As a graduate of Spelman College, I have become very comfortable with speaking about race in any environment. Before coming to Spelman College, I was not aware that race is a social construct and not a biological factor. In the Spelman College environment, it was enlightening to have racial discourse in the classroom. The professors challenged us to understand our racial identity individually and our racial identity within the context of white America. As a student in Toni Morrison seminar, my head popped, when I read Toni Morrison's, Playing in the Dark. I learned that the presence of blackness is in every arena, although others that are racists attempt to erase every inkling of presence of blackness; their efforts even more enforce the presence of blackness. This is extremely powerful in many ways because no matter how much we try to become color blind to other races, that have been constructed by human beings, our very blindness will only make their race resonate even more.
So as an educator, it is imperative that I do not pretend to be color blind to many color hues that are present within my classroom. I can not be silent about the racism that is covert but breathing in every aspect of the world. But when I chose to talk about race, and its tension, and difficulties, I must approach it in a productive way. Even it is challenging and uncomfortable, we must address it. If I don't address it, I subconsciously demonstrate to my students that racism is alright!
So I have decided to teach the autobiographical novel Kaffir Boy, to of course talk about race, but to build apathy for the importance of education for all of my students. The population of my students is predominantly African American, Hispanic, and a very small percentage of Whites. I spent weeks building background knowledge about the South African Apartheid, and its impacts on the races involved. My one white student, was not present during this introduction, so he was not aware of the content of the book. After his first encounter with the novel, I received a very racist email on his or his father's behalf about their racist opinions concerning Black people and the dominance of Whites over Blacks.
As an educator, I had to ensure that I addressed the issue in a productive way! Of course, there were many thoughts that went through my head upon receiving the email. However, it demonstrated the impact that silence of racial discourse in the classroom and in our communities has on children. Our children are socialized human beings and in many cases educators are left to address the issues of racism in our classrooms. An overarching question should be, "Should teachers be left to fight this battle of racism alone?" So many questions go through my mind: "Is it our job to address race in the classroom?" "At what age?" "How do you continue to conduct the discourse even when there is tension in the classroom?"
Of course I don't have all the answers, but some solutions that I do have is that, you must create a community of learners within your classroom. Building a community is extremely difficult and it is time consuming, but it is a must if racial discourse in the classroom will be productive. Productivity is the key! Racial discourse should not be utilized to insult other races, but we must express our deepest emotions, fears, and thoughts in order to move on to discussing productive ways of dealing with racism. The tension in the classroom is inevitable, but the productivity takes place during and after the tension. Lastly, you have to look yourself in the mirror, physically, spiritually, and personally and face your racist thoughts! You have to face your insecurities in talking about race in general, before you attempt to address them in the classroom. There will be times when you will be uncomfortable, but it is a part of the process.
What will you do as an educator/individual to alleviate racism?
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You offer a very thoughtful, insighful and excellent perspective! As educators it's true that we MUST acknowledge race and not act as if we are blind to its influence in our lives and others. Those who act as if they are color blind are only setting their students and loved ones up for failure because the "real" world beyond the classroom and the security of our homes is not color blind at all. I would even venture that our society is racist and prejudice.
ReplyDeleteSilenced racial discourse nevers allows prejudice and racial thoughts to be explored. In fact the absense of such discourse stimulates hate and sustains skewed perspectives and stereotypes because of ignorance to it and narrow mindedness. Discussing race and the role it plays in our society is uncomfortable. It creates tension due to painful histories. Therefore, people like to act as if it does not exist. Most of the people who do this are the ones participating the culture of power who do not face the challenges of being "inferior" to the dominant culture.
I appreciate teachers like you who are not afraid to explore racial constructs and educate students about the orgins and development of such. If we do not do this we cannot grow and become wiser about how to interact and progress with people who are disimilar from us.
To answer your question it is unfortunate but raising issues of race is usually left to educators when parents do not have these discussions with their children. Students are sometimes unaware of this until they enter secondary or post secondary school. This is a very mature topic that could powerfully impact students negatively or postively. Therefore, I DO NOT advocate for teachers teaching/discussing this if they themselves have not explored their own perceptions and ideologies about it. It would be nice if more teachers had experiences similar to the ones you had a Spelman College. It empowers you to be vehicle of change by way of creating a classroom/school culture of unity and respect regardless of someones racial and cultural background.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Keesh, you are right on. You make a lot of very relevant & thought provoking points. To answer your question- educators (though Im not a traditional one) can not alleviate racism. Racism as a social construct can only be alleviated by there being an equal playing field for all races. What you and other educators are very capable of doing is making sure that you; direct your students in a path that mentally prepares those of the minority group (not so much population anymore) to be able to effectively manuever through a society not built to prosper them. On the flip, an educator can very well reveal the hidden burdens of racism that lace our country to those students who are the majority and who this country is geared towards promoting. That way..when your students leave your classroom, they will have the identity that of a human being, no less no greater than another.
ReplyDeleteYou are very able & qualified to do this- one student and classroom at a time. I dont know the way to do it- that was your major lol...but I can tell you that the classroom has become the literal "homeroom" for a lot of students in today's microwave society. Not just racially, but our environments alone can depict whether or not we see racism & which end of the spectrum we will fall on. This is where education is SUPPOSED to be the great equalizer, but unfortunately as you know- it cant be equal, if its not equally funded, driven, of importance (whole other blog). Overall I think this is a genius idea and more so I believe that it is vital that teachers learn to instill more in their students than information for them to regurgitate.
I have a sincere love for educators because you all are meant to be the foundation for anything we will accomplish as a world really. I solute you Keesh for being a great teacher! You too Candice..I'd put my child in your classroom (soon to be District) anyday!
*Sorry for the grammatical/spelling errors English major- Im rushing!!!