Racism

This week I have chosen to blog about racism. Growing up in the Deep South, I have always known that racism existed. I grew up in a relatively small town in Mississippi that is predominantly African American. There was a "Black" side of town and a "White" side. The school district was and still is mostly Black with the exception of a small Latino population that has moved to the town. The White in my people who live in my hometown go to a private school. I often wondered why this was the case when I was a child. I would always hear people say that the White children didn't want to go to school with us. I was always taught that everybody was created equal. Therefore, I just couldn't understand why they didn't want to go to school with us or why we weren't welcome to go to school with them. My first real encounter with racism was when I was in the 9th grade. I was sitting in the car waiting on my brother to get done playing football. An elderly White lady walked through the parking lot with her husband. She said, "The niggers have taken over." I was so shocked because I had never heard anyone use that word except for on television. My parents had always taught me about the history behind that word. I sat in the car and began to cry. When my mom came to the car, she wanted to know what was wrong with me. I sobbed as I told her what had just happened. I wanted to know why that lady hated me when she didn't even know who I was. I took her comment very personally. It was something that haunted for me for a very long time. I still think about it although that it happened almost 15 years ago. That lady changed my life that night without even knowing it. I was determined to prove that I belonged here just like anybody else. I shouldn't have had to do that. I learned to always be mindful of what I say. Words are more powerful than we may think. I long for the day when we can treat each other with dignity and respect because we are all apart of the human race.

A few weeks ago there was a riot that broke out at the University of Mississippi(Ole Miss). This riot occurred after the election of President Obama. Students burned signs of the president and acted in a very disrespectful manner. I found this to be heartbreaking. When I watched the news, it looked like a scene from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. I found it hard to believe that this kind of hatred still exists in 2012. This happened on the campus of an institution of higher learning. It is sad that people feel like this, but it is especially sad to see young people behaving in such a manner. I can't but think that they had to be taught this racism and hatred towards other human beings. A few years ago, the Ku Klux Klan marched in my hometown. I feel that Mississippi is a place that has changed some, but we have a long way to go. Racism definitely still exists here. I know that children are affected by racism everyday. One way that children are affected by racism is in the schools here in Mississippi. The districts with the most money are predominantly White. The poorest districts are predominantly Black. My husband teaches in one of the poorest school districts in our states. He often tells me about how his students feel inferior to the children who live and go to school in better districts because their facilities are nowhere near as good. In this situation, racism and poverty go hand in hand. My husband says that he goes in everyday trying to inspire his students and let them know that they are just as good as anyone else. Racism can definitely have an impact on the cognitive, biosocial, and psychosocial development.

BREASTFEEDING

I have chosen to do some research on breastfeeding. I chose this particular topic because it is something that I wish that I had done. After the birth of my son, I was in so much pain from the c-section. I couldn't even stand, and the thought of walking made me cry. As a result of the pain, my son was cared for by my husband and other family members. I thought that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed. It was something that I had always wanted to do because of the benefits to both my son and myself. My son was bottle fed during our stay at the hospital. When we came home, I decided to give it a try. He wouldn't latch on, and I eventually gave up. After the birth of my daughter, I was determined to breastfeed. I kept asking the nurses for help, but no one ever came. My doctor arrived the next day, and demanded that someone help me. We tried over the next three days, but my daughter just wouldn't latch on. I suffered from severe postpartum depression, and everything just seemed to get the best of me. Not breastfeeding either of my kids has turned out to be one of my biggest regrets. I often wonder if my son would have Autism if I had breast fed him. I guess I'll never know. I'm just not sure that I had the proper support system needed for breastfeeding.

According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding is absolutely crucial in the first six months of life and should be continued until age two. Most of the women in India start weaning their babies between four and six months. Malnutrition kills one out of three infants in India. sixty-six percent of these deaths occur within the first year of life. Breast milk contains nutrients that are vital during the first few months of life. Experts believe that breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development in children. It prevents the chances of chronic diseases as well infections. In India, very few infants are breastfed within the first hour after giving birth.

My Personal Birthing Experience

    On April 18, 2010, I was able to experience the birth of my son via a cesarean section. The surgery was not scheduled. After many hours of screaming and hollering, my doctor came in the the room and informed me that I would have a C-section because I had developed an infection. I became extremely nervous. I had wanted to experience a vaginal birth so badly. I was immediately prepared for the surgery. Thankfully, I barely felt the needle being inserted into my spine for the anesthesia. However, within a few minutes, I was shaking uncontrollably. The anesthesiologist told me that I was having "epidural shakes." Everything seemed to happen so quickly. I heard my doctor say that the procedure was beginning.I couldn't see what was going on. Fortunately, I couldn't feel much of anything either. In a few minutes, I heard the sweetest voice that I have ever heard in my entire life. I had previously had a miscarriage, so this was like music to my ears. The nurse brought my son around so that I could see him. He was beautiful. My husband stood beside me. He was so proud. They took my baby across the OR to be weighed, and they said that he was 8 pounds even. Yes, he was a big one. I remember thinking how blessed we were to have him in our lives.

    I chose this particular birthing event because it was my first birthing experience. I was so afraid because I really didn't know what to expect. I guess it was just the fear of the unknown. Things were a lot more calm the second time around. I feel that the birthing process is so important when it comes to child development. So many things can go wrong that can affect a child then or later in life. I am thankful that I had two good experiences with child birth. I realize that this is not the case for everybody.

Birthing Experience in Ghana 

    In Ghana, I found that things are somewhat similar to the birthing process in the US, but some things are different. Most of the women remain quiet during their time in labor. I found this to be interesting because I was screaming from the time that I felt the first contraction. A Ghanaian midwife is present during most deliveries. In Ghana, women can be found lying on their left sides because it is believed that any other position will cause harm to the baby. I found this to be interesting. I don't think I was on my sides at all during my entire labor. I just stayed on my back.The women are given pitocin to speed up the delivery process. I was also given pitocin during labor. I enjoyed learning about the birthing experience in Ghana.