Rethinking Race In the Classroom

I get tired of hearing that, "we don't need White History Month because we learn that stuff all of the time." The reason we learn "that stuff" all of the time is because White people just happen to have contributed the overwhelming majority of the events, technologies and inventions that the world depends on. But never once as a child in school did I have a teacher impress upon me the pride I should have in the accomplishments of my people. Race wasn't mentioned. Culture wasn't mentioned. We memorized dates and events, nothing more. We were not taught that we had an obligation to continue what our racial ancestors started, etc.

Some mulatto pressures Hollywood into giving her an award so she can be the first "black" to accomplish something-or-other, but who mentions the race of the people who created the electricity, light bulbs, movie cameras, sound equipment, theaters or the thousands of other things that made that award possible?

We may learn primarily of the accomplishments of Whites, but we don't dare be proud of it.

I believe that these books allow us to discuss how the American culture was only 20-30yrs. ago. These books allow us to see how far we as a nation have come, and how far we still have to go. I see nothing wrong with still using these books in the classroom, they are a part of our history!!

if those in charge want to get rid of books that say the N word hundreds of times maybe they better get rid of hip hop and movies that say the N word hundreds of times in a few minutes " those who fail to learn their past have no future"

If we stop teaching about things in the past that were not proper or not done politically correct from todays standard, then how is the future generations to learn about why Obama being president is so amazing, or how horrific the holocaust was and why the wars going on are wrong and that we need to aid those in trouble. We need to teach to learn and then learn to be better then those from the past ( or past mistakes/ failures) so that the bad parts of history hopfully will not repeat again and again. Never ban books/ movies to those that are age appropriate that can we used for a teachable moment--what one teaches does not have to reflect the teachers opinions. Those that are uncomfortable with the Black American is portrayed, should said that as part of the lessson--"Can anyone see what is wrong with the way Jim is being treated? How Is the way Huck treating him different then those of that time period? then how we are now?" Just a thought!!

I read To Kill A Mockingbird in my Literature class when I was about 12 or 13, at a majority-black high school in Trinidad (The Caribbean) and I loved it. The book is a classic. I never felt ashamed when reading about the things that happened during that time, and neither was my white Caribbean (yes there are MANY white Caribbean people) teacher. It was appreciated for what it was. It is the responsibility of parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, other relatives and role models in children's lives, to educate them about these things, so that when faced with them ,going in they are armed with the education on the work at hand to be able to engage with it but not feel it in such a way that it will negatively affect them. Foundations are KEY and it is not just up to the school system and school curricula to educate children. Be more present in your children's lives and it will fix these problems, or at least go a long way in helping to fix them.

Interesting comments, but please don't downgrade an intellectual conversation by making your first comment about the progress of African Americans today being that hip hop dominates culture all over the world.....because that is exactly the type of thing that will make most people groan. Have you ever actually listened to most hip hop songs? And if you have, can you, someone who reads classics, actually say that you like them? are proud of them? are proud that they are synonimous with the African American culture when the majority of their lyrics talk about wanting to "git up on you"? Come on...if *anyone* wants to be taken seriously, whether they are black or white, they will most certainly refrain from making statements that almost sound as if they are proud of hip hop and what it's done to our culture. I, for one, am disgusted with what's it's brought.

Interesting comments, but please don't downgrade an intellectual conversation by making your first comment about the progress of African Americans today being that hip hop dominates culture all over the world. Because that is exactly the type of thing that will make most people groan. Have you ever actually listened to most hip hop songs? And if you have, can you, someone who reads classics, actually say that you like them? are proud of them? are proud that they are synonimous with the African American culture when the majority of their lyrics talk about wanting to "git up on you"? Come on...if *anyone* wants to be taken seriously, whether they are black or white, they will most certainly refrain from making statements that almost sound as if they are proud of hip hop and what it's done to our culture. I, for one, am disgusted with what's it's brought.

I for one, am sick and tired of hearing self-loathing liberals and malcontent black racist telling us that only white people are racists and only black people can ligitimately speak to race issues. That is the most hateful aspect of race relations across America today! Most black supported Obama not because they truely understand the issues or truely love America, but because they are RACIST.

While the issue of racism is certainly far from over, it might be beneficial to point out that none of these books are being taught to young, or even to middle school children. It would be hoped that high school students being taught these books would understand the circumstances under which the books were written- at the time, that kind of language was, unfotunately, less of an anathema. To Kill A Mockingbird, for example, teaches about discrimination, and while some racial slurs may be used in the book, the characters who produce them are certainly not portrayed as admirable- You'd never catch Atticus Finch saying something like that. There's something to be said on both sides- I certainly wouldn't want to read derogatory statements about my ethnicity, either- but in some cases, doing away with these books seems like going overboard. How far back would we go to eradicate this kind of literature? Uncle Tom's Cabin? Obama or no Obama, these classics will be a part of our literature and history whether schools choose to teach them or not.

ok im 17 and i know those books are some of the best. my schools made us read them but gave a warning that they will be a bit.......different. they told us that they would use the "n-word" and that they will make the african-americans look bad but thats how it was back then wasnt it? its history just because it was like that then doesnt mean its gonna change now back to that.yes i understand where thier comin from but lord theres no need to ban the books from the classroom or anything. its just silly to me i love "to kill a mockingbird" (book and movie) and i dont want to see that book be banned.

bbb

A psychologist would have a field day with Allison Samuels' well written and, yet, hopelessly illogical and condescending article.
First, her contempt for Mr. Foley jumps off the page as she introduces him as a ???a white high-school teacher in Ridgefield, Washington.??? How dare he, as a white teacher, have the temerity to take a controversial position that is sensitive to his black students and parents? With that logic, one would have to experience a brain tumor before they could become a surgeon???perfect.
Ms. Samuels than offers her personal sentiment that she is indeed, ???a lover of books, I personally can't imagine missing the opportunity to savor rich characters like "Mockingbird's" Boo Radley or Atticus Finch, particularly since Finch ultimately became a hero on the issue of race.???
Really? You can???t imagine missing the opportunity to savor such rich characters in those wonderful classics? Well, try this one on Ms. Samuels???picture your beautiful and innocent child who knows nothing of the ugliness, indignity and shame of racism, sexism, etc. Now, think of the absolutely ugliest epithet that someone could say to you personally, Ms. Samuels ??? you know, the one that would really sting and ruin your day. Are you with me so far? Now, send your beautiful and innocent child to school where they are a minority and will be assigned a book that uses that same epithet over 200 times. Ms. Samuels, as a mother, do you really think you would give two *&$%#s whether the book was well written and had heroic figures? I think not!
I offer to you, Allison Samuels, that you are not only simplistic and wrongheaded, but without compassion.

The classroom needs more not less. We need the old with the new. History has a place for all works given their time and place. Black History already has a month. Now we need more time for all history. I know people from Canada and England that seem so well informed all all cultures and spend time traveling and reading. We simply have to more to expand all knowledge. People can do more with the computer. Let us move forward with more education act all levels. This is a great investment.

As a white university student interested in black literary studies I think it would be a huge mistake to take out these classical pieces. They are going to play a more important role in our culture than ever. When we start discussing these topics with the kids seriously, without getting "a chill up and down" the spine, making more and more clear that it is HISTORY, it is past, it will open a new prospective to the new generation. Let us not forget they definately need a starting point. Therefore I agree with the statement: "having those conversations is a kind of progress". The point is that instead of the Present Perfect Continuous tense we should use the Past Simple more often. Vera Cs.

As a white university student interested in black literary studies I think it would be a huge mistake to take out these classical pieces. They are going to play a more important role in our culture than ever. When we start discussing these topics with the kids seriously, without getting "a chill up and down" the spine, making more and more clear that it is HISTORY, it is past, it will open a new prospective to the new generation. Let us not forget they definately need a starting point. Therefore I agree with the statement: "having those conversations is a kind of progress". The point is that instead of the Present Perfect Continuous tense we should use the Past Simple more often. Vera Cs.

I dont agree with this at all....by taking out said books, then we are taking away the chance to expand the students' knowledge about different types of literature, whether its ethically right or wrong. Whats the difference between reading a book that has some racism in it and reading a book where a child is abused on a daily basis, for exapmle? both can potentially cause a student or teacher discomfort, but nobody's campaigning to get rid of books about abuse, or other subjects.

Spare me all the race talk. I don't see where it leads. What is to be gained? We were slaves. Many blacks were lynched. Discrimination was institutionalized. Back iin the sixties we shouted revolution, but no revolution came. It got watered down by drugs and white girls. So here we are in the new high tech millenium, still talking about racial matters. I say the same thing now as I said then. If you ni&&as don't want to do the once and for all revolution thing then you don't really want to do anything. These empty and meaningless debates by so-called intellectuals is a royal waste of time.

I do not think people realize that their are History Months for a wide range of cultures, and underrepresented groups. Women's History moth is in March, Asian/Pacific Ameican Heritage and Older American Month is in May, Gay and Lesbian Pride month is in June as well as Caribbean American Hertiage Month. September is Hispanice Heritage month, October is National Disability Emplyoment Awareness month, and November is American Indian Heritage Month. Black history month just gets more media time, but I think it is important to know that there are opportunites for a wide range of cultures to be appreciated beyond the black and white relations of this country. I think it is imporatant to see what our history is, no matter how uncomfortable it may make us. I am a biracial woman who grew up in a very small town in southern Minnestoa. These books were taught in my High School, and though it was hard being the only "black" girl in the class, I still felt that it was an important part of my history, both the black and white, that needed to be shared.
Does it make me uncomrtable that my white side oppressed, and my black side has been oppressed? Yes. But does it make me a stronger person for knowing this? yes it does. To not educate America's children about how far we have come with race, and yet, how far we still need to go, would be a huge mistake.