The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

 

 

A memory I had that I have experienced prejudice and/or oppression was with the only African American boy in my class. Even though most of us did not treat him differently, I can see now the microaggressions that this boy faced. He was the only African American until middle school. We all knew that he was different because of his color. I feel that he faced oppression because he had to deal with being different from the other children. He was inferior to all of us just by the way he looked. Every day in class, he was faced with biases from other people and this made it hard for him to feel accepted. 

 

 

 

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

 

I feel that due to this incident and being the minority that this had diminished equity. The equity is lessened not only in the classroom, but in the community as well. If children keep picking and not showing growth into diversity of individuals, how is he going to adjust to the classroom setting. He will feel harmed due to the fact that he is a minority. Especially since the other children view him as being different.

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

Looking back to this incident, as a child I feel that my classmates and I were too young to see the oppression that he faced. I feel now that no single child should be treated differently just by the way he/she looks like or believes in.

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

The teacher is the person that needs to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity. The teacher is the one who runs the classroom and needs to make sure that each child is getting treated the same. As long as he or she is open to discussing diversity and equity with all, young children and their families will open up to treating one another the same.