1. What was your first experience with race?

1. The concept of Ubuntu is uniquely African. After reading the assigned reading and analyzing the short video by Dr. Nelson Mandela, do you think that the spirit of Ubuntu is alive and well today in African American culture? Explain your answer and give an example as to why you have chosen your position. 

1. Compare and contrast in detail and provide examples of any parallels/similarities that you have been able to identify between African cultures and African American culture. Has this concept of Ubuntu changed your worldview at all? Explain.

Identify with the following ethnic self identity measures:

1.  State your selections under the category of Natal Measures and also state why you chose them. Provide examples.

   
   

   Within the category of Natal measures, I chose birthplace of self, natural parents, and grandparents because each of these categories represents who I am as a person and my cultural background. My birthplace (Inglewood, CA) represents where I was born and raised. My grandparents represents part of cultural background and upbringing of my natural parents into the world. My natural parents represents where I get my features, my name and a part of my representation of who I am.

2. State your selections under the category of Behavioral Measures and also state why you chose them. Provide examples. 

   
   

   Within the category of Behavioral Measures, I chose food, music, and religion. I chose food, music and religion as my behavioral measures because each of these catergories represents not only my cultural background but my experience growing up in my black household. Religion plays a huge role because I grew up attending church with my family every single Sunday, I sang in the choir, participated in church activities and overall made a huge contribution to the development of our youth group at my church. Food will always plays a huge role in my cultural background as well because every Sunday we would have something known as "Sunday Dinner" at my grandma's house following Sunday service where we would cook and fellowship with one another afterwards. Finally music plays a huge role in my cultural background because in my household we weren't subjected to just listening to Rap or R&B, my mother always opened up our ears to a variety of musical selections.

3. State your selections under the category of Subjective Measures and also state why you chose them. Provide examples.

   
   

   Within the category of Subjective Measures I chose, values and aspiring self- concept. I chose these categories as my subjective measures because the way I grew up, the way we value ourselves is very important, for instance, being apart of the African American Culture we tend to have other ethnic groups look down upon us, so because of this we tend to value ourselves a little bit higher than how other perceive us. I also decided to chose aspiring self-concept because I was raised by a single black mother who always saying "I'm a strong independent black woman" and I feel like that somewhat rubbed off on me because when anybody ask me my relationship status, my response is normally " I'm a strong independent black women" and to many black men in our culture take it as a women telling them that they don't need a man.

4. State your selections under the category of Situation-Contextual Measure and also state why you chose them. Provide examples.

Within the category of Situation- contextual measure I chose religion and education because the way I grew up, Religion and Education was always key in my household. My mother always believe that you can't do nothing in life without God and a good education, and as well as in my cultural background. I was always reminded that growing up and being a minority you will never have a good job or be in a good position in life without a good education.

3.2 Padlet post: MULTI-GROUP ETHNIC IDENTITY MEASURE

Please post a response that includes the following information in full and complete college level academic sentences with punctuation and capitalization:

1. My Multi-group Ethnic Identity Measure score is (state score).

   
   

   My multi-group Identity Measure score is: 46

2. To me this score means that (state your analysis.)

To me this score means that I understand where I come from but I can be more knowledgeable about my family heritage because I do come from a multi-cultural background and since I was raised only by my mom I never had the chance to experience my father's cultural background.

3. I think that this means that I have a (strong/weak) bond with the (fill in ethnic group) because (state explanation.)

   
   

   I think this score means that I have a stronger bond with my African American background opposed to my fathers because I grew up with my mom and grandma and was taught and raised up by them therefore I've gotten the majority of my knowledge from them.

   
   

4. Explain anything that surprised you about this analysis.

What surprised me about my analysis was that I was made aware of what my strong suites are and what my weak suites are when it comes to understanding my cultural background. I know enough of what I've been taught, but I do understand that there's always room to learn more.

My score means to me that I am well aware of myself and who I am as a person. Although at times I may feel down and out about myself, but I will always understand my self worth in this world.

3. State why you believe your score is the number that it is. Provide examples. 

I believe that I scored a 27 because the question were related to how I feel about myself, others, and how others may perceive me. For example, one of the questions was: "I feel that I am a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others." and my answer was strongly agree, because although I have my flaws I understand my worth and know that I was put on this earth to make a difference in someone's life. I have inspired several people in my friend group into going back to school, and because I am pursing Criminal Justice and Psychology I plan on using my knowledge of what I learned in school to become a Criminal Psychologists and eventually help identify criminals alongside law enforcement.

POST 3.4: RACIAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT PADLET POST

1. State your stage of Racial Identity Development (they are in bold on the summary document provided). Please do not state that you are in the "People of Color" stage because that is not a stage. Please watch the video above for clarification. My racial identity Development is: Internalization

2. State why you think that you are in the stage that you identified.

   I consider myself being apart of this stage because I as a African American woman understand that racism is very much still alive and although I can't control someone narrative about all Black people, I can only change how other ethnic groups view me as a person .

3. Provide an example of how you know that you have passed through the previous stages.

   I have passed the encounter stage because I currently work in customer service at a hospital and I deal with every type of person that you could possibly think of, and people will look down on me because of my line of work, but I don't let that affect that outcome of my work ethic, I try to look past all the negativity and understand that my role in this company is just as important as the next person.

4. State one thing that you learned from this process. 

One thing that I learned from this process is how important it is to understand and learn your cultural background because I'm soon to be in my thirties and there's a lot of things about race and identity and self awareness of one's self that I didn't know before until now.

POST 3.5: FIND YOUR RACIAL IDENTITY RESOURCE

On your own Padlets, you will post a resource that you search and find on the internet that helps you understand your own racial/ethnic identity better.

You will also include your resource in your first paper so make sure that the resource is indeed meaningful to you.

Acceptable resources include scholarly publications, journal articles, periodicals, web articles, books, news reports, podcasts/webinars or research videos/documentaries. If you would like to use something like an image that speaks to you regarding your identity you can but you will also need one scholarly academic resource. 

• You will post your identity resource to your Padlet and explain, on your Padlet, why the resource is important to you. You will also include/reference this resource and information in your essay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1CKSFjgQbE

The resource I decided to search and use that helps me better understand my racial background would have to be the LA riot of 1992. Although I wasn't alive during this time this resource is important to me because I recall my mother telling me that she was nine months pregnant with my brother when the incident occurred and the incident that I am talking about is the beating of Rodney King. My mother told me although she understood what the police did was wrong, she didn't agree with what Black people were doing in other people neighborhoods. They not only were they going around beating up people who weren't black, but they were also breaking into people's houses and cars and robbing them. Fast forward thirty years later, the son (my older brother) who she was pregnant with at the time is a Law Enforcement officer whose heavily involved of making our old community a better place. 

I absolutely do not believe that we live in a post-racial society because we have things such as non-profit organizations not only fighting for the rights of African Americans but other minority groups as well. We have things still going on as of 2023 such as cops killing people because of the color of their skin, white people chasing minorities around because they feel unsafe and people of color being accused and convicted of crimes they have never even committed.

3. What is your personal definition of race and do you think that race is a social construct, a biological construct or something else? Please explain your reasoning.

   
   

   My personal definition of race is a group of people being bonded together through their cultural background. Prior to my knowledge of knowing what race is, I've always assumed that it had to deal with mostly people of color, but now I understand that is not the case. My personal belief is that it could be socially constructed because a individual from a certain racial background can come together and share things that they may have in common with another person from the same cultural background.

   
   

   
   

4. Search and find one resource regarding race being a social or biological concept and post it to your Padlet. State its significance and if you agree or disagree with the resource based on your definition of race.

   
   

   https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017/science-genetics-reshaping-race-debate-21st-century/

   
   

   In the article about, How Science and Genetics are Reshaping the Race Debate of the 21st Century" by Vivian Chou she shares her view on how our generation is starting to understand that race is no longer a biological concept but now a social concept. In the article the author explains how people back then would use things such as 23andMe and Ancestry to be able to track their genetic background, but now people are using social concept in order to bond with one another. Of course we understand that biologically every race has different features from one another that makes them stand out, but now people now starting to look at race from a social constructive standpoint and understand how people can be bonded together through their cultural backgrounds.

   
   

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. State its significance. 

   
   

   One thing that I found to be very interesting from the audio recording is how we as black people aren't the only ones who experience stereotypes that pertains to who we are as a person. I heard on the audio how one lady expressed her opinion on how she as a Lesbian would often times get stereotyped from people saying that "She does not look like a typical lesbian". I personally wish people would start thinking before they say things because I grew up in a black household where my mother would always share with us, "If you don't have nothing nice, then don't say anything at all" and I really believe that people of a white descent don't believe in this saying or even never heard it at all.

   
   

   4.4 Race and Racism: Racial Microagressions

   
   

   Given that this chapter is on race and racism, we will use these posts to better understand these concepts. Please post to your Padlets the following information.

   
   

   1. Please post a response to the audio clip above. What types of "isms" can you identify in the audio clip above? What types of racism did you notice in the audio clip? Give examples.

   
   

   The different types of "ism" that I heard during this audio clip was of course racism, heterosexism, and classism. One example of racism displayed in the audio was when one of the ladies shared that people were surprised on how articulate she spoke, not knowing that she has her PHD and as well as being a college professor. The next example of an ism displayed in the audio was heterosexism which is the act of judging someone based on their sexual orientation, just as the lady in the clip explained people assume that she's not a lesbian because of the way she looks, therefore the make judgement of her based on her sexual orientation. Finally, classism, which is the act of judging someone based on their economic status, the guy on the podcast explained that people judge and ask question about where he's from before they even get to know him. After hearing and understanding thus podcast, I'm sure many of us can relate to that as well.

   
   

   2. From the chapter reading, do you think that we live in a post-racial society? Please state why or why not.

   I do not believe that we live in a post-racial society because we have people from different racial background who still pass judgement upon different minority groups. You have people still being watched and followed around in stores, you have people of color being pulled over for committing no crime, and people being targeted and shot at based on simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Racism hasn't ended in fact I believe that we as people of color probably will never get the change in society that we hope for.

   
   

   3. What is your personal definition of race and do you think that race is a social construct, a biological construct or something else? Please explain your reasoning.

   
   

   My personal definition of race as stated above is a group of people being bonded together through their cultural background. Prior to my knowledge of knowing what race is, I've always assumed that it had to deal with mostly people of color, but now I understand that is not the case. My personal belief is that race is biologically constructed because it distinguish the different genetic make up of a individual through their cultural background.

   
   

   4. Search and find one resource regarding race being a social or biological concept and post it to your Padlet.

   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/

   
   

   In the article, " Race Is a Social Construct, Scientists Argue" by Megan Gannon, the article explains Socialigist WEB Du Bois and his point of view on how race was seen as more as a bioligical concept oppose to him agreeing that it is viewed from a social stand point. The article explains how now scientist would agree with Du Bois's standpoint, but how scientist has alo also disagree with the claims and argues that it is still from a bioligical concept.

   
   

   5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. State its significance.

   
   

   The one thing that In feel like stood out the most to me during this chapter was learning about the different definitions of Racism, I had no idea that there were so many backhanded forms of racism and now it has me analyzing not only how people view me but my view on the world. Now that I understand what biological and social construct concept is, I have a better idea of how I show view race moving forward.

Based on the reading what I believe makes a black family unique is unity. In the chapter we learned that a black family is “a household related by blood or marriage or functions” (p. 129) one example of this would be how Black families host family reunion every year during the summer time. Family reunions allows strangers who have the same last name whether it’s through marriage or blood come together and celebrate them being from this particular family tree. Another example of this would be the famous “Montgomery Riverfront Brawl” where a black security officer was doing nothing but his job by asking a group of drunken thugs to move their boat out of the way of a ferry that was being scheduled to dock, when they decided that they didn’t wanna obey the rules and decided to all attack him at the same time while people recorded from a distance. Luckily on this good day, the same ferry that was schedule to dock, had a bunch of good Samaritan’s that would come to his rescue even with some jumping into the water to get there faster. No one out the group of people who helped this security knew him, they just seen a helpess older man being attacked and all joined in and beat up these white thugs. In that moment I felt like I witness black people being tired of the unfair treatment and decided that they were tired of our own kind being mistreated. Now I don’t agree with violence but this right here represented unity to the fullest because normally in these situation people may turn the other cheek, but on this day every black person that was there that day came to the security rescue and help fight off the vicious attackers.

2. What do you think are the strengths and challenges of the Black family? Please state why you think so and provide examples.

What I believe are strengths within the black families are the fact that majority of us grew up close to one another whether it be our cousin being raised as our siblings or your parents best friends known as your cousins, we was taught to have each others backs no matter what. I recall me as a kid being taught that “Black people should stick together and have each others backs”. Another strength that I believe are within black family households are the fact that we grew up cooking together with our grandmothers and mothers in the kitchen. Growing up, many black families would teach their kids how to season, clean, and cut up food properly so that in many woman’s cases they can “find a husband” and for men they’ll know what to do when they are “on their own”. Some challenges that I believe that are within black family household are how most (not all) black families believe that once a child turns eighteen they are grown and should start paying bills. Now the reason I view this as a challenge is because in most cases other racial groups allows their children to either continue on with school or work for themselves in ordered to save up for their own place and move out when their ready and many of them come together and buy houses and communities together and move each other in. Another challenge that I view within black families are the fact that they are prone to put bills and cards in your name without asking for permission and do things that can potentially affect your credit or other things, then when you become an adult you may want to get cable or a house but can’t due to the fact that your favorite auntie is cousin got one in your name for themselves. This can be viewed as a challenge because African Americans are already looked down upon and viewed negatively when it comes to applying for loans and credit cards so when you try to do something for yourself and realize you can’t because someone else did it, it can cause friction within a family household amongst other problems for the persons name being used.

3. How do concepts such as racial socialization affect parents and children in Black families? Please explain?

I believe that concepts such as racial socialization affects parents and children within black families because it allows parents to discuss with the negative and positive disadvantages of being black. Parents tend to discus things such as the importance of race and racism and how they may have to face different encounters as adults and even children. Parents may also explain to the children the importance of learning how to stick together and embrace their “blackness”. Things like telling your children “Black is Beautiful” or calling your kids “Black King and Queens” in order for them to uplift their kids and know that they are beautiful no matter what.

4. Based on our reading, what factors do you think have impacted Black families the most since slavery and why?

I believe that several factors have impacted Black families since slavery from dealing with families having to be in survival mode, focusing solely on their child even if they had a husband, and even wondering what would happen once they were free. Overall the main impact that I believe that slavery had on black families was that it was trying to destroy and break the unity among African American people. At the time, I believe although African slaves didn’t things like have money, or even fancy clothing at the time they still had things like unity, friendship and love and with that I believe that the Europeans knew that they would be outnumber and out beat which would they lead to the slaves rebelling against their owners.

5. Search and find one academic resource that helps you understand this topic better and post it to your Padlet. State three main points from the resource and how it helps you understand this topic.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/26/style/jumping-the-broom-wedding-tradition.html#:~:text=Parry%20said%2C%20that%20population%20“innovated,and%20showing%20respect%20to%20ancestors.

The article I decided to choose was “ The Enduring Significance of Jumping the Broom” posted by the New York Times, in this article it discusses the importance and traditional meaning of why black people jump the broom back then. One main point that the article discuss is “Because enslaved Africans generally had no legal right to marry before the Civil War, they saw jumping the broom as a symbolic way to recognize their unions” this quote stood out to me because it shows the strength African Americans slaves had back then to go aganist everything that they were taught to be wrong and still had courage to get married although it was considered to be illegal. Another quote that stood out to me in this article was, “The practice has since come to signify sweeping away the old and welcoming the new, the joining of two families and showing respect to ancestors.” Learning that it represents “sweeping away the old and bringing in the new” shows how back the African slaves were smart enough to create their own cultural practices even when people doubted them. The final quote that stood out to me was “But it has always been a practice, from its inception, used by people who are ostracized and oppressed by the broader nation, state or kingdom” because it represent the importance of how “Jumping the Broom” impacted not only our culture but also set an example of how strong black people were even in their weakest moments.

6. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. State its significance.

Several things stood out to me during this weeks unit, but the thing that stood out the most this week was learning that Black marriages was considered illegal back, I always knew about the “jumping the broom”  concept but I never knew the historic background regarding it. Now that I understand that they would do things such as “Jumping the broom” as a way to signify their marriages. This was due to slave owners not wanting “kinship ties” which would then create issues when slave children, wives and husbands are sold off for finanicial gain. I believe that “Jumping the Bloom” was very important to our culture because it signifies their marriage union and despite the obstacles they faced and possible separation they still decided to celebrate their Union.

Name: Shamika Phillips

Date: 1 November 2023

Psych 110

Please type in full and complete academic college-level sentences that follow all grammar and punctuation rules. All sentences should have a subject and a verb to be considered complete. Please capitalize all nouns, start sentences with capital letters and end sentences with appropriate punctuation. Do not start a sentence with but, and or because as that would be inappropriate. If you need help with any of this please see a tutor and have them proofread your work before turning it in. Instructions for seeing a tutor online can be found at this video link. When this document is added to your Padlet it will need to be added as a Google Doc URL or a Word doc. Do not copy and paste this into your Padlet as the formatting does not translate and it becomes very hard to read.

Racial Autobiography Outline

I. Introduction Paragraph: Definition of Race

A. Introduction Statement: Race normally looked up as a way of dividing groups of people based on their cultural backgrounds. But whether or not race is biological or socially linked together is the main focus at hand.

B. Is race biological or social?: Based on the information that I have learned, I believe that race is a social construct.

II. Body Paragraph 1: Self-Assessments/Scores/Analysis

A. Main point 1: Based on my “Multigroup ethnic identity measure” results.

1. Supporting Detail: my score was a 46 meaning that I am aware of my cultural background.

B. Main point 2: based on my “Rosenburg’s Self-esteem scale” results.

C. 2. Supporting Detail: my score was a 27 meaning that I am self aware of who I am as a person and who I am to my peers.

III. Body Paragraph 2: Summary of Stages of Racial Identity Development & Life Examples

A. Main point 1: I use to be at the Dissonance stage.

B. Supporting Detail: I use to want to understand why someone was being racist and ask questions, but now I do not care.

C. Main point 2: I am currently at the “Immersion stage”.

1. Supporting Detail: I am at the immersion stage due to the fact that I now that I’m older, I understand how ignorant and hurtful people can be.

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Post Racial Society Critical Analysis

A. Main point 1: I do not believe we live in a post racial society.

B. Supporting Detail: Black Lives Matter movement.

C. Main point 2: I do not believe we live in a post racial society.

1. Supporting Detail: We still have police killing innocent people.

V. Conclusion Paragraph

A. Summary statement: In conclusion, I believe that race is a social construct because people of color can bond with one another based on the trauma that each group may have experienced.

B. Closing Statement: As I enter the last year of my 20’s, I have been exposed to the positive and negative side of racial equality and although I may not have gone through with other have I am still very knowledgeable of how race and racism has impact our society.

1. What factors do you feel contribute to the disproportionately low numbers of African Americans represented in STEM education classes and in the STEM field?

   
   

   I believe that one factor that contribute to the low numbers of African Americans being represented in STEM education and STEM field is due to the fact that African American students are the ones who are inadequately prepared when it comes to taking these test and when they do the test is extremely bias making it difficult to be accepted into the STEM field.

2. What role do teachers play in shaping the expectations of students and fostering the interest of students in STEM education classes?

I believe the role that teachers play in shaping the expectations of students and fostering the interest of students in STEM education classes by motivating them to wanna pursue STEM education. I believe that if teachers understand the importance of how education matter to people of color and understand that education matters to them just as it would to someone white. Teachers can also be better prepared at teaching so that these student can be better prepared to enter the program.

3. How do you think the implicit bias of educators affects minority students who express interest in these subjects?

I strongly believe that the implicit bias of educators can affect minority students who express an interest in these subjects because they may pass judgement on the student based on their name of racial background before getting to know them, this could lower their self confidence allowing a student to believe that they may not be good enough. For example a white teacher has a student name " De'Quantay" and may believe that this young man may be rowdy or rough and a future criminal based on his name and where he grew up, not knowing the history behind his parents naming him that as well as him having a 4.0 GPA, but all she seen was a name and address and passed judgement before getting to know him.

4. How does this information contribute to the imposter Phenomenon in the educational system and in the workplace for African Americans?

I believe that this information contributes to the Imposter Phenomenon in the educational system and in the workplace because African Americans feel the need to conform to their white counterparts in order to feel accepted, and then sometimes after they feel accepted then they feel like they may not belong. When it comes to the educational system, African Americans are not being pushed enough into these STEM programs because they may have been told at one that they "can't do it" or even being told that "their kind isn't welcome" which can discourage a person.

5. State one strategy that you think could be implemented to counter the struggles identified in the video and reading.

I believe one strategy that could be implemented to counter the struggles identified in the video is by giving children from urban communities the same opportunity as someone who may live and go to school in the suburbs. One issue that Miss. Ford addressed in the video was when she was a teacher and worked at a middle school in South LA she began to realize that the same feelings she felt about not being good enough for Harvard kids as young as seventh grade was feeling those same feelings regarding their education and as successful as she had been she knew that she wanted to make a difference. If students had teachers in middle school and high school that really cared about them achieving success, then we will start to see the rates on minorities graduating in STEM increase.

6. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that stood out to me is the lack of diversity that there is in STEM education, considering the fact that both my brothers were Math and Engineering majors and always excelled in school. Although I must admit both of them were surrounded by teachers who knew they were gifted and always push them to their full potential. Now that I am a mother, my son is also gifted in math and science which makes me excited to see with the future may hold.

THEME 2:

1. What is the Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter Syndrome is when someone in the Black community constantly feels the need to prove themselves specifically to another race group as a way of feeling either accepted or a way to avoid further stereotypes.

2. How does the Imposter Syndrome affect a student in their educational journey AND into their career experiences?

I believe that the Imposter Syndrome can impact a student in their educational journey because it could lead to self doubt and having the person who completing this journey worry about keeping up their grades with the other students, whether or not they'll be accepted and overall feeling as if they don't deserve to be there. On the other hand, someone who has already finished school and is now pursing their career can also face some of the same struggles, as well as worrying about whether or not their coworkers may accept them, worried about not messing up and getting fired and avoid any type of typical black stereotype like "Black people or never on time" or "Black people could never keep a job".

3. How does the Imposter Syndrome specifically affect the self-esteem and mental health of African American women in the workplace ?

I believe that the Imposter Syndrome can specially affect the self-esteem and mental health of a African American women in the workplace because they may feel like whatever career field their in they may not be taking serious because of how they look or dress. In the video, Knatokie Ford, explained that when she transferred to Harvard from a HBCU she started to feel insecure about her appearance because she wasn't use to seeing so many people "that didn't look like her", so she started to fail her classes and started thinking about whether or not people would feel she deserved to be there. She explained that she started to feel very depressed therefore she couldn't continue going there and so she decided to leave.

4. How do race and gender play into the African American woman's experience in the workplace?

I believe that race and gender play into the African American woman's experience in the workplace because they're not taken as serious as men and in many cases women of color are belittled and look down upon because of the way the may dress, wear their hair or even their name. Women of color are more likely to be stereotyped in the workplace, they tend to not be placed in leadership roles, they have to deal with being called ghetto when trying to express themselves as well as other things.

5. State one strategy that you believe would be successful in addressing this issue and improving the workplace for women of color.

I believe that in this day and age every company needs a diversity department with someone from a different type of background (so that no one would be offended) and evenly discuss ideas and concerns that they may have within their particular company. I believe that adding diversity to a company will open up doors for cultural appropriation and people understanding how to address people of color.

6. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that I learned from this chapter that stood out to me was discovering what the "Imposter Syndrome" is and how it has impacted African Americans. I never realized myself that I sometimes get around certain people of different racial groups I myself may also act a certain way so that I will feel accepted by a certain racial group. Now that I am more aware of this and how certain things we don't realize we do is so much more deeper than I thought, I will start to be more mindful of my actions and just myself whether I'm around my Black and Hispanic friend's as well as my white friends.

In regards to people of color experiencing subconscious racial slights, some psychological consequences a person of color may feel are feeling, unappreciated, unwanted and unimportant all because of something wrong a non-colored person has said, which can cause mental and emotional issues which can all around affect them psychologically.

2. What stereotypes are perpetuated when racial microaggressions are thrown around towards a person of color?

I believe that one stereotype when racial microaggression is thrown towards someone of color is when a white person says something to offend a black person like maybe referring to their "hair being nappy or anything to try to belittle them, but then tries to cover themselves by stating "Oh well I have dated Black people before", trying to justify whatever offensive thing that they said by acknowledging the fact that they are cordial with a person of color.

3. Considering Intersectionality, what other issues does this theme affect in the African American community?

I believe that Intersectionality can affect African American women due to them already having typical "black stereotypes" like "loud and ghetto" and making assumptions that all Black women with kids are single mothers. Black women face challenges when it comes to the way they style their hair, the way the dress and even the way they raise their kids. When it comes to black men, they also face things such as being judge for what they wear and where they live, they don't get taken as serious as someone who isn't of color, and they get mistreated by society because of the color of their skin.

4. State how these theories of intersectionality, racial microaggressions, bias or white privilege affect one's understanding of "sense of self" or ethnic identity?

I believe that me being a Black woman living in this generation dealing with "white privilege, racial microaggressions and intersectionality it has most definitely affected my sense of self because at my current job I deal with all types of people, and I have found that white people love using their white privilege and questioning ME while I'm at work minding my business doing my job. It makes me upset and angry because I know for a fact that if it was someone of their racial background doing the same job, the way that they respond to them and outcome of whatever it is they need assistance would be totally different.

5. Search online for a resource that helps you understand this topic more and post it to your Padlet. State why the resource shines some light on a perspective of this issue. 

   
   

   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microaggressions-death-by-a-thousand-cuts/

This particular article that I decided to use discusses how microaggressions not only affect people of color but also gender and the LBGTQ community as well. It discusses how people who use microaggression are usually doing it in order for them to feel better about themselves meanwhile not realizing how those words or gestures can affect a person. I love how the article list several examples when it comes to microaggression such as "white women feeling scared around a group of black men" or when "people from other countries speak English well" people assume that they had to learn it from someone.Overall the articles explains just how microaggression affects everybody.

6. State a strategy that you feel can be successful to address the use of microaggressions especially when the offender is unaware of how their reactions affect people of color.

I believe that if you address the person directly and explain to them how and why you were offended then this could be a starting point to prevent further confusion. Another strategy that could be used to address the use of microaggression is educating people who are unaware, what I have learned now compared to what I learned fifteen years ago is totally different, people aren't being educated about things that are going on currently, only things within the past.

7. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that I've learned from this week's unit is what exactly microaggression is. I use to believe that microaggression was when a person of a different racial background would say something to you to make themselves feel better, I understand that it's part of what it is but now I got a better understanding of how it has impacted our community. I am still not convinced that non-colored people are unaware of "not knowing that they said something wrong", but I am more understanding of the fact that they will always just be ignorant in my eyes no matter what. Now that I have a better understanding that microaggression not only affects people of color but also things such as gender and a person's sexual orientation.

I believe that one strength with the black neighborhoods and n community that we have amongst each other is “a strong village”, black women take on mother like roles to kids within their communities by doing things such as inviting them to children parties, inviting them to cook outs, gifting them sign present and all around treating them like one of their own. I believe that things have manifested over time…

2. WEAKNESSES: What are the weaknesses of Black neighborhoods and communities and state one solution to an issue you have raised?

I believe one weakness in the Black neighborhood and communities is violence. Although violence happens in every community I can only speak for

what I have seen with my own eyes, you have black brothers and sisters killing each other over money and colors. I believe that if black men and women put as much energy into creating buisnesses, finishing school and rebuilding their community as they do into gang banging and stealing, then Black communities will begin to thrive and excel overall.

3. OPPORTUNITIES: What are three ways in which Black neighborhoods and communities could play a role in the progressive movement of the Black community?

I believe one way that black communities could progress is by allowing kids the same educational opportunity that white children get in their suburban communities. The second way that I believe black communities could play a role in a progressive movement is by developing ways that could focus on the positive upbringing of the children in their community. The third way that I believe black communities could play a role in a progressive is by holding community meeting in order to establish the needs and wants in the community.

4. THREATS: What are three ways in which Black neighborhoods and communities could have a detrimental effect on the progressive movement of the Black community?

I believe that one way black neighborhoods and communities can have a detrimental effect on the progressive movement of the black community is by not focusing on the needs and wants of everyone in the community. The second way is when the black commmuniry don’t understand the importance of family structure and the need for safety around schools and the community. The third way is by understanding that every member has a sense of belonging and that everyone’s feelings matter amongst the community.

5. Find one resource that helps you understand these themes and post it to your Padlet. State the resources' significance to this unit's material. 

   
   

The Reason Black Folks Are Rejoicing Over The Montgomery Brawl Is More Complicated Than You Think by Candace McDuffie

The article that I found was an article regarding the “Montgomery Brawl” that happen this summer and it’s impact on the black community. This article discusses the stigma in the black community how we live by “minding our own buisnes” but nowadays it’s so hard to mind you business when people are so quick to pull their phones out. To me the Montgomery Brawl represented how African Americans were finally able to get their lick back from their white oppressors. I love how the article points out that when it came to black people being tortured and tormented it was always on display but now that the tables have turned people are acting upset as if we haven’t been done this way for many years.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that stood out to me during this weeks unit is learning the meaning behind “psychological sense of community” and understanding that it represents how a community can come together and make sure the needs of everyone in the community is being met. Also understanding the difference between a neighbor and a community, I now understand that a community is people who live amongst you and help you out whether it be with a issue or even with your family as for a neighborhood, it is considered where you and you family reside.

The most important thing that I learned from this unit that helps my understanding of Black male and female interpersonal and close relationships is learning that since African American women are more likely to be better educated and tend to outnumber males in education over African American males, this could be one of the main reason Black women tend to put black men down and why African American women set their dating standards so high.

2. How do long-standing stereotypes in the media of African American females being portrayed as property (i.e. in rap videos etc.) affect the psyche of those seeing these images and the African American woman's dating prospects?

I believe that seeing women being thrown around and used in rap videos as objects is very demeaning and hard to watch as a women of color. I believe when people watch these type of videos it cast a negative shadow on black women making it seem as if we should be used up and taking advantage of. When men see these type of videos, it allows them to look at black women as being sexually active and “ghetto and ratchet” which can allow them to have a negative stigma about block women. I believe that these can affect the psyche of not only those who are participating in these ratchwe activities but also those kids and family members who may be affect by seeing their parent of child on the front page of a magazine doing Lord knows what.

3. What factors are contributing to the rising number of single Black unmarried females?

I believe that some contributing factors that may occur to the rising number of single Black unmarried women is the fact that there’s this stigma that comes with black women “not needing/wanting a man” which can allow black men to feel unwanted and unappreciated which gives them a reason to want to date outside their race where they may feel more appreciated. I also believe another contributing factor is that colorism still greatly exist in our community, whether or not people want to admit it but people will date and marry someone based on their skin tone just so that their kids may come out lighter with “ good hair”. The last contributing factor is that black women set their standards way to high that when a black men don’t meet them it puts them in a space to choose to be alone and single.

4. Why is there a stigma in the African American community against the LGBTQ community?

I believe that there’s a negative stigma in the African American community againist the LBGTQ community because parents in the black community simply do not want to accept and allow their children to be the way that they are. Family is very important in the black community and so is religion, and in our community they’ll be quick to throw religion in your face and remind you that “living a certain way won’t allow you to go to heaven”. In the African American community, we are very prideful and don’t like to be “embarrassed” especially as a parent, therefore it’s hard for them to accept their children turning into something they don’t like.

5. Find one resource that helps you understand these themes and post it to your padlet. State the resources' significance to this unit's material. 

https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/research/news_and_pubs/caravel/archive/2012/2012-caravel-wheres-the-love.php

In this article, “Where's The Love: Portrayals of African American Romantic Relationships in Media” by Christopher Johnson discuss how the media can portray African American relationships and make it into something negative whether it be reality or not. This article discusses how someone of color may view a particular show in a negative light which can also lead to other stereotypes amongst the black community. Whether it’s shows like “Family Matters” with Steve Urkel that portrays black people as educated living in a middle class area or shows like “Love and Hip Hop” that shows the ratchet side of the hip hop world, people are still gonna make assumptions off of something negative that they seen on T.V.

Code switching is something that is common within minorities that allows them to adjust the way they speak when it comes to whatever setting they may be in. I believe that code switching is very important to the success of someone who is African American because it allows us to be able to communicate in a professional setting without seeming to be “loud” or “ghetto”.

2. How does expecting code switching threaten diversity?

I believe expecting code switching can threaten diversity by not allowing someone to be comfortable with who they are and the way that they may speak. If you come around a group of white people, and you’re usually the loud, obnoxious, and ghetto person, but your friend expects you to be cool, calm and watch how you speak, you can rub your friend the wrong way when you portray your blackness and be yourself which can create problems within your black friend group. This can threaten the diversity within your friend group because, in the black community we’re so quick to call someone “white-washed” or a “sell-out” based on them trying to please the white man that we sometimes forget the purpose behind our actions.

3. How do the effects of code switching intersect with a persons' mental health?

I believe the effects of code switching can affect a person mental health because for many people in the African American community and even those who may come from Hispanic background may start to feel umcomfortable ans insecure when it comes to speaking because of how someone may make them feel.

4. Search online for a resource that helps you understand this topic more and post it to your Padlet. State why the resource shines some light on a perspective of this issue. 

https://hbr.org/2019/11/the-costs-of-codeswitching

In this article it discuss the way people of color has to adjust on their everyday life to code switching. The discuss how people of color code switch from being around their peers to how they adjust to being around their coworkers, whether it’s how we greet each other versus how we greet someone who isn’t black, it’ll be a different response each time. The author discusses how people of color feel threaten everyday due to them having to code switch at work and even school just so that they can avoid any racial streotypes regarding people of color. They then go on to list the “ upside” and “downside” of codeswitching and speaking about the psychological affect it may have on a person. Overall the author let it known that as people of color we should always make sure to put our values first whether we code switch or not.

5. State a strategy that you feel can be successful to address the misconceptions about code switching that exist inside and outside of the African American community.

I believe a strategy that can be successful to address the misconceptions about code switching that exist inside and outside the African American community can be by educating those who may not understand how code switching works in our community. I believe that since people are ignorant to the fact that every culture has different ways that they may express themselves, it may make them feel intimidated and uncomfortable because they may feel threaten by how we as black people can act one way around our family and friends, and another around a peers and coworkers.

6. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One important thing that I learned from this weeks unit is learning how research has shown that African Americans tend to have a much more difficult time with distant learning as well as not being as successful with online classes compared to being in a classroom enviroment. I find this to be a very interesting because I felt that same way for many years which prevented me from pursuing online classes, but now I believe that if you ask question if you don’t understand something or even communicate among your professors as well as other students then it shouldn’t be as difficult. But I also understand as well that we (African Americans) have negative stigma of us being lazy.

1. What is the difference between Standard American English and Ebonics/African American Vernacular English?

In my opinion “standard English”

Is what we go to school to learn, and what many of us minorities get corrected on if we mispronounce something. “Standard English” can be viewed as the correct way that we should write and speak and the way “society” wants us to speak.  “Ebonics/African American Vernacular English” is what we in the black community refers to as slang where we may shorten certain words or add our own twist and spelling to the English language, things such as “finna” and “boujee” are each examples of how we may say or change something in the English language.

2. How is speaking in Ebonics/African American Vernacular English in the educational classroom traditionally viewed?

Speaking Ebonics in an English classroom enviroment can be viewed as “being ghetto and wrong” and if someone doesn’t understand it, it can be viewed as intimidating. Most teachers are expected to educate and correct a student when wrong, and I feel as if a teacher ignores one student mispronunciation of a word, then the class of students will all expect the same treatment which can cause issues especially when kids transition to the next level.

3. How can the strengths of dual language speakers be utilized to empower students in the classroom?

I believe that the strength of a dual language speaker can be utilized by empowering the students to want to be more confident in public speaking and allowing them to motivate those who may also be struggling in the classroom find the confidence to be able to get up and speak without having to feel insecure because they mispronounced or misspelled something.

4. Search online for a resource that helps you understand this topic more and post it to your Padlet. State why the resource shines some light on a perspective of this issue. 

https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/ebonics-and-culturally-responsive-instruction/

In this article the author highlights the pros and cons of “Ebonics”. She addresses how by the time a child reaches about fourth grade they begin to adapt to their enviroment whether it be the way they speak or how they carry themselves. The author discusses the ways educators can help to redirect the way that children may speakers without putting them down in a demeaning way and how teachers should be more understand to everyone’s cultural background. She explained that teachers can create ways so that the teacher can be educated as well as educating the student in the classroom enviroment. Overall this article is to help teachers to understand how you can educate students from different backgrounds .

5. State one strategy that you think could be implemented to counter the negative stereotypes associated with speaking Ebonics or African American Vernacular English as identified in the video and reading.

As the English teacher, Mr. Davis stated, as someone like him who grew up as a inner city kid, he would always hear his teacher correcting him so he never imagined that he would be working as a English teacher today, but once he learned how to code switch, between white language and the black language he grew up on it made him feel more confident and comfortable which I believe if more teachers were educated and understood how every culture is different it’ll make things easier when it comes to their classroom enviroment.

6. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that stood out to me in this weeks unit is learning about the struggles kids face in the black community when it comes to education in English classes. As someone who speaks Ebonics as well, I never understood how we as African Americans tend to code switch even without knowing. Hearing how the black teacher and white teacher are both doing whatever it is in their power to make the kids that they’re teaching feel much more comfortable on the way that they speak is a great thing and I believe every teacher should considered this.

The significant difference in terms of religious and spritual practices includes that spiritual practices believe “in a sacred force/ connection to higher power” and religious practices “system of beliefs and practices that nurtures the relationship with the supreme thing.”

2. Why do Black Millenials exhibit different religious habits compared to older African Americans who more traditionally attended historically Black protestant churches?

I believe that Black Millenials don’t take religious as serious as the older generation and weren’t forced to go to church as people were back then. Black Millenials feel more entitled to stay home play videos games, scroll on social media and hang out with friends rather than go to church. The older generation took religion and religious practices more serious and ultimately believe that they will not be let into heaven without living a religious life.

3. How does attending church affect the mental health of African Americans?

I believe that attending church positively affects African Americans mental health because it helps to “lower the levels of depression” and many African American believe that “God is a healer and a provider” and many of them believes that “giving it to God” is the best way to go.

4. Please locate a resource that helps you understand this theme. Analyze the resource and state the most important thing you learned from it about this topic.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/the-history-and-importance-of-the-black-church/

This article is important to this weeks understanding this theme because it discusses the important role of how the black community embraced religion back in slave times and even afterwards. This article how Christianity and how it was very important to motivating slaves to even rebel. It was also said that “

Without the role of the Black Church, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965” which was very important to having the rights of African Americans attained.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that stood out in this weeks unit was learning about how more African American women attend church over men and learning that many African Americans believe that when it comes to addiction it can be “prayed out of them” this surprised me because I geee up in a all black baptist church and seen more men than woman in attendance.

Theme 2:

1. What is the significance of the Yoruba Orisha faith also known as Santeria?

The significance of the Yoruba Orisha faith known as Santeria is that it is influenced by West African Yoruba beliefs with “Catholicism”. They are also known to represent different religion that originate from Cuba.

2. How does this faith provide a connection back to Africa for those African Americans choosing to join the faith?

I believe that this faith provides a connections back to Africa because it represents when the slaves were brung to Cuba and how their survival led to them turning to this religion  which represents “knowledge and power”.

3. How does the Yoruba faith treat health and healing in their religion?

Yoruba faith treats health and healing in their religion by making sacrifices to “Olodumare” which can than provide a way for healing because they believe that their God rules over the entire universe.

4. Please locate a resource that helps you understand this theme. Analyze the resource and state the most important thing you learned from it about this topic.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna78985

I found a recent article regarding the “Santeria” religion which still takes place in Cuba today, although Cuba is known to be poor that doesn’t stop people from trying to still worship and praise. Santeria is a mixture of African religions and Catholicism which dates back to when black slaves were being over to Cuba, although Cuba’s population is typically Hispanic they’re still numerous of black communities that still exist today.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that stood out to me in this weeks unit was learning about how “African religion played a significant role in the historical and contemporary lives of African Americans.” Learning about the religion “Santeria” and how it came from the slaves that were bought from Africa to Cuba and still represented religion somehow that included their Spanish counterparts are pretty cool.

1. State at least three similarities that you can identify between African American religious practices and African religious practices.

Some similarities included the fact that both African American religion and African religious practices both “provide a mechanism to support the political, educational, health, and social needs of community members” which also reflects with African American religion as well. Both African American and African religious practices several different religions within the church communities. The last similarity that both African American religion and African religious practices both share in common is that they both believe that when a person dies their soul will go to be with God.

2. State at least three differences that you can identify between African American religious practices and African religious practices.

Some difference between African American religion and African religious practices is that African religious practices included believing that spirits caused crop failures but African American religious don’t believe in “spirits” when something bad happens more so referring to it being “the devil. African religious practice also include them believing that “ a creator is in control of the universe and belief that man's bond to his Creator and his later separation from the Creator is due to his own fault” and in African American religious culture they believe that “God created everything and you can’t get into heaven without beliving in him. And lastly, African religious practice “believe that man will attempt to reconcile himself with his Creator and that this reconciliation will lead to his salvation” and African Americans believe that you can not gain access to heaven without asking “God to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins.”

3. Give an example of how the history of slavery affected the religious practices of African Americans.

Slaves would gather together and organize their own praise and worship services in secret as a way to be able to pray and preach together. The slaves began to relate to Jesus Christ because they identified with his “persecution and found strength in his resurrection” which led to them having hope that things would get better for them as well.

4. Please locate a resource that helps you understand this theme. Analyze the resource and state the most important thing you learned from it about this topic.

https://pluralism.org/african-religion-in-america

This article helps me to better understand this theme because it discusses how when Africans we’re forced into slavery they turn to religions as a way for comfort. Slavery was played in huge role in how religion exist in the black community today.

, It allowed them to included their

West African and Islamic traditions to American which we see today. In the article it discusses how slavery forced “white Americans to rethink a lot of their religious practices which then led to people respecting their spiritual practices. Back then white slaves owners were also afraid that religion would led to black slaves trying to place their escape from slavery which is why they had to have church in secret. Overall slavery played a huge part and impacted the way we view religion today, without slavery and undid meaningful connection to Jesus Christ himself whose to say if religion would be so important in the black community.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing thang I learned from this unit is how much in common African religious practices and African American religion were. Learning about how the slaves could relate to Jesus Christ persecution and resurrection was also nice to learn about because I can now understand why they found their strength in religion and why it’s so part of black culture now.

The major theme that stood out to me in this weeks unit’s material was the “ Higher Levels of Developmental Challenges”, this particular theme stood out to me because it allowed me to realize how the African American community is set up to fail and lack the resources to be able to be successful as mother communities are. The lack of prenatal care and health care, the amount of poverty that exist due to the and the death and incarceration rate among young African American men are all examples of how the black community is failing whether it be their fault or the lack of resources, society will always blame the black man. The statistical rates examples allowed me to realize that in order to help build a successful community they must do community outreaches, early childhood interventions and other things which can help to build a successful community together.

2. How does the theme that you chose affect the African American community? Give an example.

This theme affects the African American community because people get accustomed to their environment and not wanting to change which then allows people to create narratives about a particular group of people ( African Americans) as if everyone from that particular racial groups behaves all in the same way, which then create negative stereotypes.

3. State one strategy that could be used to improve upon the theme that you have selected.

I believe that if black people come together and start rebuilding their community by doing things like community interventions, starting after school activities and programs for kids that’ll keep them off the streets, and even finding ways for single parents to get everyday resources can all be ways to help improve the way society looks at the African American community.

4. Find one resource that helps you understand this theme and post it to your Padlet. State the resources' significance to this unit's material. 

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/black.in.america/community/family1.html

This article helps me understand this weeks unit because it gives us (the reader) a idea of what everyday struggles African Americans faced even back in 2009. Reading over this particular article I got to see how black people would go thru a lot of the same atruggles that we are bing faced with still today, like being harrassed by the police or people passing judgment based on your skin before getting to know you. A lot of them were speaking about how they wish that the black community had more unit and how they could come together rather than fighting each other which again, we still are seeing even till this day.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that I learned from this weeks unit is realizing that if our community comes together and works together to help build up cities like Compton, Watts and South LA, then people wouldn’t be so quick to judge people like me who may have grown up there but always knew that I wanted more out of life. Society assumes that just because we may have grown up and was raised in a certain area, then we will mostly like turn to things like teenage pregnancy, gang violence and drug use as a way for us to adapt to our enviroment, but that’s definitely not the case for every black person. I believe that society needs to also highlight the African Americans who are actually doing well and achieving success as well.

1. After reading this Washington Post article, can you explain why there are disparities between the amount of pain medication an African American woman would receive compared to other women in the same hospital complaining of pain?

After reading the Washington Post article regarding the amount of disparities that African American women may face, I believe the first reason is that doctors aren’t taking them serious and are discrediting them when they are complaining about pain, to my knowledge, when they are prescribe pain medication their white counterparts are prescribed with more stronger meds than a black patient would be. The second reason is that African American women are the number one mistreated patient when it comes to them being admitted during labor and delivery. I believe the main reason for these disparities are due to the beliefs and “biological differences” between whites and blacks and them believing that “black people can tolerate pain better than whites people can.”

2. What factors are contributing to the disproportionate number of African American infants who die in childbirth and African American mothers who die in childbirth?

I believe the fact that racism still takes place in the healthcare system is the main contributing factors as to why the number of African American infants and mothers who die during childbirth is so high. I also believe that healthcare workers sense of urgency isn’t as high as it use to be, people aren’t caring as much and are literally working to be able to survive and collect a pay check, you may also have people who simply do not know what they’re doing. In recent years you’ve had numerous doctors and nurses who have been accused with harming their patients and in some cases had led to murder, all because they were performing an operation where they had no idea what they were doing. You may also have racist while doctors who may still be stuck in the past who are intentionally ignore and dismiss black patient because they simply do not want to deal with them because of the color of their skin can all be contributing as to why the death rate is so high.

3. What are some solutions that can be implemented to improve the experiences of African American mothers giving birth and African American infant survival rates?

Some solutions that can be implemented to improve the experience of African American mothers and infants survial rates is by ensuring that the pregnant mother gets fair treatment from the moment they enter the hopsital, give birth all the way until the mother and baby are discharged to go home. I would also suggest that mothers are provided with the same amount of pain medicine as well as doctors and nursing being trained to handle and take care of a African American mother and her child.

4. Find one resource that helps you understand this theme and post it to your Padlet. State the resources' significance to this unit's material. 

https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-disparities-in-maternal-and-infant-health-current-status-and-efforts-to-address-them/

This article best helps me to understand this weeks unit because it discusses how African American women have a higher chance at dying during birth or facing any type of health challenges. This articles discusses the many reason women of color may have a harder time gaining better resources, such as them not having better health insurance, access to better clinics and doctors and even the money to pay for these costly procedures. Although it’s allow women of color who get treated bad, African Americans have it worse because of this false stigma regarding how” our pain tolerance is much higher than other races.” This article also suggest positive ways as to how things like this can be solved in the health care field, they give examples as to how to address the racism that is still an ongoing thing  in the healthcare industry.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that stood out to me during this weeks unit was learning just how high the childbirth death rate is. I personally never paid attention to it unless it gain national attention and I strongly believe that this is one of those things where unless multiple people are speaking out about it then it won’t get as much attention to the matter. Unfortunately, this has been going on for many years and unless the change starts within the healthcare system then people will continue do and say whatever it is that they want.

I believe that the outcome of institutionally racist policy choices that exclude the needs of low-income minorities in the health care system leads to minorities being without the proper medical care. The lack of resources, lack of good health insurance and the color of one’s skin all play a role into why African Americans needs are excluded in the healthcare field.

2. How does the intersectionality of the unconscious bias, distrust in the healthcare system, lack of health insurance and lack of health education affect the African American community? 

I believe that people of color are most affected due to the racism that still exist today, as well as them not being able to trust people within the health care system. The lack of insurance is mainly due to the fact that African Americans aren’t provided with the proper resources that will allow them to gain better health care opportunities. The lack of health education can be based on growing up in certain areas that don’t educate you on things like getting tested every six months or even how to proper check yourself for other health issues, people who lack the education of health will be the ones that when something happens that won’t know what to do or who to turn to.

3. State THREE strategies that you feel can address the issues raised in questions one and two.

I believe they three strategies that I believe can address the issues are having doctors who are better equip and knowledgeable on how to handle patients of color. The second startegy that can be used is by providing affordable and better healthcare services to people of color so that they can experience the sane treatment as someone who may be white. The last strategy that I will suggest is that doctor start taking the illness and pain level of a African American patient just as serious, in our last chapter we learned how doctors would assume that African Americans would experience less pain than someone who may be of a white background all because of their skin color which wasn’t right.

4. Search online for a resource that helps you understand this topic more and post it to your Padlet. State why the resource shines some light on a perspective of this issue. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4194634/

This article gives me as a reader a better understanding of what it is like being African American and dealing with the healthcare field. The article explains the racial disparities in the healthcare field and how streotypes can also play a role in the mistreatment of minorities. Although the article states how the health of African American has improved over the last 50 years, the racism that exist within has not. African Americans still have the highest number of morbidity and mortality than any over race, deal with more hectic health issues and overall being the ones who are the most mistreated as they begin to age. Although other minorities groups get the mistreated as well, it is well documented that African Americans have it way worse, from the health conditions, lack of insurance and even lack of resources to be able to get to doctors appointments.

5. State one thing that you learned or one thing that stood out to you from the unit required reading, optional reading or audio material in this unit. 

One thing that I’ve learned from this weeks unit is how learning that about “82 % of African American women are either obsessed or overweight”. I’ve always knew that due to our cooking style and heavy seasoning of foods, we were more likely to be the ones to suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol  amongst other things. Knowing what I know now, with all the disparities within the healthcare field I would start being more mindful of what I eat and drink so that I myself won’t end up being wrongfully treated by someone within the medical field.