The Importance Of Racism In Education

There exists in our community a monster, a monster as old as mankind itself. This monster is known by many names; some call it racism, others discrimination but the only thing certain about this monstrosity is that it can be overcome if we all unite to fight against it. Racism is “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race” (Merriam Webster). Racism has multiple causes ranging from living in a secluded community, to the basic instincts of mankind which likes exemplify the differences found in others not like themselves. Racism can destroy the foundations on which a community is laid upon and can intrude upon the peace and sanction of many of its members. By informing members of the community on the reasons why racism continues to persist, encouraging acceptance and providing further education on how to relieve racial tensions, we can resolve the issue of racism once and for all.

Racism in teaching ELLs is the same as teaching students that are not ELLs, based on the nationality of the ELL in question administration and even teacher can fell that it is not worth the time or energy to help a student. This can come into play with children of migrant workers the most. These students do not always finish a school year in the same school, but must travel with their parents as the growing season changes. For this reason, teachers may feel that it is not worth the extra work to help these students based on the fact that they will probably not finish school anyway, but even if they finish school they won’t finish at “THEIR” school so they don’t have to worry about TEST results. One stereotype

Systematic racism within education Institutions, such as the lack of adequate funding as well as subtle discrimination, continues to be the root of the problem that plagues this nation. Even though segregation was abolished in 1964, the lingering effects that remain are significant and cannot be passively mended. Although it is tempting to think that this prejudice is caused by a select few and not the many, it is clear that this problem holds more depth. Recent studies conducted by the National Education Studies (NEA) have proven that even in school’s African American students are often times targeted and punished at a significantly higher rate when compared to their white peers. The study states “Black students make up almost 40 percent of all school expulsions [in the] nation, and more than two thirds of students referred to police from schools are either black or Hispanic” (Blacks: Education Issues). This study conducted by the Department of Education, cabinet-level department of the United States

While coming up with a topic for this paper, one of my questions dealt with war and cultural groups. I will be the first to admit, Racism was the last thing on my mind. The original question being, “How does war affect a Social Culture and how does it stand today?” When I started thinking about Cultures that had been so deeply affected by war, one of the first that came to mind were the Japanese in World War II. Then I recalled what one person had told me of their younger days at college, when they were attending school. Their name will remain anonymous; I do not want to make the victim’s name public as it has a very personal nature.

Many people in the United States society believe that people of all cultures, races, and ethnicities are now on an even playing field. People with this belief support their logic with the argument that since equal rights for people of color and women have been required by law for some time now, we are all inherently as equal as claimed in the Declaration of Independence. Many believe that race is no longer an issue, a viewpoint frequently referred to as color-blindness. National polling data indicated that a majority of whites now believe discrimination against racial minorities no longer exists. (Gallagher, 96) Color-blindness allows a white person to define himself or herself as politically and racially tolerant and then proclaim their

Explanations that justify the use of racism directly relates to differential treatment of minority groups and contributes to racism’s existence as an unstoppable social problem. The foundations of these explanations are based on the common misunderstanding of the definition of race. Thus, problems that tend to concentrate in one race are mistakenly judged as “race problems”. This judgement leads to the establishment of a system of inequality between a superior race and inferior races. However, the logic behind these explanations don’t account for the true reasoning behind minority individuals value status. In fact, these explanations contribute to minority individuals’ further struggle in life.

My study displays how people from several categories have differing opinions about racists teaching in the education system. It can help determine peoples’ attitudes toward race in the schools. However, there were some of the limitations to my study. One was that I could not interview and interact with the respondents personally. I was not able to ask in depth questions as to why people felt a certain way about racist teachers. Also, I wanted to know if the respondents surveyed ever had any interaction with a teacher that was deemed to have racist attitudes towards them or a family member. It would have been nice to study the information based on location of the respondents polled. This would further help understand the attitudes people have towards race based off of geographical location. There are some behaviors that people perceive to be racist and talking with people individually would help get all of this information. I ran multiple cross-tabulations to help me in my study on allowing racist teachers in the education system. These were using the independent variable allowing racist to teach and the dependent variables, education, race and sex.

People tend to make jokes, slurs, and stereotypes about other races. Members of a specific race will hear the same negative comments so often that they’ll eventually start to believe them. According to Claude M. Steele, “...a person’s personal performance can be detrimentally affected by the psychological triggering of negative stereotypes assigned to one’s social group identity” (606). These comments will start to take an emotional toll on one’s brain and will cause a person to use the negative comments that hurt them towards people who are of the same race. It’s an endless cycle of being dehumanized, accepting the dehumanization, and then dehumanizing someone. It’s important that children know that this type of behavior was occurring in America and although Americans cannot right all their wrongs, they can still learn from their mistakes. To add on, people are aware that using slurs and stereotypes to create others feel inferior is wrong, but that does not stop them. The authors say that, “Majority of people will use racial commentary to deny equality in the safety of their own home with friends and close acquaintances” (605). The same people will embrace equality in public in order to make themselves feel better about what they say in private. Children need to learn that the only way to achieve equality is to be striving for it

Another problem that America faces, is a lack of education in public schools about racism that has occurred in the past. Therefore, to curtail the problem of racism and oppression in the public-school system, schools should teach children about the brutal American past that inflicted racism and oppression toward certain ethnic backgrounds and people of different races. The United States has had extensive conflicts with people that are not of white origin. From the early part of history in the United States, starting with the Native Americans, the United States government took away rights and freedom from the Native Americans, all for the sake of the land. Eventually, after the United States gained control of Native American land they soon needed individuals to exploit the lands and the government allowed slaves or indentured servants to solve the land from 1619 to 1865 (History.com). Accordingly, the United States has experienced an extended chronicle of oppression toward different ethnicity and people of color. Another case of the United States oppressing people is, during World War II the American government ordered and made Japanese people live internment camps; the regime intended that whole Japanese people posed a hazard to the country. From slavery and internment camps, the United States has inflicted many lives of many different ethnicities. Thus, teaching kids in elementary schools about American history is important as it informs a greater consciousness of

Legal scholars introduced critical race theory (CRT) as a framework to uncover racial inequalities and injustices perpetuated by the legal system (Taylor, 2006). These legal scholars defined racism as these “larger, systemic, structural conventions and customs that uphold and sustain oppressive group relationships, status, income, and educational attainment” (2006, p. 73). Thus, critical race theorists desire to reveal the hidden curriculum of this racism that maintains the status quo of white supremacy (Lynn & Parker, 2006). In revealing this hidden curriculum, the critical race theorists rely on a set of defining principles for their work, and these principles can be applied to education (2006). First, racism is normal and is a fact of daily

Before this course, I understood racism was out there and I do try to be respectful towards everyone that is around me, however I never really had to think about my own cultural being and upbringing in regards with racism. I do feel I have some resistance or negative feelings about my race from time to time. This is described as a phase in Helms (1995) White Identity Development (Sue & Sue, 2015). I know I am blessed to be a White middle class American and I am privileged because I can choose to not worry about racism, however I occasionally say things such as “ I wish I was not White” or “why do I have to be this White?”. Also, reflecting back I know I would speak with my friends (who were White) about wishing to be dark, tan, and not pale

"Racism is not about how you look, it is about how people assign meaning to how you look," Robin D.G Kelley. Growing up in a country where racism is not common, I have learned to deal with it here in The U.S. I have to say that, I have never experimented or felt any kind of racism in this country, but I see it all the time around me. Even though I don’t feel discriminated in The U.S, sometimes I feel a little embraced of my roots because people usually have an inaccurate understanding of many cultures. To me, the first perception of people about you is always matters, and sometimes it makes me feel a little uncomfortable to say where I am from. That's why it is really important to have clear what we assume and understand about other

Racism and the effects of racism can be seen anywhere. In the hallways of the high school, the streets, housing, neighborhoods, cities, and more, one thing is seen, and that 's segregation, which is ultimately caused by racism. Walking in the hallways at school, chances are that you’ll see a group of whites, a group of Hispanics, and a group of African Americans, but rarely do you see these three groups interacting with each other. Racism has been made a part of people’s everyday lives, a border posed by racism: segregation. Racism and its effects can not only be seen around us but can also be traced throughout countless readings in HWOC this year. Almost every literary work focuses on the topic or underscores at its effects, and today, you can walk into any library or bookstore and find something, whether it be a news article or chapter book, regarding racial conflict. This alone is evidence of how racism has integrated our society and continues to inform and manipulate our minds. The literature we have been exposed to this past year is a reflection of society, similar to a reflection in a mirror showing us the piece of hair sticking up in the back, literature is showing us the problem so it can be addressed.

Racism is an ongoing force that negatively impacts the lives of Americans every day. The racist mindset in America stems from the times of slavery, where blacks were thought to be inferior to whites. Throughout history, the ideology of race and racism has evolved and developed several different meanings. Today, we can still see the devastating effects of racism on people of color, as well as whites. “Racism, like other forms of oppression, is not only a personal ideology based on racial prejudice, but a system involving cultural messages and institutional policies and practices as well as beliefs and actions of individual” (Tatum, pg. 9). As a result of this system, it leaves the

Institutional Racism in the education system can be combated by teachers and administration working together. Schools must take the initiative of incorporating different cultural perspectives in the curriculum. Only addressing the basic characteristics of culture such as dance, food, and religion is not enough. Racism affects people on many levels, and it's essential to acknowledge the history and culture of a society in all aspects. Cultural characteristics influenced by the political, social, and economic climate. To have an accurate grasp of the values that shaped the culture one must break down and analyze the bias and discrimination of the society.