As we come to the close of black history month, I thought it fitting to write about the subject we are all so comfortable talking about: institutionalized racism and the disparities in educational achievement it, too often, breeds.
Institutionalized racism is so prevalent and entrenched — even invisible in many ways — in this country that it seems normal to many. Practices in the educational system are merely a microcosm of it in action.
At the primary and secondary level, institutional racism is evident in how resources are allocated, how students are assigned to learning tracks and teachers, and how we continually push a curriculum with a scarcity, or even worse, almost the complete absence of black authors, inventors, scientists and other contributors to American history. That is, until Black history month rolls around.
Black history month is an attempt at filling this void in our educational system, an effort to set a distorted record straight about the contributions made by African-Americans in building America.
What other ethnic group has to carry the burden of trying to do justice to its history in a mere month?
At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the crisis that we face today, caused by lingering educational disparities in higher education.
Nothing reminds us of this as poignantly as the ongoing debate around affirmative action. Affirmative action was designed to rid this society of its entrenched discriminatory practices in education, from grade schools to institutions of higher learning, along with other social and economic disparities. Yet education seems to be the area where affirmative action is most challenged.
Last week the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Abigail Fisher, a white female, who claims that her refusal of admission to the University of Texas in 2008 was because of unconstitutional race discrimination. When she applied, she had a 3.59 GPA and had a combined math and critical reading SAT score of 1180. At the time, they also had a “race-conscious” admission policy, which the court had ruled in approval of in 2003. The court wrote, “that student body diversity is a compelling state interest that can justify the use of race in university admissions.”
Will the Supreme Court reverse its ruling with this new case?
Many observers believe that this current court will do just that, to negate the importance of diversity in campus communities. There is concern that this court may be willing to ignore the larger problem or racial discrimination in the area of education in America.
What about the operative presence of stereotypes based on ignorance and bigotry? What about the economic barriers and disparities that impact minority students when it comes to getting accepted in institutions of higher learning?
One could easily say here we go again. The powers that be would like to forget the oppressive and discriminatory conditions that have prevailed since slavery and after emancipation that have prevented African Americans from having equal access to a quality education.
Affirmative Action measures are attempts to correct hundreds of years of discrimination.
Perhaps, if we are willing to fully confront the ugliness of institutionalized racism and take some systemic actions for lasting change, there may come a time when there will no longer be a need for a black history month or affirmative action measures.
We will have arrived at a point where we chronicle and commemorate the contributions of all Americans in the same history books, taught to all school children. We will insist that all schools have qualified teachers and all students will have access to the resources and technology tools that will prepare them to build a quality life and compete fairly and equally for jobs, and any other opportunity that being an American affords.
Sadly, that day is not today. Efforts to improve education must continue on multiple fronts, from correcting the content of the books used in the classroom, to educating the community at-large about omissions and distortions in America’s past when it comes to race, to taking legal measures to ensure that everyone who is qualified have equal access to entering an institution of higher learning.
If not corrective actions from grade school through college, what should be done to create and maintain an equal playing field in the area of achieving a quality education for all?
Comments
Reverse Discrimination
I feel it is important to reveal my background before saying anything about this topic. I am an Asian-American immigrant from Korea who came to the U.S. (California) in 1990. In middle school and high school I found it strange that the history of minorities was scarce in comparison to the history of white Americans even though my schools were rather diverse compared to Korea and many other countries.It is beneficial to all Americans to learn about the history of other ethnicities/cultures that molded this nation because they are part of our history, not just voices in the dark who did not influence our present nation.
With that said, I believe higher education is not a commodity like food and water, but a privilege and/or scarce resource. The Chinese, used as labor to build the US railroads and under harsh discrimination in their home country as well from Westerners, and the Japanese Americans who were driven from their homes and imprisoned in internment camps during WWII, receive no handicaps or special treatment for their suffering today in terms of affirmative action. What is more important is that generations later, the grandchildren and great grandchildren of these Asians do not remember or are affected by the experience of their ancestors to the point where their mental capacities and strive for excellence are stifled. In fact, the Asian community has established a healthy majority in many of the top institutions of higher education in California.
What I am suggesting is that perhaps it is time to stop blaming not even our own circumstances, but the circumstances of our long-gone predecessors, and accept that, in general, our present educational circumstances are widely shaped by our own choices in the classroom. Particularly in California, the issue is whether higher education will be available only to the rich once the UCs become privatized and the Cal States continue to increase tuition costs and cut down on available educational programs due to the debt created by the real estate tax cap of the 1980s. This is a far more pressing issue since it concerns whether brilliant students cannot attend college because they cannot afford it rather than whether a mediocre student will be admitted in the name of diversity. Just like any other highly competitive/populated market (careers, sports, etc.), hard effort is conducive to securing higher education for oneself. This system is in no way ideal, but we don't live in an ideal world.
Multiculturalism the answer to Internalized Racism
As an American born with Salvadorian roots and acculturation, I can attest to the obvious difference of significance given to the American culture and in my case the Salvadorian culture.
In regards to school, unfortunately, the most I heard in school about people of color were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez. To be honest, I never really questioned why the ratio of American figures vs. people of Color figures was so off, I just went with it. I am currently taking an Interpersonal Communication course and a topic that we’ve discussed is the notion of multiculturalism. In regards to my awareness of multiculturalism, it was until I attended high school that I realized what diversity was truly about. I attended Fairfax High School in Hollywood (some would argue its West Los Angeles, but that doesn’t matter) a highly diverse school. It was there that I saw an array of cultures and an awareness of them all. I say awareness because not everyone was truly accepting. Nevertheless, I attended this high school that gave me an opportunity to meet and interact with people from the Middle East, Asian countries, Latin countries, European countries etc. It was my experience at Fairfax High and my parent’s willingness to expose their children to different cultures that allows me to be a multiculturalist.
I would argue (having lived it) that multiculturalism (the answer to internalized racism) is definitely achievable, but there are some things that need tweaking before that occurs. Schools must provide stories/histories from cultures far beyond the American culture. Now, I am not saying that American history isn’t something to be proud of (some of it at least) but other cultures must get a chance as well.
The way I think about it is that in the outside world, the real world, I don’t interact solely with people that share my values, my culture or that look like me, so why should I do it in a classroom? A classroom is essentially the place where ideas and thoughts can intermingle and can be used to teach one another. I always jump at the opportunity to experience new things having nothing to do with my own culture, whether it be trying food from a restaurant that I can’t even pronounce or visiting a place where I know I don’t belong but that I am willing to go into respectfully and admirably. I am a sucker for trying new things, the main reason being because how can I judge or glorify something if I haven’t experienced it myself? It’s like my cousin likes to say, “Don’t kick it until you try it”.
In a world filled with violence and injustice, it is my belief that we should come together and at the very least try to get along. I am not going to sit here and say that we should all share a “kumbaya” moment, because I know very well that we can’t all be fond of everyone, but we can at least try. As this post by Dr. Ellis states, perhaps changing what stories we hear and how we hear them is essential for every ethnic group. As I alluded to earlier, America is a great nation, but the faces within this nation have certainly changed over time, thus I too agree that our educational system needs to follow.
What Shall the Goal Be?
I am struck by a somewhat pragmatic question. And that is just what should the ratio of class material/time be for the various ethnic groups? Should it mirror the actual make-up of the nation? In other words, if blacks represent 12% of the population (and I do not know if that's accurate), should our public education be required to devote a commensurate amount of resources (time, books etc...) to black history? If so, is there a minimum requirement for representation such as a group must make up at least 2% of the population in order to deserve such consideration? I bring this up as it is painfully obvious that we live in a reality of limited resources and the struggle to devote such resources could be argued as the root problem driving inequity.
Knowledge is power.
I don't think the problem here is the amount of time educators devote to the teaching of cultural differences, but rather that it doesn't seem to be taught at all. The curriculum does not need to be reflective of the amount of suffering these oppressed groups have faced, nor does it need to be proportional to the number of suppressed individuals living in society. Instead, educators must make an effort to assimilate this material into their students' course study. Obviously, like you said, resources are limited, but teachers should work to improvise and somehow incorporate cultural studies into their lesson plans.
Fix Racism with Racism?
I am an American, with Sicilian and Italian blood making up my ethnicity. My ethnicity was also subject to persecution during immigration all the way to World War II. Italian suffrage is not covered at all in history books either. My Father's older siblings where not aloud to speak Italian when WW II broke out. When my dad got older he was taught to only speak English because of the racism my people faced. I agree with previous comments about the fact that we must stop blaming long-gone predecessors. As far as I know there has been no "racist" gene discovered. Therefore it is something indoctrinated into some among us. One of the most offensive things we face frequently is the whole "whats your race" question on these forms we must fill out. Options usually include "Hispanic American", "African American", "Native American", "Asian American", & "White". This is such an out dated racist thing to do and it disgusts me. My friend Brian is Korean and does not consider himself Asian(from the continent of Asia). My friend Micah is 50/50% mix of Black and Native Hawaiian, what is he to choose? What am I to choose? I’m not White, I am 50% Sicilian, and a mix of different Italian heritage. My friend Elsa is from El Salvador and she does not consider her self Hispanic, she identifies herself as South American. We learn in 5th grade history about how America is the melting pot of the world. Many of us have mixed ethnic backgrounds and these racist questionnaires schools and jobs force us to fill out constantly instill the whole notion of classifying people by color and race. Perhaps we are being taught to classify and separate people based on race from these practices and policies. Classifying people based on race seems to me to run against what Dr. King's dream was of kids playing together, because we are all one race together, the Human Race.
Significant topic
Although many people could agree that racism has slowly but surely dissolved it is evident that it does still exist. Institutionalized racism is a form of racism that is still very much alove in our nation. It is covered up or like said in the article "invisble" in some ways which makes it hard to recognize at times.
Progress still needs to be made.
One of the main problems of society is addressed in the opening paragraphs of this piece. Racism has become "invisible." It has become such a major part of society and a socially accepted practice that people fail to recognize its existence, which is especially problematic when people work to extinguish this injustice. I firmly believe in Affirmative Action, as I feel that it gives minorities who have been discriminated against an opportunity to prove people wrong and to further themselves in a society that has oppressed them. Black History Month should not be the only time that educational institutions recognize the impact of famous African American individuals. This sort of curriculum should be intertwined in the course studies of teachers across the nation. Designating one month out of twelve to the appreciation and recognition of black men and women seems to defeat the overall intent of the month. People should strive every day to learn about the accomplishments of past historical figures, not just twenty-eight out of 365 days a year.
its hard to change the education
There are many different kinds of people living in same country. People try to change the perspective to see others people. All people have different backgrounds and they also have different sight of view to see the world. The school education is also emphasized to make equal to everyone but it is really hard to change. It might be impossible to change dramatically but I think if people try hard to change, it will be possible someday.
Change will come about
It sadness me that we only have one month to learn about black history and their struggles and tribulations. Although it is not much I am thankful that we at least have the opportunity to know about their history and create discourse because there are many cultures that have endured suffrages, yet there voices have not been heard. I know that this is not an ideal situation and we wish that blacks and other races would not be isolated but I think this serves as a great reminder. This serves as a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done and that change needs to come about. Instead of focusing on the negative and the past, I think we should look at it as another opportunity to further increase the knowledge of the people that still struggle with racism. It is hard for people to change over night, but if we keep working together and not giving up, I believe we can change peoples mind. Thankfully, we have had some progress regarding these types of issues in the U.S. now we just have to keep moving forward and keep informing people and change will come about.