i'm not sure how many of you are aware of this, but we are regressing back to a time where existed the worst of racism. my students, predominately black and puerto rican, talk about how they hate the whites integrating into their school system. their argument (which by the way is the same as mine, but from a different standpoint) is that "what does education have to do with race?" therefore, they want to segregate the schools so, that they can be comfortable with their peers. and yet, they do not think that they are close minded and racist for thinking the way they do. according to my students, white people are snotty and give them attitudes. My response to all of this, was my telling them about Martin Luthor King, Malcom X, Rosa Parks, Brown vs. Board of Ed., etc., who fought so hard in the rights of people of all colors. I've also asked the students if they are being a little sensitive to the issue. I've also tried relating my being a minority as well, never feeling that i belonged and i was sensitive to issues concerning my ethnicity. But, nothing can change their minds about this issue.
the thing is that my students get it from their parents. they get it from television. television and the media plays a huge role in the way kids now a days think. with such shows as survivor and tv channels such a BET, segregating the races. if there were a WET, what would people think?
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ps. a few of my students have actually told me that i listen to "white" music, becuz i tell them i listen to rock n roll. but when i tell them i also listen to hip hop, just underground, they don't care after that. interesting, no?
In a civilized society it is the role of the majority/powerful to look after the interest of the minority/weak. That's why student/teacher(at any age), doctor/patient relationship are considered unethical, because of the power dynamic. To exploit those weaker than you is is generally considered immoral except when you look at it from the larger scale of race and class. To me institutionalized racism still exist and minorities should be allowed to bitch about it all they want as long as people like Paul Strietz and the CT White Wolves are around bitching about how immigration and blacks are ruining our country. Although I do agree with you, that reverse racism is wrong, it is not the minorities responsibility to protect the majority from racism but the other way around. I know what your saying about the defeatism of your students though and it sounds like you gave them good examples of positive role models.
This is pretty interesting documentary about why there are so many black men in prison
Being a Black Man
i agree that it is the majorities responsibility to protect the minority in the grand scheme of things, but stereotyping an individual for the reasons of her/his skin color is wrong. no matter if you are black, white, blue, purple, or yellow. that is what my students are doing. they are blaming their white peers for the oppression that society has enforced on them, even when their classmates are egalitarians.
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