Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

When I was about 15 years of age I had a sexual experiment I encountered, and I pray that no young child has to experience. This man was my dad’s best friend the friend that ate, went fishing, and even went to church with dad. I remember dad’s best friend name was Jimmie Lee Harris. My dad loved this man he could not see no wrong in him. This man would come over dad’s house about three times a week. Mr. Harris would call me over to the sofa and would say "here you go some candy". When dad wasn't looking he would take my hand and force me to touch him inappropriately. My dad would ask him to take me into town to get some food, or other items. Dad would have me to go with Mr. Harris every time. I did not want to go because I know that I would have to get ready for a fight or struggle. I use to hate when he used to put his hands on me trying to kiss me I would not let him touch me. Mr. Harris begins to fondle me and say nasty words to me I told him I was going to tell my daddy, but he tricked me and said "he will not believe you."

 Oh how I cried we wrestled for the longest than he just stopped. I was determined that Mr. Harris was not going to rape me. Where he taken me it was so dark that it seem like you can feel the darkness. I can not tell anyone where he took me because of the darkness. I was afraid to tell my dad because I knew dad was going to do something dangerous to Mr. Harris. I did not want my dad to go to jail and be away from the family. I love my daddy I would have given my life for my dad. My dad's best friend tried to rape me. I experienced sexual assault I felt so guilty I started to accuse myself. Mr. Harris poison my mind he said I was to blame. I felt so alone, horrified, and afraid, if I tell dad, I’ll lose my best friend if I was to tell my mom she would wouldn't believe me and thought I would make something up. I was between a rock and a hard place. I found myself as the target of micro aggression sexuality because Mr. Harris would repeat fondling me over and over again. I was terrified this sexual experiment does corrupt young children state of mind.

I have learned that the effects of discriminations, prejudice and/or stereotypes on people are very critical. People are not born with the spirit of hate they are taught to hate. We as parents and teachers should work together in supporting a healthy environment. Because children have feelings also; they know when they are being discriminated. Discriminations are when we as teachers does not input the knowledge the children and ourselves need to support a healthy environment. I do believe when we do not put forward our best efforts to understand every child has the right for a positive education. I have learned that prejudice is like a disease it goes down deep in the innermost being, and it will destroy you. I have learned that children or people are not born prejudice they are taught to be prejudice. I believe that this is unfair to young children when we make up their minds for them. I have learned about being stereotypes on people that we as individuals have the right to believe in what we want to. Stereotypes are a different group races or individuals who make certain judgment about people and not knowing the people. An example of stereotypes is that all black people are uneducated, or all white people with blue eyes are devils. Both examples are not true and irrelevant. We should respect all people. We as grownups need to model positive examples for the younger society.