The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression
The Movie: The Hate U Give
This film is labeled a teen movie. However, it offers one of the most authentic portrayals of police brutality in pop culture. Besides, it is based on an award-winning book drama about a black teen named Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) who witnesses the fatal police shooting of a close friend who deals frankly and powerfully with race and racism. The movie shows her grappling with the difficulties of being a black teenager in a predominantly white area and the feeling of belonging to one world while living in another. How she stands up for justice is very inspiring.
Furthermore, one character in the movie comments that "white folks want diversity but not too much diversity," which touches on a subtle bias against living in highly diverse communities or communities that are resistant to organizations’ efforts to promote diversity. However, many studies prove the positive impact diversity will have on your office and corporate environment.
The movie was banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel's inclusion of rape and profanity.
This movie depicts Institutionalized Oppression, how those in authority, such as police officers use their power to dominate black people and those at the bottom who are less fortunate and most vulnerable. This movie displays evidence of systematic racism.
Diminished Equity
Equity declines when there is a school in the community where substance abuse, violence and teenage pregnancy rates are high. As a result, Starr Carter was sent to a school outside her community and to one with a dominant white culture. Also, when police officers stop and treat the black race and immigrants differently than their white counterparts, it reduces equity. To survive, Starr Carter had to switch identities depending on her situation and the space she was occupying at a particular time. Hiding one's true identity declines equity. Besides, when individuals and groups refuse to recognise and embrace diversity, inclusivity, and cultural responsiveness,e, they contribute to microaggressions.
My Personal Experience
I can relate to the character Khalil, whoch was a victim of police brutalitforof two reasons. Firstly, my baby's name is also Khalil. Lastly, I am also a victim of microaggressions and oppression at police officers who do not play by the books. Instead, they use their authority and power to abuse others. Therefore, while watching this movie, I experienced disappointment, anger and frustration. However, I gained awareness from "The Talk".
For Greater Equity
First and foremost, to increase equity, all institutionalized oppression including racialized poverty and weaponizing stereotypes against black people must cease. Black people must not be seen and treated lesser than the dominant race. Police officers must conduct themselves in such a manner that they see beyond skin color, and use the same law across the board. There should be "equal rights and justice" for all people of all nations.
The insights I have gained from the movie is to find my true identity; know and accept who I am. Moreover, as a mindful educator and advocate, I must use my voice to change situations by speaking up and speaking out. I refuse to sit idly by and watch things unfold.
A Professional Responsibility to Advance Equity
As stated in Derman-Sparks and Edwards (2010), In 2019, NAEYC released a groundbreaking position statement on advancing equity, which affirms that “all early childhood educators have a professional obligation to advance equity … and work to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities” (NAEYC 2019, 1). In addition, this position statement declares that “advancing equity requires a dedication to self-reflection, a willingness to respectfully listen to others’ perspectives without interruption or defensiveness, and a commitment to continuous learning to improve practice” (5).
It calls on everyone involved in early childhood education to take on the following actions, which are also foundational to using an ABE approach.
• Build awareness and understanding of your culture, personal beliefs, values, and biases.
• Recognize the power and benefits of diversity and inclusivity.
• Take responsibility for biased actions, even if unintended, and actively work to repair the harm.
• Acknowledge and seek to understand structural inequities and their impact over time.
• View your commitment to cultural responsiveness as an ongoing process.
References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Hi, Sherida
ReplyDeleteThis is a very powerful movie. I wonder what Kalil was feeling when she had to switch her name to Starr depending on where she was. I guess she needed to be accepted in both communities and that caused her to change names. It is obvious that it must be damaging to her identity.
Your personal experience must have been very painful to you. I feel that the impact that microaggressions and demeaning words have intended or not, are damaging to the person that receives them. Words are a powerful weapon that can destroy a person’s self-worth and once said, you can never take them back.
Thank you for sharing
Toni
Hi Toni,
ReplyDeleteFor clarity, Khalil was Starr's "black boyfriend" who was killed in her presence while they were on a date, at the hands of a white police officer. Racial injustice and police brutality was what triggered the violence. Khalil was killed because of the color of his skin. Starr had to live a double life to fit into her new school which was a white dominated environment. In addition to that, her new boyfriend was white.
Hello Sherida!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing an insightful post. I haven't seen the movie "The hate you give," but by reading what you wrote about Khalil, who was a victim of police brutality, the first thing that came to my mind was the case of George Floyd. It was such a vile and hateful act on the part of the police officer that it was so nerve-racking and sad to see it. He lost his life because of the rampant racism and hatred from the police officer. I totally agree with you that black people or any minority group should not be seen or treated as lesser than the dominant race. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and neither the police nor anyone else has the right to violate the rights of any individual. As you said, there should be equal rights and justice for everyone regardless of their skin color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any aspect.
Antoinette
Indeed, Antoinette. Thank you for responding to my post.
DeleteHello Sherida,
ReplyDeleteI have not seen this movie yet but tonight its me, Netflix and this movie. However the title says it all about how mindful we as ECE have to be about what we say , how we say it and be mindful about our behavior. Children are very smart and can pick up on our body language, tone and behavior towards other people and especially when negative interactions are geared towards them. We don't get second chances to undo the hurt we may have caused by our intentional and or unintentional actions. Children remember what they see or heard the first time and some will carry that pain forever.
So true, Anne. Thank you for commenting on my post.
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DeleteHello Sherida
ReplyDeleteI have seen that movie and all I can say is wow. Thank you for sharing such and amazing blog. I can remember watching this movie with my family and began to talk about the importance of our history as black people. As ECE we all need strive more to help and appreciate our children. Words hold power. We know this, and yet rarely are we careful with them. That was such an important film and I appreciate you sharing your views and thoughts.
Yes, Christina. This movie is great to watch and really fitting for this course. I am happy you watched it too.
DeleteLooking at race relations from the eyes of a young black girl humanizes carter’s struggle to voice her support for Khalil, especially at school, when she is ridiculed by one of her best friends for using social media to talk about police brutality. Her discomfort is apparent as she faces microaggressions from her peers. From the fried chicken references to being labeled as a non-threatening black person. The writer allowed us readers to understand implicit biases on how they are unintentionally perpetuated and the detrimental effects they have on black youth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jade for commenting.
ReplyDelete