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I just love reading this post, it is not mine. I got it from my friend’s website. I wish this woman will be in realm of Islam, Allahumma ameen, as she understands lots of thing from Islam..

To My Muslim Sisters

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror,” the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes.
They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don’t bite.

I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value” spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too.

Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us. Just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears. Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is the same everywhere. We love. That’s what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.

Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian sister – with love.

?© 2006+ Joanna Francis
http://joannafrancis.wordpress.com

“Our nation is moving toward two societies, one

Black, one White-separate and unequal. What

White Americans have never fully understood –

but what the Negro can never forget- is that White

Society is deeply implicated in the ghetto.

White institutions created it, White institutions

maintain it, and white society condones it. White

racism is essentially responsible for the explosive

mixture which has been accumulating in our cities

since the end of World War II”

(National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorder,1968)¹

After reading this book, it is important for me to tell you that I don’t like definition of race itself. What I mean is to put human into race category. It is fine to put animals into their own domains, followed by kingdoms as they have many species and subspecies. Does human have that? Am I from subspecies? Or Is Malay people a subspecies from Melanesian group? Scientifically, we can put animals into subspecies categories as they mate with their own subspecies. As human, are race considered as subspecies? Malays vs. Arabs, Jews vs. Aryan and Black vs. White? Human mate with human and all human are Homo sapiens. There are no subspecies of Homo sapiens. I am not alone in this notion as many scientists (especially biologist) support me that it is wrong to consider/perceive human in category of race as we are all Homo sapiens. Race taxonomic should be avoided as we have the same anatomical features and the things that differ are the color and the size of the features (i.e. tall; color of eyes, hair and skin). Their functionalities never changed. The definition of race is usually defined based on culture, geography, religious, anatomical and etc. So, what makes others more equal than us? I know some people claim they are more equal than us by calling us alien in letters. I perceive them as those who don’t sit for Multicultural Education when they were in universities. This book is about self exploration of our own self even though it talks about Black kids. I manage to make my own reflection and self examination. This book is a reality definition of race, the writer experiences.

I would like to explain further on philosophy of mating differences between human and animals. This is important to put here, as I believe, it will eradicate the superiority feelings that we have upon others. As I explain before, we were born from our parents. That is due to a process that is called sex. We are from sperms and ovaries. Naturally, parents will love their offspring because they are from the seeds of love. Realizing we are all from the same process, I wonder what makes some of us think that they are superior to others. Regardless of race; human’s blood, flesh and even male sperms have the same colors. I wonder rather than we view on our color skins differences, why don’t we view on what is inside our brain and how does our skull looks like? Still, why skin color is the major issue?

I have so many feelings after finishing this book. Before I explain my feelings, I have three related stories. I have kept this for so long and I don’t want to keep silence about it anymore as it will haunt me again and again. It is important for me to tell because the feeling of resentment and angry go together, and luckily, the best way to let them go is by breaking the silence. Thanks to Tatum for convincing me to let go the despair deep down in me. Thank you for making it required reading response to me as it is very valuable. You may share this story to your students, as I believe everybody have a sphere of influence. I will propagate my sphere of influence that racism must be stopped on whatever cost as it is dehumanizing. Your sphere of influence will be your students and others around you. My sphere of influence will be my students, trained teachers and Malaysian government officers when I go back. I believe we are all educators. We will be the social change agents that will commit themselves to create crème de la cream. I will create crème de la crème future teachers. I don’t want my product to be as exactly as Malcolm X teacher, a true culprit character in the book. I don’t want to be associated/related with him/her as I against racism at all cost.

I feel sad when the teacher of Malcolm X told him that the only work suitable for him is to be a carpenter instead of lawyer. The moment the teacher said that, it was a doomsday for him. He reacted negatively, playing truancy and later on involving with gangs. If I were in his position, I’d tend to react the same way as he did. It was a rebellious age and stage. Further more, at that age with the situation that is so unfair and prejudice towards Black, he did not realize that he had enough role models. How could he have it? His worldviews had been suppressed in a systemic racism. I believe as he excelled in his class, the teacher might be his role model. Then, it turned out to be his teacher is the one that broke all his dreams. Malcolm X couldn’t think in a correct way as kid’s world view was very limited. Was there a fair and neutral social worker to guide him? Did the school provide career workshop for “every student” as what we have in KSU nowadays? I don’t think so. He tried to prove that the teacher was wrong in negative ways. He challenged the teacher. Indeed Malcolm X‘s teacher tarnished the image of producer of crème de la crème.

It is very important to have role model. It is a need as it will create a success path on how you are going to achieve by following the role model. It is not just to Black American, it is for everybody. It will create targets to achieve. It is a positive reinforcement within, a strong motivation. How about black youth? Are they lack of role model? They have many role models. The problem is not so many White realize about this. Due to this, they tend to make stereotyping towards blacks. They associate Black negatively. Stereotyping is dangerous to be committed to any groups of people. It is based on distorted points of views. It is a shallow judgment. It is a lethal weapon as it kills hopes we put on problematic teenagers. It is a vicious cycle of racism too. If we still continue putting stereotyping towards particular groups, racism will be alive and fertile. That happens because it will convey from mouth to mouth. When someone in the group that always becoming victims of stereotyping want to apply for a job, he wont be accepted as an employee because the employer has bad/stereotyping world view on that particular race,. I can say this because it happens in my country, in fact in my hometown (from Kelantan), where we don’t like to mingle with others from different states because of our dialect is different. In reality, it is not.

I used to stay in apartment owned by Mc Cullough Development. It is in Osage Street, very near to Manhattan City Park. I chose to stay there because the rent is quite good, the house is half furnished and importantly, it is close to KSU and playground. It will be very helpful for my wife as it is a walking distance to university and good to my son because I can bring him to spend his time there (city park). Most of the renters are undergraduate students, they have parties every weekend. I don’t bother about it as I am a Muslim, and I don’t associate myself with that. It is fine as long as my family is not in trouble. One Sunday morning, I got a notice put it on my door from custodial cleaner not to make mess by letting the cigarette buts or garbage such as beer bottles (parties left over) below the stairs. In fact it was a second notice I received from them. The first one was two weeks prior to this notice. The thing that really pissed me off was I was the only one that received the notice. I went up to see my neighbor’s door, checking if they receive the same notice as me. It turned out; none of our neighbors have the notice on their doors! I was pretty sure we were the only one that received it because they usually wake up late the next day after the late partying. Why must I take the blame for the “crime” I did not do? Never in my life have I smoked or drink or going to a pub as it is not permissible in my religion. Why Jane did not bother to check about it first? Or does she associate me with dirtiness and garbage?

Another incidence was when a policeman came over to my house because he claimed he received a call from our house landline. He said there was a problem in my house. What was the problem then? Am I the problem because I, the Muslim doesn’t drink and have party on weekend? The best thing about it was we don’t even have a landline. We only use hand phones. That makes me wonder up until today. He asked for my identification. I gave him my Visa and my I-94 form. After that, he just left. He left us clueless. Who made a call at the first place? My ex naughty student from Malaysia telling the policeman here that there was a terrorist residing in Apt.4? I believe it would be more dramatic and suspense if the caller told the policeman, the best buddy of Bin Laden was there, preparing another attack to American soil. The third incidence was in the library, I went to complain because they sent me email to ask me to pay USD 5 for late fees of not returning a book. As I remembered, I sent it on time, the same day by putting it inside the drop book box. She asked me when I returned it, and then commenting due to a rainy day. That was okay for me until she uttered, “You are forgiven”. I was perplexed, it happened so fast. Did I do something wrong that I should be forgiven? I don’t think she will say that to me if I’m blonde, tall, speak native English or have greenish eyes. I believe that happened because I don’t look White.

All of these incidents were committed by White. I believe if I talk or file complains about this to them, they will have thousands of excuses to invalidate it as what David did to Victor in The Color of Fear movie. I don’t care about it anymore. I don’t want to leave the feeling unattended as it is dangerous to my being as a whole. That’s why I put it here. You know, I wish I can turn the clock back to give damn good answer as what Victor did. I believe by doing that, I am helping the White actually, by breaking their fear of their own shadows. What I mean by shadow here is the “now” that was built upon the bones of others. That was history, but we must bring the history to learn how not to live based upon the bad of the past.

Can I say the problem happens due to imposing world view to others? I notice that this happen because they tend to be dominant. They believe their culture is dominant. The nature of dominant is they will impose it upon others. For example, as a matter of fact, beauty is defined from their perspectives through the powerful media. They control the media as they control the world economy. For example, if you notice, in many advertisements related to women, most of the women are portrayed as having green eyes, sharp nose, big chest, blonde, slim and thin. This is what I view as exploitation towards women. What a real oppressor, not just the people of color becomes victims, now they address the targets to the whole mass by imposing it through media. What concern me is what about teenage girls that do not have to be the above features. Are they then considered ugly? Perhaps, media and advertisement should focus on what is inside, should be explained and giving examples that what matter most is heart. Thus, I believe Miss Universe should be abolished at all as it is more to sexual progressive exploitation towards women.

They also want to be heard and this is detrimental to any other culture that is reverse to them. They will see it as not important. They will see it as alien.

I learnt from this book that it is wrong to invalidate people feelings. I always do this. This shows I am selfish. My world view is important but this belief is absurd and wrong. I don’t want to be oppressors as this will make them feel hopeless as it shows that we don’t understand them. Sometimes, they don’t want us to understand them, but it is important to listen to their voices within. It shows as well by not listening is the act of ignorant and insensitive of others. I am going to be a teacher, my multiracial students will turn to someone else in order to be heard, someone that can understand their perspective. I don’t want that to happen because my students are my priority. I am thinking about what will happen if they not just turn to someone else but rather completely shut down as what Malcolm X did. As teacher, I need to give them hopes.

We must go against the racism by putting emphasis on certain things. First and foremost, it is important to talk about it, because it will help to break the silence. It is to raise the consciousness so that there will be and can be lead to effective action and social change. Don’t worry about it as it will always have followers for it. Lots of us have fears and we need to fight it. Self exploration of knowing the reasons we have fear is important as it will help us to combat the fear itself. It is important to realize as well that our first fear is ourselves. If we are not prepared to face our own fear, that we are not willing to let go our own racist belief and ego, it will be nowhere. You can put thousands reasons for it but as I realized, keep quiet means we become the silent supporter of racism as it wont stop by that.

It is important as well to celebrate those who stay on our course. We need to make abolitionists name famous so that people will realize that they are not alone. Putting their names high is important as it will be the role model for today generation. There might be strong confrontation on the opposite camp as they will try to submerge our efforts. This should be confronted by letting others know what the stages that they have been through when they were in the battle of racism. As Jones said it will be an antidote and freshen up the feelings of isolation and loneliness face by white people or any other people that is on our course fighting racism.

It is important to challenge not just white but anybody that stays upon the racism road. It is important to tell them how oppress the system is and challenge them not to be on the side of oppressors. Explaining the deep understanding of racism and appreciate the identity struggle of people of color is a way moving forward against the racism. For the torch bearer, they must not be left alone, as they need continuous support to face the sarcasm of daily racist jokes. Those who are against the racism are our ally, so it is very important to keep our networking stronger. We must appreciate the effort they put into breaking the wall of racist socialization.

They feel normal because they see black as a slave even though it ends hundred years ago. It does not exist anymore but if you realize, they can’t run away from the thought of feeling superior over others. They successfully do that by belittling other culture. This happens through color blind perspective that is embedded within them. They deny it as they never unfold their racial identity. It is not needed because they feel they don’t have problem with racism. It was not important to them. They rarely ask or discuss about it as it will be painful to them to admit. Again, what is important is their feeling. What is important is their belief that everybody is the same as them. I bet most of them do not belief racism is a system.

As I try to imagine and think why they think that they are not racist, as they believe it is done by their previous generations. They believe it stops there. But when you have that kind of thought it is wrong because past created you. And you brought together the history. You convey it in form of jokes, either you realize it or not, in your words and you think it is okay, but in fact it is not! Just because your perception think it is true it does not mean it is true and good for others. The best thing is that they never realized that it exists within our daily life as the system itself.

I feel grossed when someone says affirmative action is not needed nowadays. Most of them say it is unfair because they might loose their jobs to minorities. First of all, it is just “might loose” rather than surely loose. They say it like that on the first place, so I believe they have to check back their level of confidence. Secondly, how many percents are they going to loose then? Based on the percentage of Undergraduate Enrollment Fall 2000 at University of Michigan, White is 65.8%, compared to African American 8.4 % and Hispanic 4.7%. What about Native American? ONLY 0.6%.² Among them will say that institutionalized discrimination against African Americans no longer exist so any policy in their favor should not exist, but I would like to put it in this way if we view that the oppression has been gone through for about 300 years, I guess allowing more minorities to be granted affirmative action is nothing. It is peanut. It is used to remedy past discrimination. However, I do believe, affirmative action should be look closely case by case but not by abolishing it in general because it will strengthen the racism that is within the society already.

White believes discrimination has been eradicated. What about the three incidences that happened to me? From a study done by Turner, Fix and Struyk (1991), whites were three times as likely both to advance further in the hiring process and to receive job offers as were Hispanic applicants. From the same research, it is told that 15 % of the white applicants received job offers and only 5 % black applicants did.³

In my point of views too, affirmative action is a peanut compared to repercussions or asking for forgiveness as it involves their pride. Will it be possible seeing White asking for forgiveness? They won’t, as they are very individualistic and dominant. Am I against repercussions and forgiveness? I did not say this is wrong too as I agree with what Germany did by paying billions of dollars to Jews for the crime they committed. Is racism a crime? Yes, it is! Does it make those who purported racism criminals? Yes! If my two questions easily answered yes by you, then I guess what makes it SO DIFFICULT to ask for forgiveness and repercussions? If you refuse to do both, first and foremost, White must admit and put in into ACTIONS that the first thing that needs to be done is to change the stupidity for those who support racism, and at the same time tell and convince them(among racism supporters) that it is a system embedded in our daily life.

A country is not a house; it is not an individual property. I can paint my house to be blue but I can’t impose my country which I shared together to be blue because they have their own preferences as well. I am thankful to God, as He created this world colorful. We appreciate all colors. Why when it comes to skins color, we don’t take heed as the way it is? From this book, I learn not to homogenize everything because it is wrong. We must appreciate the differences as we appreciate the varieties of other living things (animals, plants) surrounding us. Why can’t we do the same thing when it comes to human skins?

I take Tatum advices to prepare my sons to have a positive psychological adjustment by providing intact relationship between families members regardless color skins they have, kids need to be attended integrated schools to avoid color blind perspectives. When it comes to buy a house, it is advisable to be in multiracial neighborhood as it will create more interactions and understandings. Most importantly, I must be willing to talk to my son openly about issues related to identity development as I had no one when I was teenager. I must stop the cycle of racism. This will help him to be able to reflect positively. I think it is important as I don’t want his worldview to be created by nonsense media or advertisements or people that is based upon inequalities. I will be careful as well when I make comments on others physical features as I don’t want it to become objectifying. These steps I believe will teach our eyes NOT to be out powered by prejudice.

References:

1. Norman R. Yetman, “Black Monday:” Brown v. Board of Education and the Significance of Race in American Life. Transaction Publishers Rutgers University,2006.

1. The CQ Researcher: Issues in Race,Ethnicity and Gender( Affirmative Action).pg 13.(Pie chart titled Etnicity at the University of Michigan) CQ Press, 2002.

1. Turner, Margery Fix, and Raymond J. Struyk. Opportunities Denied: Opportunites Dismissed: Discrimination in Hiring. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute 1991.

“I don’t care about race. I care about the class ,the children they work with..”Dr. Be Stoney

I believe this is a must to read book before teaching in Hispanic classroom. In my case, I never have any opportunity to know, learn or interact with Hispanic, Latinos or Latinas cultures, so this will provide a pre schematic knowledge on them. I believe it will enrich my perspectives as an educator. As I reflect back to a question asked by Dr Stoney to me by asking me what does it mean to be Malay, so I believe as an educator, I have to put pure and conscious efforts not just to critically checking my beliefs on other cultures but at the same time reform and change erroneous and prejudice beliefs towards everybody especially to students.

Actually it emphasize on preparation to be teacher in diversified classroom. In Malaysia, I don’t have Hispanic students, but the strategy provided here will be good guidelines, on how should I prepare to teach my students whose have different backgrounds and understanding. Furthermore, I am a diamond cutter. Thus, it is my job to dig for them and polish them. The reform must be erupted now and then, and I don’t have to wait. It is in Malaysia’s National Education Philosophy a long time ago. Rigorous action needs to be implemented.

This book is about a belief that through education, teachers will be able to turn the history of diversity and multiculturalism in United States to be a success story. It puts emphasis on teachers. Teachers as agents, selling knowledge and students as clients, receiving education. Our target is to reap benefits from this long term investment. We want to make a successful deal. Education is supposed to be a win win situation deal: towards a betterment of our society. It means every one of us can live effectively and respectfully in a cultural diverse society. Also, the writers challenged their notions and assumptions that teachers are perfectly prepared and happy, ready and caring when it comes to educating their students regardless of their background. After finishing this book, the answers for their assumptions are answered by finding out about guidance and strategies provided. Thanks to the writers because putting me into realization that to reap the benefit of this business deal is a long way to go.

I can say that because I did try to answer Question Number 3 on Beliefs about Hispanic Students in Chapter Two. It was difficult because at the end I realize all my answers for the questions were either wrong, biased and they are based on movies. The only answer that I had a confidence to answer was related to their language that they use a same Spanish language. Even this is proven wrong when I reflect back to the discussion in a classroom when one of our classmates explained to us that Puerto Rican Spanish is different from Mexicans Spanish. The only correct answer I know is Jennifer Lopez is a Latina!! Shame on me…

They have a long history. When I counted back, it started from 1492 and it goes on until today. They have more than 500 years of history. It means their cultures are rich of many elements. It is complete; they went through many patterns of oppressions but yet did not stay static. Dynamically they fought to embrace, tasting the meaning of freedom and equality. It means also, they have similar basic needs as human. Yet I wonder what makes them being perceived as difficult in classrooms? Does it show that when teachers always perceive themselves as bearer of equality and justice yet when realizing that in fact we engage in putting prior negative assumptions about a group of students, this lead us to state of denial? As a result of this we put the blame on the failure of bilingual education, not to our own effort of knowing in and out of our students?

I believe as nations that have long history and enriched with many diverse elements within it, they are indeed unique. I soon realized about it when realizing they came from different places such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bolivia, Cuba and etc. I wonder what will happen to me if I address a Puerto Rican as Mexican realizing that they are a part of U.S territory for about 100 years. They are American citizens. This means they have unique status compared to other arrivals. It goes the same with Cuban American that came here running away from communist system. They were well educated mostly asking for political asylum. Their mentality would be different. Indeed I find that diversity is not necessarily between different groups but it can happen within intergroup as well. Enough to say, Mejicanos, Tejanos, Chicanos reflect how diverse and unique they are because those words bring different meaning.¹

The book focus on Hispanic students, it helps you theoretically to create a mental image of how a Hispanic student would look like/be. It starts from demographics data, reflections of our (majority) beliefs about them (in chapter 2), teaching Hispanic students, understanding Hispanic families (in chapter 3). It is complete. I believe this is crucial because the authors actually are trying to tell readers (teachers especially) to know students as a whole. Knowing name, address and grade is as important as understanding and knowing their history and culture. It also helps us by letting us know what to do and to avoid when it comes to practice later on. This notion is obvious when the writers provide Resource Heaven for readers because you can extent your research and knowledge about them by using the books, fictions and research provided inside this chapter.

Other thing that I like about this book is when the authors provide their own experiences into Authors’ Notes. I value their efforts because basically they are providing hands on applications because teaching Hispanic students was an alien concept to me. Further more, this puts facts and theories discussed in this book in an imaginable context thus lead to understanding. Most of them are related to chapters discussed. As an example, Mary Lou Fuller in Chapter 7, which discuss about Hispanic Families gave a good tip to prepare/bring cookies for the students whenever they are being visited at home. This will be identified and celebrated as concerning effort from a teacher to the students by Hispanic parents. Building this bridge will smoothen the process of knowing and understanding them, and as teachers for Hispanic group, it is important for teachers to initiate first the steps.

As I mentioned before, this book will be a strong base of my next plan. It provides frameworks for my future task as an English teacher and at the same time multiculturalists when I go back home. I don’t have any intention to stay firm following exactly as the way it is in Malaysia now. It does not work for unity when the system supports racism. As we build up/contribute to pollution, we too help building up racism if we don’t put an end to it. All of us have shares and that’s why, there must be a strong reform. Furthermore, I realize equality and freedom is the basic human needs, and I will have supporters. “It is important for us teachers, those who understand to put a stop to racism”. I do realize as well, there will be antagonists that will strain upon my way. They might inflict pain upon me but that does not worry me much. I have read how Martin Luther King and El Hajj El Malik Shabazz² were killed; I have seen what Apartheid did to Nelson Mandela. Physically they were incarcerated, but their struggles and souls fly upon to the heart of alive human. No force can stop them.

The writers focus on education to change and up heave the Hispanic community. Education can only work if it is conveyed successfully to the target groups. In order to achieve that, the language barrier must be broken down by improving bilingual education. In bilingual education, we appreciate the culture of our students. Appreciating culture of others and not denying their existence is cores to ensure unity. It is like killing two birds with a stone. Hispanic students wont be lag behind, their identity wont be jeopardized and at the same time they learn other subjects. This idea is very beautiful. When I reflect back of my experiences in Malaysia, I realize among the many reasons Chinese or Indian parents send their kids to Chinese and Tamil vernacular school because they don’t want their offspring to be “Malaynalized”. I remembered when I was 10 years old in Standard Four, most of the stories in our National Language Text books, told about Malay fairytales, Malay warriors, Malay legends, and I did know about Na Zha³ and the flying wheel of fire from comic books instead from “National” text books. I guess no efforts were being made to translate Chinese or Indian fairytales. It is an obvious example of how students’ cultures are not celebrated and welcomed.

I like Chapter 5 the most. This semester I am taking ESL Bilingual Education, as what I am being taught in the subject, it is important to have accurate assessment to ensure academic success. It is interesting to note here that our bilingual students might use two languages at one time but most of the time, there will be only one dominant language within them. It means proficiency is very much dependent on the language that they are familiar with. In order to ensure success for Hispanic students, the assessments made by school personnel must be exact. This is to avoid them to be replaced in a classroom where they can speak English but do not understand most of the lessons because their Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency is not on par with Native American English speakers. This is to ensure they are not left behind or being felt to be left behind because of their language inadequacy. Also, accurate assessment must examine all aspects of students to ensure it is adequate. Among the criteria that need to be taken seriously are Performance based assessments, observation by focusing on language used to interact with peers and not to forget the demographic of the students because it will determine the percentage of English language used. For example, Hispanic students who come from highly populated white area will have better English commands due to more interaction with Native American English speakers.

It is interesting as well when the writers mention that we can’t force them to perform in any language that they use in order to accurately assess them. In fact, teachers must provide opportunities for them to listen, speak, read and write in both languages. Teachers’ job is to listen and observe attentively to ensure accurate assessment. From the careful and accurate observations, then the teacher can determine either his/her students are dominant in Spanish or not, needs to work more on English vocabulary and etc. Most importantly, labeling them as slow, or any derogative remark is out of teaching ethics because it is lethal. It means, as teachers, students’ limited abilities to express themselves should not be a wall for us to not encourage them to use languages that they prefer. What we can do is to always encourage (without putting coercion) so that it will help them to low their affective filter.

There is no unique formula to teach Hispanic Students but there are ways to help us at least to build basic understanding of who they are. This will be the first step towards the success. The ways are closely integrated ranging from families (as their cultures are family and group oriented), economics, communities and cultural background. As teacher, it is wrong to be eccentric and denying the existence of our students culture. The actions will lead to miscommunication, ethnocentric judgments. It will shove away Hispanic students from us. In order to avoid that, teachers need to have concrete knowledge of particular culture in order to develop understanding of particular cultural group. Lacking concrete knowledge of Hispanic culture will lead to misinterpretation and assumptions. As a teacher, I don’t want that to happen because misinterpretation and assumptions are basically the key factor to denying the existence of particular cultural group.

There are factors that propagate the growth of Hispanics’ students learning. Firstly, teacher can provide education that fulfills the needs of them. This can be done by giving them access to opportunities and resources. For example, if they need more time to develop their CALP⁴, it should be taken seriously and granted as this will ensure their academic success. In this case, we must always remember the fact that teachers are nurturers. Secondly, avoiding stereotyping is a must as it can lead to teachers ignoring the fact that Hispanic cultures are rich in diversities. Also, teacher must have teaching strategies that related to the needs of Hispanic students. Among the strategies are:

a) Focusing the lessons on group rather than individual. Teacher must as well create a cooperative atmosphere in the classroom. This is a must for them because they have a strong sense of community. This can be done by having group problem solving, discussion in groups and etc. Due to this matter, it is wrong to punish them in public, this will devalue their pride.

b) Lessons must be highly informal too, ingrained with family-like atmosphere. I believe, eating together (with class members) by everybody participating in bringing food is one of the good methods to develop relationship and knowing each other better.

c) Having Hispanic Family Day or Hispanic Open House at school where Hispanic parents are invited to school. They can come to school for the sake of visiting without worrying about have to meet teachers discussing about their kids performance at school. It is a way to show hospitality of school administration where Hispanic Parents will be invited to have lunch or dinners (Hispanic food are prepared of course) with their kids’ respective teachers. This should be a yearly event where all of school communities anticipate in it. Hopefully this event will be catalysts for them (parent and teachers) to interact more in the future related to students’ achievement and improvement.

d) Teachers or school administration can develop social networking to promote assimilation and diversity. I get this idea from International Buddies program offered by Kansas State University. We can change it into Hispanic Buddies program so that it will give opportunity for Hispanic students in their transition and assimilation process. This program will be free. It is targeted so that it will improve their English skills. It can also provide free tutoring to the Hispanic students. They can meet an hour per week to discuss, do activities together.

Actually I am impressed when reading Fuller’s Author’s Note in page 102 whereby she instructed her preservice teachers to have significant relationship with Hispanic parents. This program managed to change perspective of her preservice white, middle class teachers. From their responses, Hispanic cultures are beautiful because they respect and value the teachers generally and emphasis on cleanliness which is as same as theirs. This is another great strategy to enhance cultural understanding between two different groups.

I believe Jones and Fuller are not just writers but they are practitioners of bilingual education. They put into practice whatever that they believe and write. I notice the theories, methodologies and applications in this book are deep seated and well matched the CEEE Guiding Principles (Center for Equity and Excellence in Education.) Each Hispanic student is unique (due to the fact that they are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse students or CLD), so any instruction should be build on their previous education and thus should not be neglected. They are welcomed, accepted and valued as they way they are. In order to fulfill the notions above, teacher must understand and apply the concepts, theories, research to that appropriate to them to help to learn in and out of classroom setting. It is a must for teachers to create a motivating learning environment and at the same time know and understand the variability of his/her students in learning academic subjects.

I do believe that the writers of this book try to combat negative views such as Hispanic students will be in failure category, left behind, hopelessness of any appropriate educational helps and risk of academic failure. I feel this happen not because of racism that entrenched within us but our failure to provide enough and good training on differential learning strategies and development of Hispanic group. In Malaysia, for those who major in education and plan to be teachers, Multicultural Education is not a core subject, it is just an elective, and thus it is not compulsory. I hope it will be made a compulsory subject for teachers to have it before they go to school teaching students. Hopefully, it will help to improve teachers’ attitudes towards racial and ethnic minorities. This is among the reformation process that I will do if I become a Malaysia Education policy maker one day. Wish me luck!!

As conclusion, both of the writers do a great job to instill cultural awareness in me. I am greatly indebted to them. In fact, their points of view must be and should be frameworks before we embrace Hispanic students.

I would like to end my reflective responses to this book by quoting Sonia Nieto’s statement which is available in page 29, “a constellation of attitudes, behaviors, behaviors, and structures and a mismatch between home and school expectations all work together to produce success or failure.”⁵

References:

1. A CQ Press College Division Publication. (2002) One Name, Many Communities:

Issues In Race, Ethnicity and Gender, Selections from The CW Researcher. CQ Press

174.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X ( retrieved 10/6/2008)

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nezha_(deity) (retrieved 10/6/2008)

4. Herrera S. G, Murry K.G,.(2005) Mastering ESL and Bilingual Methods. Pearson

Education Inc. 9

5. Nieto,S (1992). Affirming diversity. New York: Longman

Name:Rahsia

ID: rahsia

Subject: EDCI 755 (Multicultural Issues in Teaching)

What is An American? Defined American?

I have to define what is an American for my multicultural studies. In order to get a brief idea what is an American, I have to interview any one (selected) around me (regardless of his/her nationalities) and tell his/her opinions. I grab Melissa and her husband, Michael. Both mention the same thing “people having freedom, independent, being able to make their own choices, and have an entrepreneurial spirit, people can make their life better”. I am perplexed by this answer, because of so many reasons.

After our Friday congregational prayer, I managed to ask my American Muslim friend, his name is Omar, Irish descendant living in Chapman. He gave me definition from legal point of view, “being born and naturalized in United States”. However, his additional view somehow perplexed me again because usually people in United States will prefer to ask who is not American rather than who is an American, accusing others of not being patriotic enough. For example, Republican will accuse the Democrat of not being patriotic.

If taken both of opinions above, indeed it is very difficult to identify who is an American and who is not. There is not solid parameter to do that. Only we can tell who we are. Determining who the person is needs us to go back of his/her background, looking at what/who’s made him. I can not measure the level of freedom a person has or life is better or being able to naturalize here because those are very relative in nature and it is circumstantial.

I believe as a Malaysian, we have freedom to express our point of views, I am very much independent guy and not afraid of anything as long as I do not do something that is against the law and I believe life is good and better (in Malaysia) compared to other places in this world. It means I have those qualities defined and being mentioned by my American friends. Am I now an American?

I tend to analyze more my American friends’ definitions of being an American. I suspected this idea might be from the Declaration of Independence 1776. I choose this thinking that this was the beginning of United States of America, my friends’ background schemata are developed from their history lessons of this Declaration. Again, the essence of it convinces me that we are in fact basically the same; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”¹ How does it differ with the Islamic principles of freedom as clearly mentioned by our predecessors when he wanted to liberate Persian²? The situation might be different but the context will always be the same. American vs. British Hegemony and Narrowness of this world vs. Spaciousness of Hereafter. It is about the basic element of human, having freedom based on our own conscience compared to animals.

In conclusion, my American friends defined American based on the essence of human principality so it goes the same to me because we are all the same. As a teacher, it is a must for us to prepare educational equity regardless of who our students are.

Reference:

1. The Unanimous Declaration of Thirteen United States of America, (July 4, 1776)

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm (Sept 1st 2008)

2. Ali Nadvi A.H, The Responsibilities of Muslims in The West

http://www.albalagh.net/food_for_thought/responsibilities_muslims_west.shtml (Sept 1st 2008)