This is in response to Ellen’s presentation.
As a high school student I was often the only black student in my class. If it wasn’t just me, it was me and my friend Kristin or me and my friend Cala. Some combo of the three of us. It really did often make for uncomfortable situations at times. Even now as an adult, I still find myself in situations where I’m the only black person in a large group or one of a couple in the group. Sometimes, in those situations, particularly in high school, I was looked on to be the “expert” on black history, culture and essentially all things black. I’m not an expert on these things. I was not given a “Black Handbook” when I was born that told me all I should know about being black!! I went to the same school as my classmates, studied from the same textbooks and teachers they did, learned the same black history facts they learned in February. I am not an expert. Yes, there are probably some areas that I know more than them, either because my mom taught me or I read about it on my own. In fact, the only thing I am an “expert” on is myself and my experiences. So a lot of times, I would keep my mouth shut as a student. Even if it was a topic in black history or culture that I could speak at length I wouldn’t do it.
Now I will climb off my soap box. As teachers, we must be very careful to make sure that we treat all cultures in our classroom with respect. But most importantly not to single out students in front of the class asking them if such and such information is true. Now I’m not saying that any of us in the writing project do that, but I’m sure that we all know somebody that does or has seen it happen when they were a student. Or even worse had it happen to them. Our students are not experts on their cultures and should only have to share when they want to.
You make a really important point, Tiffany. Thank you. I’m reminded of what Elaine said about her “teacher” identity intersecting with her African American identity in a way that has major implications for how her students see her. It’s interesting stuff to think about how all of the different ways that we categorize and are categorized (Black, White, Japanese, Russian, woman, girl, runner, writer, knitter) cross-pollinate.
Tiffany what you are saying is so true coming from another African-American. I appreciated Ellen’s presentation because it enlightened me. I am not “into” hip hop, rap or things like that. So I learned a lot from her presentation.
It also brings out the discussion that we need to teach and reach ALL students in a diverse manner.
Thank you for the reminder, Tiffany. I know I often forget that my students experiences are so different, even if they live in the same neighborhood. I have students that really don’t like music, others that hate television, and still others that feel they are adults and rarely converse with other teenagers. I kind of go with the idea that when I think something is interesting EVERYONE better, be it Hamlet, or Like Water for Chocolate, or the soundtrack project we are working on.
I have personal groups of friends where I am the oldest by 10 or 15 years. I find that they often consider me the expert on events in the 50′s (I wasn’t alive) and on 70′s music (ick) and all politics of the 80′s (I wasn’t really paying attention like I should have). I like Ellen’s response to Cross Pollinate, but more importantly, we just need to listen to each other so we know EXACTLY what we know and what are experiences are instead of what it seems we should know and who we should be:)
LaDonna
Well said. It’s complicated … in the classroom, there’s a delicate balance between acknowledging/honoring cultural differences and calling undue attention. And that varies by student as well. I have several Hispanic students who engage my desire to brush up on my rusty Spanish-speaking skills … and others who wish I wouldn’t point out that they know Spanish at all, because it singles them out as different. Some students are comfortable using race-based humor, and others find all references to race to be offensive. Some black students identify with black hip-hop artists … and some could care less. I suppose it’s our job to know how each student identifies him/herself culturally, regardless of our assumptions.