Observation:
Watching Black Doll and White Doll is frustrating to me. I was really shocked when most of the kids pick up the white doll instead of black doll. In fact lots of perspectives and reflection can be derived from it. I wish it could be lengthened into a bigger scale by experimenting to other racial populations such as Hispanic and Asian and using different skin colors dolls instead of two. Will the result varied? Yes, it is because it is very contextual but I hope the result will reach to the same conclusion like what I thought.
I wish it happens like that so that I can give a death blow thoughts to those who believe racism does not exist anymore or media /socialization/ surroundings does not relate to child self esteem so that something can be done to rectify this problem.
Feelings:
• Frustrated
• Sad
• Alarmed
Thoughts:
I feel sad because I heard of them answering the question of Kiri Davis by affirming, the black is bad. I feel frustrated because I wish this research will delve further by asking the reasons why the kid says black doll is bad and using larger samples from various populations. As a future teacher I feel alarmed when this video could actually reflect kid’s self esteem.
Learning:
Step One:
I assumed most of the kids will choose the black dolls over white dolls as it is similar to them. I assumed one of the kids won’t say the black doll is a bad doll because it will just reflect herself. I assumed the result will be at least equal because kid nature is just plain and do not have any judgment.
Step Two:
I was wrong in my assumption. Most of the black kids choose white dolls over black dolls. I am thinking I made assumption earlier because I am putting myself to be the kid. If I will prefer to choose the dolls that is similar to me.
I was wrong in my second assumption too. As an adult, I have developed my self esteem and I don’t want to say something that can reflect to myself as bad. Again, I am putting the kid into my own shoes which is wrong. However, this made me thinking on how important for teachers to build up kids’ self esteem.
My third assumption was totally baseless. From this video, I realize kids have their own judgment which I believe resulted from their own socialization. They are not just plain subject. They see their world and notice the differences around them.
Step Three:
After reflecting upon my assumption, I realize that it is my socialization to put someone into my own shoes. My mind mode of thinking would say, if I have a good family, others will have a good family too. I don’t have any financial problem, others don’t have financial problem too. However, I realize later this is bad as It is lack of empathy on my side. It is putting someone else into generalization to myself. This is very selfish. This can lead to Color Blind perspective too as I tend to assume all of people surrounds me is actually the same with myself.
When I was a kid, my mom always tell me that we should be proud of our heritage. I were brought up in Malay’s culture that was very distinct, in term of food, clothes (traditional clothes) and everything. Perhaps I did not go through what the kids face everyday so it was easy for me to make assumptions.
Applications:
Step One:
I learn a lot from this video. I realize though slavery ends, it does not mean that every problem pertaining to racism, prejudice and stereotyping end. It will be continued and our job is to create understanding to go against these tides. I believe salvation can be achieved through this struggle as everybody is God’s creation, we must share the existent of being human and love everybody. Religion of hatred won’t survive and won’t be accepted.
I am thinking as well, it is very important to take care upon our self-esteem. We are what we think. I don’t want to cloud my mind be perceiving or judging myself or others through their skin colors. Is not frustrated to listen to the kid affirms that black doll is bad? The statement is so plain but yet it is so powerful and demeaning to me. It shows like what I stated above, lots of things must be done in today society to rectify back our mistakes so that our future generation will not inherit that.
Step Two:
As a teacher, I want to ensure my kids to feel good about their own selves. I want them to be proud of who they are. Before the video ends, Kiri mentions about anyone can be princess regardless of their skin color. That is so true. It is not my students’ skin but their values and what’s inside them matters to me. That’s why we must not just highlight Abraham Lincoln as hero, in fact, we must know our students culture and recognizing that Pocahontas is a heroine, Eva Peron is a heroine. Mahatma Gandhi is a hero.