As of recently, I’ve learned that it is important to look at ourselves to one, find our biases, and second, so we can know who we are and what are beliefs are. If we don’t do this, then we end up going through life without realizing why we feel the way we do or why we act the way we do. This especially important since all of us are aiming to become teachers. In our classrooms we are going to be teaching students who come from multiple backgrounds, so we need to be culturally aware of who that student is and what their past experiences could be like. Our authors Nieto and Bode made this clear on page 5 when they stated, “Identities always carry some baggage; they are perceived ways by a society and by individuals within that society” (Nieto & Bode 2012). So, if early on we recognize how important it is to evaluate ourselves, we can pass this onto our students who can then have a clear vison of who they are and how we are all connected as a human race. Students need to know that they are more than just the things people tell them they are. 2. What does the word “race” mean to you? How did or didn’t the experience of looking closely at yourself through painting a …show more content…
Yes, people come from many different places around the world, but when we start to categorize people into groups it can turn into something that is extremely detrimental. Also, it’s wrong to just assume where someone is from. This experience and past classes have allowed me to keep evaluating what race even is, and why we are so obsessed with the idea of it. If we continue with this mindset, it allows people to think that one “race” has superiority over the other. When it comes to skin color and race, it’s imperative that I recognize and acknowledge that privilege I have just because I am white. Once you’ve acknowledged what you’ve been given, its imperative to learn what others have been through and not just ignore what happens to other