Core Reflection HD 361

Social and Political Contexts of Human Development

Araceli Allala

HD 361 Social and Political Contexts of Human Development

This course was an eye-opener. Although I was familiar with most of the historical events
that we covered in class, I now have a very different perception from what I learned as a child. It
is sad to know that the educational system teaches us only what the culture of power want us
know. It is a disgrace how society is taught to perceive things in a certain way, when in reality
the important thing should be to teach our children to love and respect others just because it is
the right thing to do. One thing I take from this class is that the pain and suffering the people
fighting for their civil rights went through was not in vain. They stood up and fought for what
they believed in and they were determined to fight for their rights and change the world views of
these behaviors and attitudes about ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status,
just to name a few. All of the historical events covered in class were because of racism. This was
back then, the problem is that now that it is 2016, racism still plays a big role in society. We are
still seeing these kinds of events in the present, like the Black Lives Matter Movement and the
Dreamers Immigration Act.
Throughout the course we read several books, but two of them stand out for me because
of the way they portrayed powerful stories. The first one was Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
(Brown, 1970). This is a very thick book, but I enjoyed it right to the final page. After reading
this book I was emotionally touched by each and every story and event told, like the
displacement and forced relocations, the massacres and how they stripped Native Americans of
their identities. I can see how what they teach us in school is not at all the real facts. I got a
better understanding of why Native Americans are so heart broken. The book describes in detail
how Native Americans were displaced from their lands and relocated. They lost their traditions,
culture, religion and families-in other words they lost their identities. Till this day they keep
getting deprived of their rights and taken advantage of, as we are seeing now in the case of the

HD 361 Social and Political Contexts of Human Development

North Dakota pipeline which passes through their land. The other book I read is Tattoos on the
Heart (Boyle, G. 2010) which has helped me feel respect and admiration for all that gang
members have been through. They have lived through very difficult situations and struggles, yet
have strived to change their lives and overcome adversities. They were given the opportunity to
change by someone who believed in them and they took a chance to overcome the obstacles in
their lives and worked hard for a better, safe and prosperous new life. The message I take from
this book is that it takes one person to make a difference in someones life, to show someone that
they are an important and valuable human being and that everyone deserves a second chance.
This class motivated me to not just finish my bachelors degree but to continue my
education because being well educated will allow me to have a voice and stand up for what I
believe in, and to be that one person that makes a difference in the lives of others. This is the
reason why as a teacher I need to know the real facts of the historical events, social and daily life
issues in order to know what is happening in the world. Having a clear understanding on all of
these social and political issues gives me a better view and helps me care for every child with
respect and to treat each one as unique individuals. We as teachers have the power to promote
social justice, to make sure we protect and provide a solid foundation for every child by offering
equal opportunities to succeed.
After taking this class and through my personal experiences, I get a better understanding
about the endless variety of cultural beliefs because our world is so diverse. I have come to
consider other perspectives than my own, and I am dedicated to being a culturally responsive
educator. Everyone has their own views, but we need to get along and respect each other and
make this world a better place to live in. We need to work together in order to change the way
society views these complicated issues of diversity, equity and privilege. These forces have a

HD 361 Social and Political Contexts of Human Development

profound effect on us all. Within my classroom each day I have an opportunity to counter the
version of history I was taught as a child, and instead to teach that differences among us are not
bad. I can strive to change the world by honoring each child for who they are, and helping them
realize their agency to create a social change.

HD 361 Social and Political Contexts of Human Development

References

Boyle, G. (2010). Tattoos on the heart: The power of boundless compassion. New York, NY:
Free Press.
Brown, D. (1970). Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West.
New York, NY; Holt, Rinehart & Winston