Comments on: Black Girls in White Schools: School Settings and Racist Actors http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/06/20/black-girls-in-white-schools-school-settings-and-racist-actors/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:55:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: No1KState http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/06/20/black-girls-in-white-schools-school-settings-and-racist-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-8007 No1KState Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:43:04 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=2575#comment-8007 I think it is about minority girls living in a predominantly white setting. But, I also don't see much good the study could have. Without naming and addressing the source of the problem, what's the point? Of the several AP teachers I had, there're only 2 a minority girl should be left alone with. My junior year, even though the school is 50/50 are there abouts, I was the only black girl in 3 of my 6 classes. For different reasons, not the least of which being that my mother had taught at the school, I was protected from the worst of what I could've experienced from teachers. As for classmates, by then, I had established myself as not just the smartest black student, but the one of the top 2 smartest in my class. And even then, I made quick work of some of their racially-biased comments. But as far as the teachers . . . The standard I'm using for them is that they visibly make an effort to be sensitive to racial sensitivities and demonstrably let their students know the same is expected of them. For example, my English teacher, Ms. E, substituted nigger with slave when we read Huckaberry Finn (and pointed out Tom's wrong for not telling Jim he was free any sooner than he did). We could debate whether or not the substitution was a good idea. My mom didn't like it. But I really appreciated the effort and really didn't care to have to hear "nigger" coming from my teacher's mouth 3 times a day. The other part of my standard is that they expect the best effort and results from all their students. I remember overhearing Ms. E tell a "regular" class, which was overwhelmingly black of course, that they may not be her honors students but that didn't mean she would be cutting them any slack. Being one of her honor students, I knew their pain. And that was before she checked me for being uncouth this one day I decided talking with a toothpick in my mouth was cool. My math teacher, Ms. M, fussed at me one day for not doing an extra credit assignment, even though I didn't need the extra credit, on the basis of me learning to always give myself an edge in life. The assignment had actually been required, but Ms. M felt that even if it hadn't been, I shouldn't settle for a 94, for example, if I could make 98. She was NOT happy with me! - Now, Ms. M also did once unapologetically chide black students as a whole and their parents in a conversation with me without knowing all the reasoning behind the particular issue. <i>But</i>, the issue which she decried was that there weren't more black students taking AP classes even after she suggested they do so, knowing they had the ability. Also, from her perspective, there were a good number of white students taking higher level courses who <i>didn't</i> have the ability. And I can tell you there were. As I explained, she checked me over an extra credit assignment. Not taking higher level classes just so you could be in class with your friends was not acceptable. ~ So hopefully you understand the standard I'm using even if you don't necessarily agree. I can be kinda easy on white people who exhibit a willingness to learn and change themselves; white teachers whose standards and expectations are more universal than culturally specific. Yes, mastering "proper" English was an asset. But Ms. E corrected a classmate's overuse of "like," so I'm okay with her correcting subject-verb agreement. ~ Most of my other teachers were less acceptable by my standard. Like I said, I excelled. Of course, I did play the occassional "black" pet cause I saw it was to my advantage. But, I can only thing of a couple of other teachers I wouldn't mind teaching my child. - Mr. H, my history teacher, is not one of those approved teachers. He did explain to us how Southern clerks made blacks registering to vote count beans in a jar. But he also said slavery wasn't as bad as all that. It sounded strange to me then; it made me ashamed; but, I didn't have the resources to challenge his assessment. And there were other teachers I witnessed push white students harder than the black students. ~ Which is to say white supremacy and privilege is ubiquitous. White teachers have to be conscious of their own racism and consciously battle racism, including correcting a white students', or even a black students', race-based idiocy. Mss. E and M hated the stereotype, which was present in my school, that doing well was "white." But, to the contrary of Tucker Carlson, they hated it because it excused black students from doing their best. And, they're open to learning all the ways in which academic achievement <i>is</i> white and reducing the impact as much as possible. Ms. M, for all the generalized condemnation, and living in the next county over, was willing to go into Black churches if necessary to help get black students in the classes they belonged. That kinda touches on the impact of personal relationships between teachers and students, but if you've read this far, I'm sure you don't care to read much farther! I think it is about minority girls living in a predominantly white setting. But, I also don’t see much good the study could have. Without naming and addressing the source of the problem, what’s the point? Of the several AP teachers I had, there’re only 2 a minority girl should be left alone with. My junior year, even though the school is 50/50 are there abouts, I was the only black girl in 3 of my 6 classes. For different reasons, not the least of which being that my mother had taught at the school, I was protected from the worst of what I could’ve experienced from teachers. As for classmates, by then, I had established myself as not just the smartest black student, but the one of the top 2 smartest in my class. And even then, I made quick work of some of their racially-biased comments. But as far as the teachers . . . The standard I’m using for them is that they visibly make an effort to be sensitive to racial sensitivities and demonstrably let their students know the same is expected of them. For example, my English teacher, Ms. E, substituted nigger with slave when we read Huckaberry Finn (and pointed out Tom’s wrong for not telling Jim he was free any sooner than he did). We could debate whether or not the substitution was a good idea. My mom didn’t like it. But I really appreciated the effort and really didn’t care to have to hear “nigger” coming from my teacher’s mouth 3 times a day. The other part of my standard is that they expect the best effort and results from all their students. I remember overhearing Ms. E tell a “regular” class, which was overwhelmingly black of course, that they may not be her honors students but that didn’t mean she would be cutting them any slack. Being one of her honor students, I knew their pain. And that was before she checked me for being uncouth this one day I decided talking with a toothpick in my mouth was cool. My math teacher, Ms. M, fussed at me one day for not doing an extra credit assignment, even though I didn’t need the extra credit, on the basis of me learning to always give myself an edge in life. The assignment had actually been required, but Ms. M felt that even if it hadn’t been, I shouldn’t settle for a 94, for example, if I could make 98. She was NOT happy with me!
-
Now, Ms. M also did once unapologetically chide black students as a whole and their parents in a conversation with me without knowing all the reasoning behind the particular issue. But, the issue which she decried was that there weren’t more black students taking AP classes even after she suggested they do so, knowing they had the ability. Also, from her perspective, there were a good number of white students taking higher level courses who didn’t have the ability. And I can tell you there were. As I explained, she checked me over an extra credit assignment. Not taking higher level classes just so you could be in class with your friends was not acceptable.
~
So hopefully you understand the standard I’m using even if you don’t necessarily agree. I can be kinda easy on white people who exhibit a willingness to learn and change themselves; white teachers whose standards and expectations are more universal than culturally specific. Yes, mastering “proper” English was an asset. But Ms. E corrected a classmate’s overuse of “like,” so I’m okay with her correcting subject-verb agreement.
~
Most of my other teachers were less acceptable by my standard. Like I said, I excelled. Of course, I did play the occassional “black” pet cause I saw it was to my advantage. But, I can only thing of a couple of other teachers I wouldn’t mind teaching my child.
-
Mr. H, my history teacher, is not one of those approved teachers. He did explain to us how Southern clerks made blacks registering to vote count beans in a jar. But he also said slavery wasn’t as bad as all that. It sounded strange to me then; it made me ashamed; but, I didn’t have the resources to challenge his assessment. And there were other teachers I witnessed push white students harder than the black students.
~
Which is to say white supremacy and privilege is ubiquitous. White teachers have to be conscious of their own racism and consciously battle racism, including correcting a white students’, or even a black students’, race-based idiocy. Mss. E and M hated the stereotype, which was present in my school, that doing well was “white.” But, to the contrary of Tucker Carlson, they hated it because it excused black students from doing their best. And, they’re open to learning all the ways in which academic achievement is white and reducing the impact as much as possible. Ms. M, for all the generalized condemnation, and living in the next county over, was willing to go into Black churches if necessary to help get black students in the classes they belonged. That kinda touches on the impact of personal relationships between teachers and students, but if you’ve read this far, I’m sure you don’t care to read much farther!

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]]> By: Lorna Zukas http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/06/20/black-girls-in-white-schools-school-settings-and-racist-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-8004 Lorna Zukas Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:03:54 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=2575#comment-8004 For an excellent read that students enjoy and one which sparks lots of converstation on race see Mixed: My Life in Black and White by Angela Nissel. I've been using this autobiography for a couple of years now and students of all ethnic groups really engage in the discussion of how racism does or does not play out in society. For an excellent read that students enjoy and one which sparks lots of converstation on race see Mixed: My Life in Black and White by Angela Nissel. I’ve been using this autobiography for a couple of years now and students of all ethnic groups really engage in the discussion of how racism does or does not play out in society.

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]]> By: Black Girl http://www.racismreview.com/blog/2009/06/20/black-girls-in-white-schools-school-settings-and-racist-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-8000 Black Girl Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:25:35 +0000 http://www.racismreview.com/blog/?p=2575#comment-8000 I'm not quite sure if I get the point of this "study" or article. What exactly is this article trying to say? First off, if you want an article or study about Black girls living in a predominately White setting, then contact me. I was the only Black girl and MINORITY in elementary class. Sure, the other classmates made a hidden deal about it and and I was treated like an inferior but soon I found my place in realism. I would always be subconciously treated as an inferior and I would always be the "third" wheel rather than the leader... All in all, I was treated just like anyone else. I'm naturally an introvert so I didn't join a lot of group activities. I agree that Black students might not feel like they belong just because they are a minority and do look physically different from the rest of the students. I’m not quite sure if I get the point of this “study” or article. What exactly is this article trying to say? First off, if you want an article or study about Black girls living in a predominately White setting, then contact me. I was the only Black girl and MINORITY in elementary class. Sure, the other classmates made a hidden deal about it and and I was treated like an inferior but soon I found my place in realism. I would always be subconciously treated as an inferior and I would always be the “third” wheel rather than the leader…

All in all, I was treated just like anyone else. I’m naturally an introvert so I didn’t join a lot of group activities. I agree that Black students might not feel like they belong just because they are a minority and do look physically different from the rest of the students.

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