Call me by my name
We have to be so careful when we speak to/about ourselves. I believe that our images of ourselves have everything to do with what we're called and what we call ourselves. I speak to parents constantly about giving positive self-images when they speak to their children. Too often we hear the ugliness in a parent's rant against their own children, calling them the most horrid things. Constantly telling children that they're little bastards, and *******...and cussing and swearing at them, is very damaging to their self-esteem.
And the transformation and belief in those negative messages is extremely subtle. Our children generally won't disappoint us. They will then behave like little bastards and *******. I know. As a school teacher, I learned much from my students who were amazed because I wouldn't call them out of their names. Their other teachers did it; their parents did it....their friends did it. And why would I be any different?
It was because I recognize that I have a name my own parents gave me, and that's what they always called me. There was "family pride" and self respect instilled. And in order to receive respect FROM my students, I would address them in a respectful manner at all times. Even called them "Mr." and "Miss". Something some of them had NEVER heard.
"Nigge*" has the same debilitating affect on our self-esteem. Laughing and joking about it, like it means "nothing" to be chilling with the homies talking that talk, is so much blissful ignorance. The walls of self respect are slowly but surely coming down whenever our people engage in that negative self talk. And don't let someone from the other group(s) hear us! Somehow, "they" begin to think it's "ok" to say that word, too. And we all know that ain't the case.
So I like to head that kind of nonsense off at the pass. I am what my name is upon meeting and greeting the red, the brown, the yellow, the black and the white....and I, in turn, give them all due respect when they introduce themselves to me.
thank you for the opportunity
a
We have to be so careful when we speak to/about ourselves. I believe that our images of ourselves have everything to do with what we're called and what we call ourselves. I speak to parents constantly about giving positive self-images when they speak to their children. Too often we hear the ugliness in a parent's rant against their own children, calling them the most horrid things. Constantly telling children that they're little bastards, and *******...and cussing and swearing at them, is very damaging to their self-esteem.
And the transformation and belief in those negative messages is extremely subtle. Our children generally won't disappoint us. They will then behave like little bastards and *******. I know. As a school teacher, I learned much from my students who were amazed because I wouldn't call them out of their names. Their other teachers did it; their parents did it....their friends did it. And why would I be any different?
It was because I recognize that I have a name my own parents gave me, and that's what they always called me. There was "family pride" and self respect instilled. And in order to receive respect FROM my students, I would address them in a respectful manner at all times. Even called them "Mr." and "Miss". Something some of them had NEVER heard.
"Nigge*" has the same debilitating affect on our self-esteem. Laughing and joking about it, like it means "nothing" to be chilling with the homies talking that talk, is so much blissful ignorance. The walls of self respect are slowly but surely coming down whenever our people engage in that negative self talk. And don't let someone from the other group(s) hear us! Somehow, "they" begin to think it's "ok" to say that word, too. And we all know that ain't the case.
So I like to head that kind of nonsense off at the pass. I am what my name is upon meeting and greeting the red, the brown, the yellow, the black and the white....and I, in turn, give them all due respect when they introduce themselves to me.
thank you for the opportunity
a