Diversity and DRESS FOR SUCCESS next week!!
Thank you ALL for the great brainstorming on our diversity project this week. Please be sure you let your classmates who were not there know what they missed. I am hoping we get some good information for next week so we can move forward into the planning and action stages. Please be thinking about how YOU can contribute....and what inspiration you can give to a disenfranchised youth. Maybe we do a movie for them? Art project? Maybe we make several smaller group visits instead of one large group visit? That almost seems better to me. Be thinking so we can discuss.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT...NEXT WEEK IS DRESS FOR SUCCESS. YOU MUST COME TO CLASS DRESSED PROFESSIONALLY....INTERVIEW ATTIRE. We will have a guest speaker and a mini fashion show.
So, blog for this week to keep you in the right mindset....
Have
you ever felt discriminated against?
Tell me what happened and how you handled it? What did you take away from that experience?
I have been discriminated so many times. At school, at work even with family. The most recent time was while I was crossing the border from Tijuana to San Diego. One of the officers stopped me because I only had my California Id and my birth certificate and not my passport. After two minutes or so he let me go. One of the ladies that was in the line next to me asked me what had happened and I explained. She said she also only had her Id and birth certificate but had not been stopped because she was white. I was really confused at her comment so I told her I was white too, what difference did it make. She made a sorry gestured and told me "yeah but you look Mexican and I don't". It made my blood boiled. I was born and raised in California and she had the audacity to say that I was less than her for looking Mexican. After her rude comment I turned around and ignored the fact she was still standing next to me. There was really not much I could do. I understood after a while that it wasn't her fault she had that mindset, she needed someone to explain to her and make her get some sense. She felt sorry for me but I felt even more sorry for her.
ReplyDeleteI have been discriminated against many times but the times I can remember more clearly is when crossing the border back to SD. I went to TJ with my moms friends and we only had my school ID and birth certificate. I was sitting in the back in the middle and the agent we had was this older white women. She kept belittling me and my mom and her friends. I just answered her questions as best I could and bit my tongue. When she finally let us pass is when all of us started getting angry and making comments about the exchange. Typically what happens each time.
ReplyDeleteI have definitely been discriminated against for both my race and my gender. Whats funny is that when I try to think of specific instances in which I have been discriminated against, no vivid story really comes to mind. However, I seem to recall the way I felt and my anger/hurt in the situation. In turn, such circumstances have caused me to consciously and perpetually characterize my race and my gender as primary aspects of my identity. I believe that these are the first things that people see about me and therefore, they should be the most important (which I have learned is complete BS). Nonetheless, I've learned to accept people as they are. More importantly, I've learned that the way someone treats you is not your fault. The world has a lot of strides to make as it relates to accepting different demographics. Nonetheless, as corny as it may sound, love will always conquer all.
ReplyDeleteI would get discriminate during my past school years because of my slin color because im a really dark mexican like student would make fun of me and call me blaxican mexican. That bother me at first but then after i learned that i should ignore them there just hating on you they have nothing else to do. Ot they be like you cant see me in the dark or i look like black. It would be mostly guys that would bother.when that happen at school u got to tell an adult and ignore them or tell them to stop . u have to teach other to respect you.
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ReplyDeleteI have been discriminated against before for being myself. I was called a nerd and teacher's pet, because I did everything "by the book," and always had good grades. This was through elementary and middle school. I also saw that I didn't get many opportunities to do things that I wanted like go to the mall with my friends or go to my friends house, join a sport team, wear make up, or dress how I wanted. I would ask myself how come other people can and not me, I don't get in trouble, I have straight A's, I don't respond back to my mother so why? I saw that the other people who were "rebellious" did that and even more, so what I did was be like everyone else and started to be rebellious. I was more liked and people talked to me more (kids my age), but in the end it was not beneficial to me because I got in trouble a lot by my mother, at school, and even by the teachers that knew me as a "good girl." They even asked me why I was acting up that this was not how I was a year ago. Things kept getting worse as time went by and even got in trouble with law enforcement, I saw that I was not going anywhere with this and I was given opportunities to do better and thanks to the universe I didn't get into too much trouble to affect my record. If I wouldn't have stopped myself to think, I would have depraved so many possibilities that I have right now. Now little by little I am not giving importance about the crowds vision of me. In the end what should matter is how I foresee myself.
ReplyDeleteI have been discriminated against and confused as an Asian because of my features. Whenever I speak Spanish I get different reactions. When I was younger, my first language was Spanish, so when I would speak my broken English I would be discriminated against and told to go back to my country. Even though I was born and raised in San Diego. Therefore, growing up was difficult because not everyone was in the same boat, I went to an all English school. It took a while to make friends and communicate with teachers. I isolated myself because it was a better option rather than being made fun of.
ReplyDeleteI've never been discriminated, but I guess you can count the time where a group of Hispanics decided to clown on my Spanish speaking skills back in high school. My Spanish is not the best, but I don't care. People will always talk.
ReplyDelete- Jose M. Flores
I have been discriminated for speaking Spanish in class and the teacher told me I couldn't speak Spanish because the other students didn't know what I was saying and would think I'm talking in Spanish about them. He didn't let anyone who knew Spanish talk in Spanish which pissed me off. I kept speaking Spanish because he wasn't aloud to tell me what language I couldn't speak and I ignored him.
ReplyDeleteI know maybe I have been discriminated against many times, but I just don't pay attention to it as much or it just happens so quick such as a car passing by telling me the border patrol is coming. The last time I clearly remember I was discriminated against was when I moved to an elementary school in Clairemont. The population consisted of primarily white individuals and I was of the few "Hispanics". I had an old white teacher and she would look at me as if I was lesser or dumb compared to the other students and would sometimes separate me from the class. She created this picture of me in which the other students thought I was dumb, but, fortunately for me, I was able to make a lot of white friends and that helped. At my age I don't believe I had a good understanding of discrimination so I never told my parents until my sister encountered a similar situation - the vice principal did something against her (I can't remember). After this occurred, I told my parents as well and they moved us to another school.
ReplyDeleteI have been discriminated against many, many times through out my life. To be honest more than i can acount for. I always just didnt do anything because i didnt want to waste my breath with any self entitled racist prick because most of the time these people dont learn at all. To people like them whatever you say goes in one ear and out the other. I do remember one time explicitly that i have been treated unfairly. Either way i it went peacefully without me getting charged with murder. All i know is that people who are racist and discriminant against others learned this tyoe of behavior and hopefully they can learn one day the opposite
ReplyDeleteI don't feel like I've been discriminated against, maybe because I never paid attention to it. I am mostly exposed to a very accepting and open minded environment. I do remember that once I was belittled because I am young. This older Mexican lady was saying how the youth now a days are not confident and shouldn't be given many opportunities or counted on to speak in public about serious social issues. I then mentioned some the things I've been involved in and she just smiled apologetically.
ReplyDeleteDiscrimination is inevitable once you step out of your comfort zone. You could be discriminated from not only your ethnicity but also your background or religion and even how smart you are. People are always going to try to attack for one thing or another. I remember one time I was discriminated just because of my race and religion. There was times I wasn't able to go to some certain events because I wasn't wanted. There was also some instances when I had to wait longer to be helped because I was being ignored. The feeling it caused me to feel was very unpleasant but I'm glad I been through this feeling. Since I chose to learn from these experiences I became more patient, understanding, and mindful. I didn't let there ignorance poison my soul.
ReplyDeleteI have been discriminated and mistaken by my nationality many times. They would usually ask me “Are you Chinese? Do you speak English?” First of all, not all Asians are Chinese. For example, the one that I remembered clearly was when one girl asked me if I’m Chinese instead of asking where I come from. People shouldn’t jump into the conclusion too fast, but I understand that they might think I look like Chinese people for a bit, and I don’t want to take it too seriously. Then I just replied, “No, I’m from Cambodia,” and she asked me again, “Where is Cambodia?” I tried to calm myself down and replied back normally, “It’s located in southeast Asia next to Thailand country.” After that, she replied, “Oh okay” and then walk away. I knew that she still doesn’t get it, but I handled it in a very positive way. Also, there was another time someone in the bus asked me if I speak English, deep down I felt really bad, but I don’t show it, and then I replied a "YES!" with confidence. From these experiences, I learned to became patience, and people should not judge Asian are the same based on their appearance, because we all difference. Not all Asians are good at math or have small eyes.
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ReplyDeleteI had been discriminated for sure, almost all my life. But I forget things so fast so it doesn't touch me for long. However, pains inside can take forever to heal when it’s deep. When I was little I was a poor kid. I was discriminated by fellow friends and neighbors because of my family. I didn’t have much family members, in fact non, I felt little and no one wanted to be my friend. I had to chase after people all the time. Secondly, in one of my program in High school, there were many rich Asian kids and I felt decimated by how unfriendly they were. The look in their eyes, I felt like they don’t want me there. I can tell, because it was obvious, sure my English isn’t good I guess that embarrassing but I tried my best. And no I wasn’t over thinking, some people care a lot about how cool you look. I didn’t see the point of taking it to heart because those are little things I deal with though out my days, like trash people throw at me. I started to believe we have the ability to choose whether to be happy or sad not long ago. And It worked! When I felt people’s sad and angry energy around me, I felt sad too. Once when I realized I shouldn’t waste my time being sad and started smiling, I felt better. It may not be pretty but when I smile, I win. Because when you take it to heart no one is suffering but you. And so I learned to choose happiness and move on. It's Amazing how we can change our mood by just telling and looking at things differently.
ReplyDeleteI feel like discrimination now a days surely exists but does not control our lives. I don't really remember encountering a situation concerning any type of discrimination but growing up my family has had a lot of strict ideals of what my role as a Mexican-American women should be. I grew up in the U.S. so my beliefs about my role in life are a lot different and unique. I think any person women or man has the right to liberty unlike my families criticism always putting me down. For example one of the criticisms I heard the most was that I should not play with guys or that I belong in the kitchen cooking or cleaning instead. Indeed things should change but I believe small changes are the ones that make a real difference in this world.
ReplyDeleteI feel discrimination when I was in my country Iran. As a refugee from Iran, I have experienced an educational disadvantage. In my county, people do not have any freedom to choose their religion and clothing. For example, I had a lot of difficulties back in Iran. The government did not allow me to study at the university because of my religion. We could not have a normal life such attending the university and obtaining a job easily. It is really hard to handle these situation when your life is in danger if you say something or do something but I try my best to positive in my life and see instead of when you feel the door is close have positive attitude and think about maybe one day everything be calm and good and this is happen when I came to the U.S.This experience made me be more stronger and make more attention to what is right and what is wrong in my life.
ReplyDeleteI was once at Walmart with my sister and a guy behind us was just making rude comments about us speaking in Spanish so he got in my face and said "this is America speak English" My reaction was to punch him but instead I just laughed and kept talking in Spanish with my sister I didn't make a rude comment back I simply ignored the guy and waited in line till I got ringed up and left.
ReplyDeleteWell i feel like discrimination is always present and I have been discriminated because I am mexican like many of you. Just for being Mexican, many bullies in high school or out in public talk behind your back or make dumb comments. Some only know a single story and that is how we get judged. I been told that I hopped the border illegally, that my parents sneaked across the border and much more. However, I have never been angry and retaliated because there is no point. These people don't know anything about me and I have always moved forward, not letting anything hold me back.
ReplyDeleteI am always discriminated by my name and how I look. I am Puerto Rican and look white and what's worse I barely speak Spanish. A lot of the time I am made fun of for being half white and people have made a point of speaking Spanish in front of me when they don't want me to know what they are saying. Luckily this part has helped me more than hurt me, I now understand a lot of Spanish and can even speak it when it's necessary. I'm looking forward to the day I can be fully accepted as half white and Puerto Rican and can hold a full conversation in Spanish.
ReplyDeleteAll the time because of my name, They make fun of my name because instead of calling me Dulce (sweet), people will call me bitter or salty because they make fun of my name.I mean what can I do? I cant change my name.
ReplyDeleteAs I was Pokehunting with my friend at Imperial Beach, two gang members assumed I was also in a gang because I'm Hispanic and we were out late. They threatened kill me unless I left their turf. My friend and I reported the incident to the police and then left the area to be safe. We were both pretty shocked, and just hope it doesn't happen again.
ReplyDeleteI never felt more discriminated until I moved myself to San Diego. When I used to live in the BayArea, race, nationality , or religion doent play a part in our lives as students nor people overall. It wasn't until I moved to Chula Vista where eveything was always characterized as the region of place you lived in San Diego. Youre either one race or not, in my opinion everyone here thinks you're Mexican or not due to being super close to the border.
ReplyDeleteI was on the trolley heading to Fashion Valley when a white family spoke to me in Spanish and said that , Was it hard to obtain my green card, and how can I cross everyday and still afford to use the trolley and even to come to Fashion Valley from Tijuana. At that moment, I took it in, I said, I can say, "Fuck You" or I can educate her that not just because we are Mexican living in San Diego we need to cross to Tijuana and we are all different. I told her that there are many races , not just Mexican here and that her people, "Caucasians are usually the ones that make our border lines long during the process of waiting to cross to San Diego. I didn't feel so discriminated because I mean she was curious , I get it , but no need to ask a girl on the trolley in front of everybody.
I take from this experience that everyone is different so you just cant assume anything and ask just because you feel or felt privilege at a point.