THE PERSONAL SIDE OF BIAS, PREJUDICE & OPPRESSION

For the past several weeks I have learned, observed, and shared examples of microaggressions and their effects on human development.  I’ve continued my studies of understanding personal biases and institutional prejudices, how they are learned, and how they influence inequities and oppressions within societies.  During my studies I was reminded of the true-story-inspired movie, Radio (2003), starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ed Harris. The movie depicted Robert ‘Radio’ Kennedy [Cuba] as a man with a disability who tried desperately to be a part of the team.  His impedance was viewed by the high school football team players as an invitation for ridicule, cruel mistreatment, and the unprecedented label of incapable; yet the head football coach, Harold Jones [Harris], saw Radio as a human being who was deserving of respect and a fair chance.  The movie portrayed constant incidents of bias, prejudice and oppression toward Radio because of his cognitive/emotional delay—he was treated inequitably by being called a retard and treated as though he could not comprehend. 

Ableism is an attitude, action, or practice of anyone that undermines human and legal rights of people defined as having a disability (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). In the movie, the inequitable acts of classism and discrimination toward Radio were covert; unlike the overt microaggressions that an African American woman experiences from a friend who inadvertently questions her acceptance into a certain college by assuming her admittance was due to her race rather than her ability (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011a).  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, biases are incredibly damaging to the social, emotional, and psychological development of human beings (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010), unless of course a person has indomitable roots of purpose implanted by their family culture (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011b) that enables them to stand with the strength of a cottonwood tree in the face of ridicule. 

Whenever I think about the injustices and internalized oppression inflicted on persons with disabilities, through isms portrayed by dominant groups, it stirs mixed emotions in me.  I usually feel an initial anger from the inequity performed, then sadness about how dismal the task seems in rectifying this overwhelmingly prevalent problem. In order for incidents like those portrayed in the movie to be turned into opportunities for greater equity, it will take a change of heart and mind in the way dominant groups view people who are different from the dominant culture.

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education, Inc.  (Producer). (2011a). EDUC 6164: Perspectives on Diversity and Equity [DVD].  In Her Own Voice: Nadiyah Taylor. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc.  (Producer). (2011b). EDUC 6164: Perspectives on Diversity and Equity [DVD].  In His Own Voice: Eugene Garcia. Baltimore, MD: Author.