Rethinking Race In the Classroom

I find it silly to stop teaching about classic books about slavery, or the n word. Every race has been a slave to someone at one point and time in history, every race has been shown as ignorant and stupid at one point. The African American people have the N word, the White people have "Cracker" and various other names but the point is, if you just ignore it, then the children will not learn it is a racist word and then use it without the whole story of why it is bad and shouldn't be used. As long as parents talk with their kids and explain that this was the perception of a certain race of people back in the day and then inform them that this was a sterotype and a wrong sterotype at that then there shouldn't be an issue, we are doomed to repeat the past if we do not learn it and learn from it. These classic books should be taught, it doesn't just teach about what the past was like but it teaches a moral story, and if due to racial slurs (which are wrong and shows ignorance) is the main reason to ban books, then why don't we do the same to the bible and other great books that were written in the past. Kids are a lot more intellegent then we give them credit for but it takes guidance for the most part parents but the school system as well. But also it does take each race to not use the word themselves as slang, if an african american says the n-word then it is fine, and sometimes considered a compliment, but if any other race says that to an african american they are beaten up or worse killed. You can't have a double standard and expect everyone to know it, if it is not taught and understood that racism is bad, certain words are racist and are not to be used ever then you will just never take a step forward, instead you will be going backwards and that is something we as a human race do not need to do. Everyone just has to remember that every race has been a slave, had words that are demeaning towards their race, had stories that depict them in a bad light, but that is the learning process. The past is the past we can't change it, we can only attempt to make the future better, so teach kids the difference between what was "acceptable" back in the day vs. what is acceptable now, have them learn that what was in the past was wrong but we can change the course of today and have more respect, give them the tools to be better then their past relatives.

There was a 'deep past cause' behind this negative matter that really occured.
So therefore in what we can see or hear; As a consequence of this, we are witnessing
the present day effects; Which is beyond physical reform and comprehension.

It is quite obvious that these people need 'sincere genuine help' and positive support;
I highly recommend to anyone, to pay a vist to these three websites.
"They are:- www.poetry4charity.webs.com www.wix.com/givehelp/donate www.4wisdom.synthasite.com

Please! Spread the good word in what you have read & heard. All for love."

Many Whites in America are Just as racisy as ever. That they don't see it, or acknowledge it is due to several factors. One most of what Black culture was has melded inti mainstream culture, thus, when it does, and becomes accepted and emulated by whites, it's origin is also usurped by Whites as to create an aura of Blacks being followers instead of originaors.
There are countless examples to be made, but in short, Racism in America is built in to the system, if by no other mean than Whites overall have this ideal if you are not like us in dress, finance, etc, or if you don't support what we support as the norm( which means what's in favor of White privilega), you're not good enough, you're a bad Negro.

That is an over simplification, but the same is demonstrated by these Newsweek articles, which basically use and then and there, here and now analogy, combined with a good Negro vs Bad Negro ideology.

Many Whites in America are Just as racisy as ever. That they don't see it, or acknowledge it is due to several factors. One most of what Black culture was has melded inti mainstream culture, thus, when it does, and becomes accepted and emulated by whites, it's origin is also usurped by Whites as to create an aura of Blacks being followers instead of originaors.
There are countless examples to be made, but in short, Racism in America is built in to the system, if by no other mean than Whites overall have this ideal if you are not like us in dress, finance, etc, or if you don't support what we support as the norm( which means what's in favor of White privilega), you're not good enough, you're a bad Negro.

That is an over simplification, but the same is demonstrated by these Newsweek articles, which basically use and then and there, here and now analogy, combined with a good Negro vs Bad Negro ideology.

I'm not about color, but I'm tired of seeing whites get blamed for everything. Although I still see racists everywhere, among all ethnic groups, Civil rights happened decades ago. So as far as LaTice remembering sitting in the back of the class room or being discriminated against, at thirty four that's not likely. I am older than her and didn't see such things. As far as the N-word, all too many times it is not the whites that use it. Any black that shouts it out to another black, whether it's just to say what's up, or in a fight, should be looked at as a white would be for using it. I also see black people getting to take advantage of their color for money, education, and other benifits. If you look at todays population, white people have become the minority, and there are just as many whites living in the getto or poverty. There are just as many that can't afford an education. With todays society, especially with the economy, it's time to get over ourselves and work together. Martin Luther King Jr. marched for equality, not so that one could be above the other.

We as Americans like to gloss over history. We really do not want to face the truth of our sometimes sordid past. We are all guilty of this. Books like Huck Finn, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Gone With The Wind etc. Remind us of that sordid past. That they are windows on a very different time seems not to matter. That we ultimately get to higher place is great but we want to forget the struggles it took to get there and shape the conversation on having "arrived" while diminishing the struggle.
Black History Month was created to show the contributions of African-Americans to this Great nation and yet. Most students only learn about Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and a watered down Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. Most Teachers do not take the time ( nor Have it) to include the contributions made by great but lesser known people of colour. this is truly the tragedy.
The comment made by the parent reminds me of a scene from a movie on the Pastor Vernon Johns. In the move the Pastor Asks The church musican to play Go Down Moses, and she turns to him and says "we don't sing sorrow sings at Dexter Avenue" He does this every sunday until he is removed from his pulpit during a Sunday service and a child stands up and begins to Sing " When Israel was in Egypt's land.....let my people go" and the church organist as well as others in the congregation also begin singing this sorrow song.
My point is if we do not fully embrace and celebrate the past, How can we ever fully appreciate the present, and rejoice in the future?

I'm always surprised that Huck Finn and To Kill A Mockingbird are always brought up as the main targets of these sorts of anti discriminatory book bans. Huck is as vulgar and condescending to Blacks as the adults around him, but he ultimately shows some amount of loyalty to Jim. And Atticus is the hero of TKAM, ahead of his time in his efforts to defend Tom. Both books are written from the perspective of kids in the story, and I think its important that students understand how the narrators see the error in the ways of society. It's a good lesson and it's applicable in other aspects of life. The real problem is that this is a difficult, often awkward discussion that we'd rather ban/brush under the rug than sit down and address honestly. Both texts are so blunt in content and language and we can't deal.

I completely agree with the closing statement and the idea that it is up to the parents and teachers to prepare these kids for what they will be learning. You can not deny them the the details of our past no matter how sordid. A mistake is only such if you learn from it. We can continue to learn from the mistakes we made and pass on what we have learned so that they aren't made again.
It would completely absurd to remove these literary classics from schools and to deny those students the right to that knowledge.

Please punctuate title of books and films correctly.

I often choose articles from this magazine for students from my English classes to read. I am disturbed that titles of books and movies are not punctuated correctly.

Maybe teaching the past is not a good idea. Look what we keep doing, over and over again.
All the troubles from history are continued today. Why not teach future? What, and how the world will be , relies on what knowledge we impart. Making a push for antiquated learning vehicles is a racists "rethinking".
Better methods for children to learn in the advent of such high technology, a day-care center is all a school is .
Aspireing to higher education does not get much these days.

I think Allison Samuels article "Rethinking Race in the Classroom" is right on the money. By selectively taking out bits of our history that are unpleasant, we are dooming our children to repeat these mistakes. Only by learning from the past, can we have a better future.

I'm a freshman at North Miami Senior High School, where 98% is predominantly black> they are Haitians, Jamaicans etc...I am in the IB Magnet Program and I have been assigned to write a two page commentary regarding this article. I feel that all students should be taught every single form of literature. Whether its "bad" or good. A classic is a classic, and that's what Mark Twain was. By not teaching us a time where blacks weren't accepted -hated- you are painting a picture in our head, where the world is good and no one fought and everyone loved each other. Well you know what- the world wasn't like that and it still isn't like that! And we kids have a right to know. After high school we all on our own, if you teach your kid especially an African American child that his race is perfect, wouldn???t that be lying? all this prior hate and anger where race defined your place in society teaches me that African Americans have come a really long way. Look at our president! As stated my school uses the ???N??? word like its nothing, I see the way their families struggle financially and emotionally, but in the end you get amazing students who are extremely talented. I love "To kill A Mockingbird" in fact it???s our next novel in class... I don't think anyone has a right to deprive me of my knowledge just because it uses a derogatory word, yes I understand it was wrong, but it teaches everyone to become a better person. If these books are banned what???s next? Anne Frank, because it talks about the bad Germans.... come on people!

As a college student who went to a private high school where books like Lolita and To Kill A Mockingbird were taught alongside all of Shakespeare's plays, I can say with conviction that I do not support banning books. I think high school students should be exposed to any and all works of literature. Teaching broad curriculums makes high school students able to experience a larger world than the petri dish sized one that they live in.

Israelis hate Arabs. Arabs hate Israelis. Within the Latino community, separatism exists. There are some that say Mexicans hate Cubans, Argentinians feel superior to the rest of Latin America Chileans feel they are better than Argentinians. I have spoken to Mexicans that don't want to be associated with the rest of Central Americans. I have spoken to Cubans that believe they are better and harder working people than those from Puerto Rico. My husband comes from Africa where tribes of one region are killing members of the other tribe. Racism has existed since before time, and as sad as it is to say it, it does exist and will exist until all races mingle with each other. One of the few places where you don't feel racism as much, is in the Dominican Republic. Black and whites seem to co-exist lovingly and peacefully there. If it wasn't for the very destructive poverty that exists in Brazil, this would be another Utopia in this very sad world I happen to live in. I am very proud of the President elected by me and millions of others, but as you see daily in the news, there are still very ignorant but powerful people out there that cannot get past his skin color. Do we need African American Month you ask? Yes, I believe we still need to teach the up and coming children of those ignorant fools, that as well as George Washington, men like Dr. Martin Luther King left their indelible mark on our history books. I am Cuban. My mother was of Spaniard and Scottish descend. My father was of Spaniard and African descend. I love Mexican food, Argentinian food, Salvadorean food, Chinese, Japanese, Puerto Rican, Italian, Ethiopian, Iranian, Armenian, Cuban, and most other ethnic foods. Why shouldn't I love the people that gave us all that food? Is it time? Absolutely! We should embrace all people, (including those who have never ventured out of their tiny world to realize that the white race is truly and unmistakeably, the minority race of the world.) I'm a former stout Republican that has voted for the Democrats since the Clinton Era. I'm just sorry that I lost touch with a dear friend of mine who will never know that I have finally seen the light. Long live President Obama.

This is SO incredibly disheartening to hear people even suggesting placing Adventures of Huckleberry Finn back on the banned book list. Everyone quoted in the article (including the teachers!) seems to have a poor understanding of the character Jim. Jim is ignorant (considering he has had no access to formal [white] education) but NOT stupid. His feigned subservience is only way to survive. Time and time again, he must sit back and allow Huck (or Tom) to concoct some harebrained scheme. Why? Because he knows that if he speaks up, he runs the perpetual risk of being handed over and sold back into slavery. It is the perpetual fear of being "sold down the river" that we see in so many black characters at that time.

You could make the additional argument that Jim's tendency towards superstition is NO different than Tom's love of absurd romantic situations; in fact, Tom's schemes are far sillier and more dangerous than Jim's belief in certain old wives' tales. Furthermore, his relationship towards Huck is that of a father to a surrogate son (considering the absence of Pap), and it is the growth in HUCK'S CHARACTER in regards to Jim, and how he feels towards him (and all blacks -- himself a poor, orphaned, disenfranchised young white boy -- that lies at the heart of this great novel.

Furthermore, if teachers balk at teaching such a "difficult" novel to young adult readers, they can follow it up with a more contemporary tale, "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry," which sympathetically portrays the struggle of a black family in the 1930s. AND it is written by a black author.

Teachers who support the banning of books are in the WRONG PROFESSION!!!