Application: Reflective Journal

"Despite the ambiguities and contradictions inherent in the concept of race, all of us are treated differently according to our race. As a result, we all consciously or not, develop racial identities and attitudes" (Ramsey, 2004, p. 72).

Ramsey states, "Socioeconomic status is 'an encompassing structure•it relates to virtually every aspect of human psychological development and across a considerable period of time'" (as cited in Gottfried, Gottfried, Bathurst, Guerin, & Parramore, 2003, p. 204)

There is no doubt that race and socioeconomic status are complicated and far-reaching forces in all of our lives, including the lives of young children. For this Application Assignment, you will have an opportunity to consider your own relationship with each of these important areas of diversity by continuing to write in your Reflective Journal.

Part 1:

For the first portion of your journal entry this week, read over the responses you wrote in Week 1 to the question: Who Am I? Then add at least three additional responses to this question in relation to your knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about race, racial groups, and/or socioeconomic class.

Part 2:

For the second portion of your journal entry, review the questions below. Select three or more to write about.

1. What are my early memories of my racial identity? How has it changed?

2. How do I feel about my racial group? Am I proud? Ambivalent? Do I sometimes wish (or have wished) that I belonged to another group?

3. How do I feel about people from other racial groups? What assumptions to I have? Do I have close friends and neighbors in other racial groups, or is my social network racially homogeneous? Would I like to have close friends of racial groups other than my own? Why or why not? What assumptions about racial groups do I have?

4. What are my assumptions about why some people are affluent and others are poor? Do I think it is fair? Inevitable?

5. What do I assume about the race, gender, education, and character of people in different jobs? What images come to mind when I hear that someone is a sanitation worker? A doctor? An assembly-line worker? An executive? A chambermaid? A manager?

6. Who or what do I blame for disparities in wealth and opportunity? Poor people? Wealthy people? The system? What do I think needs to be changed? Do I want to be a part of that change? If so, in what ways?