As a white teacher in a school that is comprised of mostly minority students, I have had the dreaded "r" word hurled in my direction more than a few times. When I've been called a racist, it has always caused me to reflect on what may have caused that particular reaction in either the parent or student. It seemed that this particular pejorative was much more common in my first few years at my middle school and as I've earned the respect of students, word has gotten around that even though I'm white, I'm not a racist.
Many of our new teachers are struggling a lot with the students in their classroom. One of our new teachers is Chinese. He comes to the classroom with a lot of years of private sector experience and holds a doctorate in Mathematics. He is Wrestling Fan's math teacher. On Thursday, he made a comment that deeply offended Wrestling Fan. Apparently some of the students are saying that Mr. New Math (NM) teacher is a racist. I understand that Mr. NM is probably getting very tired of hearing this and so probably said what he said under much duress. I get it and I understand it.
However, my son is a minority at his school. His life at this school is already made somewhat difficult because I'm a teacher there, so when Mr. NM said what he said, Wrestling Fan's immediate response was to leave the classroom. He didn't and I'm proud of him for that. So, what did Mr. NM say? After another student accused him of being a racist during classtime, Mr. NM's response was, "Do I look white to you?"
Of course, as a teacher I understand that sometimes things are said and are twisted by students when taken out of context. My first reaction to Wrestling Fan was to tell him that I needed to find out exactly what was said and what led up to that particular outburst. After talking to some other students, it became apparent that Mr. NM did make a remark that was very similar to what Wrestling Fan said it was.
Yesterday morning, I called Ms. English Teacher who is on Mr. NM's team to relay the incident to her. She told me she would investigate a little further. At the end of the school day, Mr. NM talked to Wrestling Fan to try to explain why he said what he did, but no apology was offered.
I wish I had some pearl of wisdom to offer to my son. When I look at his friends, my kid is not a racist and wasn't raised to be a racist. On Thursday we talked on the way home. He said, "Mom, my friends at school are those who like me because of who I am and I am friends with them for the same reason. I don't care what color they are. I've been called a "wigger" from some kids because of who I hang out with. I really don't understand."
If Mr. NM had replaced "white" with any other color, can you imagine the uproar that would have ensued? Racism is wrong and it hurts, even when your skin is white.
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10 comments:
So well said.
WF has a very high EQ.
I have found that in many cases students don't really understand the meaning of racism. Sadly, it apopears this teacher does not know what it means either.
I'm so sorry your son had to experience racism first hand. I hope that he will use his experience to help him succeed later in life when he sees others experiencing this. Racism is still alive and strong. My husband and I recently tried to get a hotel room and when I tried to check us in, I was told the rates were much higher than what I found on the internet. I left and went out to the car so my husband could go in and he got a room for us at a much cheaper rate. The difference was that I was a different race from the hotel clerk and my husband was the same race. It doesn't matter what race or color, racism is bad. Maybe someday it will go away...
I work in a place where almost the only white person--everyone else is Asian. It happens not infrequently that I offer to help someone and that person says, "No thank you, I want to talk to the Filipina." This is not a language issue. If someone said, "I want to wait for the white woman" all hell would break loose.
I went to a very diverse high school and I completely understand what WF faces. It's so frustrating when you're not racist but people presume you must be because you're white.
Just a few random thoughts here: One thing that gets my goat is when "race" or the teacher being "racist" is used by parents or student as an excuse for failure on part of the parent to be the parent or of the student to make an effort in class.
Being a "third generation" westerner whose maternal grandparents migrated west due to the depression (yep, I'm part "okie"), I enjoy teaching my students a little lesson about sterotyping; my grandfather was, among other things, a field worker. My students, most of whom are hispanic, find it hard to imagine anyone not hispanic being a field worker.
Lesson for WF could of been worse....but that is something that happens in our "melting pot" society of our USA.
I think that a lot of people think that aiming shots at the majority is justified. Racism is racism; it matters not from whence it comes or to whom it's directed.
Wow! What a lesson your child has experienced. As a TOC, I have personally called another faculty member racist as a of comments that he made about the population at my school. As I read your comments, I thought about how I just hurled those words out there . . .he was simply insensitive and a stupid, conservative IDIOT! As a result of your post, I feel convicted and will be more thoughtful about how I hurl those insults.
Personally, I have found that most white people are not racist. I think that COC are taught their differences by their parents. As we try to talk about the legacy and history of slavery and civil rights and equity within America sometimes, we unintentionally pass on our prejudices, hang ups and fears. When I teach my on AAH class, I try to create a no-guilt atmosphere and policy. It's difficult though b/c students are often enraged by what they see and hear. Its definitely a challenge to teach equity when we have watched the great leaders of this country be such poor examples of this. How do I work to overcome these attitudes when exploring the atrocities of history?
I have definitely learned something new today. Thanks for teaching me!
Another thing, I have a friend whose family has adopted a Black boy. They have had the child from birth. Today, for the first time he called his parents "Racist" b/c they wouldn't let him do what he wanted to. The parents were extremely hurt, so much so that the Dad cried like a baby. They were shocked by his behavior and confused as to where he'd learned such a thing. It is now that they realize that they've got to discuss the whole race thing as well as they are entering the "battle of the teen years"
It's sad that WF heard that from a teacher. We have come so far and yet we have so far to go..
About two years ago there was a school district (in a northwestern state, I believe) that specifically defined racism as when a white discriminates against a minority.
As far as the apology goes, it may not have occurred to NM even if he's genuinely regretful. After all, consider what we already know about his own background. He's a math teacher, and they're not exactly known for their stellar social skills.
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