made that it would be illegal to segregate these students in a new school. Almost a year had passed that these students did not receive a proper education. I think the damage that the school board did was unacceptable. The families as well as the children worked very hard for their community and paid taxes as American citizens. The fact that people did not want to help them progress within their education as an equal opportunity to their own children is heartbreaking. I am very glad that they were so strong and had a willingness to fight and overcome the divide. As an ESL teacher, learning about this helped me see some of the difficulties that Hispanic families faced and are still facing as we fight for equal rights for our ML students within the classrooms.

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The Lemon Grove Incident | EXPLORE San Diego

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The first successful desegregation court decision in the history of the U.S.

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“Multiplication is for White People” Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children. 

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“Multiplication is for White People” Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children. 

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Within this book it talked about the stereotypes we place on the children that attend urban schools. White people do not need to think that they are coming in to “save” these students. I have unfortunately learned that some people do think that way. Instead, we need to help students really understand that regardless of their situation that they have potential. We need to build relationships, start understanding their background and culture, and find positive ways to connect to the culture through curricular content. Every student has a skill and a talent. We don’t take the time to get to know our kids before we ourselves stereotype and set them up for failure.  It was good for me to go back and re-read and look at the notes that I took on each page to see if how I responded to the text then has changed or become more profound since I am now an educator.