would you send your caucasian child to an all african american school? - Page 9

[Nikki98]

Originally Posted by purplegirl

What a revealing thread this has turned out to be.

You got that right. I have stated this in earlier posts, but some of the thinking that I have encountered here in this community (that supports "out of the box"/alternative thinking) has been utterly depressing. I just don't get it. I see caucasian girls here dreading their hair, etc., accepting the "cool" things of black culture, yet not completely embracing the very people of that culture-how stinkin' ironic. Truly many can have black friends, family members, some may have even intimate relations with POC, but on some level-maybe totally subconcious- the superiority complex comes in to play. Like I said, maybe its not intentional, but its still ashame (and it makes me think that racial justice is just too much of an idealistic concept).

[pixiewytch]

I agree with most of what you just said and I like to think that I'm one of the less racist classist individuals here (if there is such a thing I suppose) but this caucasian girls getting dreads as an imitation of black culture thing has always bugged me. There are plenty of old european tribes like the celts, brits, and the picts (where my ancestry is from) who had dreads in their hair. It is by no means exclusive to African American or rasta culture, maybe just more prevalent in today's society. I don't want to get offtopic here but as a very white girl with dreads I felt compelled to point that out. Now maybe imitating those cultures is something other white girls are doing but that was never the case for me.

[Nikki98]

Originally Posted by pixiewytch

There are plenty of old european tribes like the celts, brits, and the picts (where my ancestry is from) who had dreads in their hair.

I didn't know this. Thanks.

[menudo]

And yet MDC still does not have a multicultural forum. I myself have in dialogue BEGGING for one for years-this thread alone shows why it is needed. It makes me ill to see the ignorance here and yet we still cannot get a safe place to discuss the issue of race/ethnicity/color/etc. here at MDC. We get a very inactive racism seminar which is nothing like the MULTICULTURAL FORUM I hope we could have. I have offered to be a mod too. PLEASE someone listen . READ THIS THREAD. IT IS NEEDED.

See how intelligent and respectful we can be in discussing it? I feel ill saying that-like WE are the lower class here, the possible troublemakers, etc.

[aprilushka]

Shall we all take a deep breath and watch "Save the Last Dance?"

:

No but seriously, I think it's hard to say categorically "no" in this situation without making an inappropriate judgment. I personally voted maybe but that's b/c my decision about a school would depend on its individual characteristics no matter what it's ethnic composition although I guess on principle I would say "yes". The charter KIPP schools for example are usually 100% Latino/AA and are very pro-academic, pro learning, etc and I think very attractive to any student.

[eclipse]

Yes, well - a multicultural forum could very well be a violent place, with abysmal facilities and low test scores. Not to mention all those poor people who might post there. I'd be very worried about my daughter if we had a place like that.

[menudo]

Yes, well - a multicultural forum could very well be a violent place, with abysmal facilities and low test scores. Not to mention all those poor people who might post there. I'd be very worried about my daughter if we had a place like that.

Yeah, we better not have it placed in the vicinity of the gifted forum.

[Missy]

Originally Posted by menudo

See how intelligent and respectful we can be in discussing it? I feel ill saying that-like WE are the lower class here, the possible troublemakers, etc.

Well, apparently, according to a great many posters on this thread, we and/or our children are bullies and rapists. Yes, I'm still burning about that damn comment: "Also, as a girl, I would fear for her in other ways." And I will probably continue to burn about every time I see that particular member. Yes, I know there's an ignore option; but, frankly, none of us should have to deal with that kind of ignorance in this community.

[pixiewytch]

Seriously though, such a forum is a great idea and I too appreciate this sort of dialogue in a mature fashion. I grew up in a very racist family and although I like to think I don't have racist tendencies, I see them pop up from time to time. Living in an inner city neighborhood has made me aware of a lot of these feelings in so many ways.

I just don't agree with so much political correctness these days. I believe a lot of people are afraid of admitting certain feelings for fear of being immediately labeled "racist". We all must talk openly about it to conquer it and come to some sort of understanding. We can't just sugar coat things and pretend they don't exist.

I'm still saddened by many of the very classist comments myself but would rather someone say it like they see it than pretend to be something they aren't. Then we can have an open dialogue with that person and maybe both learn something from each other, you know?

[A&A]

Originally Posted by meowee

I too think that the votes would be different if this were an all asian school.
.

Not for me. I think that would still be difficult (not the diversity, of course, but being the ONLY white child.)

[menudo]

I just don't agree with so much political correctness these days. I believe a lot of people are afraid of admitting certain feelings for fear of being immediately labeled "racist".

(General you.)

True, but if you think you may be labeled a racist by a comment, there is a good chance you are and you need to look at yourself and change that fact! Not realizing you are being racist and being called on it HURTS but if you take the time to think about WHY you were called it, you just may improve yourself and your life!

[SageR]

I'm wondering why there is the assumption that since all the teachers are white and all the students are black there is no diversity. Call me crazy but isn't that racism too? Not all people appearing to be "white" share ethnicity and culture anymore than all people of "color" do.

And you really can't tell anything about a person's heritage just by looking at them. In fact there isn't a whole lot you can tell about someone in one look. Take a look at my yds. Hmmm, what is he? Looks white, right? Nope. If it were 200 years ago he'd be black "enough" to be a slave. And there are more and more children in this country who look like him. The diversity is there, you just can't see it. Most people are a mix of something.

I'd be concerned about sending my children to schools on either end of the economic spectrum. IME wealthy schools have just as many, albeit different, problems as poor schools. I would be concerned about reports of crime in the area and violence within the school itself. I would check into test scores. I'm not a fan of standardized testing and don't think those results necessarily mean that much, but they might and so it would be something to consider. But never in a million years would race be a criteria in choosing school for my child (and which one would I choose anyway?) and it makes me kind of sick to my stomach that so many people here at MDC, of all places, would.

[sunnysideup]

Originally Posted by lovethyspirit

I wouldn't simply because school is hard enough these days without the pressures of scores and then you add the pressure of being an outcast to it? It's not fair to a child. I went to a high school where i was one of the only white kids and trust me, it's not a fun time. You worry more about being beat up and harrassed than your test scores.

I don't know why one would assume that skin color would make one an outcast.

I went to a grade school where I was one of a handful of white kids, most of the students were black or native American. I was not an outcast. The school was in a low income area (we were bused in from across town in a '70s desegregation effort). The test scores were probably no better than average, but it was a good school with great teachers. Every student was respected and encouraged. I loved school.

In 5th grade my parents switched us to the neighborhood all-white school. It was horrible. School was torture. The kids were mean and the teacher did nothing to stop it. I was too depressed to learn anything. I still have not forgiven my parents.

I don't think it was a bad school because the students were white, but that didn't make it a good school either.

[Nikki98]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of political correctness either but really honesty doesn't mean that one has to be disrespectful or rude, of course this has already been stated.

The problem with discussions of race is that they have the potential of becoming cyclic (around and around) with POC expressing their feelings and past issues, and a great deal of caucasians feeling like that nothing they say or do is going to make anything better. My hope is to reach beyond this. We all need to do some self inventory to deal with our "baggage."

[purplegirl]

Originally Posted by sunnysideup

I don't know why one would assume that skin color would make one an outcast.

I went to a grade school where I was one of a handful of white kids, most of the students were black or native American. I was not an outcast. The school was in a low income area (we were bused in from across town in a '70s desegregation effort). The test scores were probably no better than average, but it was a good school with great teachers. Every student was respected and encouraged. I loved school.

In 5th grade my parents switched us to the neighborhood all-white school. It was horrible. School was torture. The kids were mean and the teacher did nothing to stop it. I was too depressed to learn anything. I still have not forgiven my parents.

I don't think it was a bad school because the students were white, but that didn't make it a good school either.

Thank you for your post and for the quote in your signature. I think we all need to be reminded that change starts and ends with us!!

[Kajira]

wow just wow :
give me 10 mins let me collect my thoughts and post what I think without risking my membership

[menudo]

I will say that this thread has also introduced me to some people at MDC who I am truly falling in love with! : I stopped posting much sometime ago, but a few of you ladies give me hope.

So it is not all negative here!

[purplegirl]

Originally Posted by Kajira

wow just wow :
give me 10 mins let me collect my thoughts and post what I think without risking my membership

Hey. I am looking forward to hearing your perspective.

I am willing to risk my membership because I can't hear inane statements and not speak up.

Menudo, I think I remember you under a different name. I am so glad to have you here.

[menudo]

I am looking forward to Kajira's response too.

Purplegirl-that was probably me. I am a formerly known as... (check your PM).

[pixiewytch]

Originally Posted by menudo

(General you.)

True, but if you think you may be labeled a racist by a comment, there is a good chance you are and you need to look at yourself and change that fact! Not realizing you are being racist and being called on it HURTS but if you take the time to think about WHY you were called it, you just may improve yourself and your life!

Yes, but you see, your response here is part of what makes it harder for people to get past their racism. I can assume that you have been very hurt in the past and that this is an emotional subject for you. Please be assured though that typing words in bold letters and using exclamation marks isn't helping the other side understand or care about your concerns any better. In fact it makes me sad that trying to have a dialogue with you about it has suddenly made me a racist too! I'm the one with the son in an inner city program as one of the only two white kids and I reported a positive experience, remember? So it hurts me that you would lump me in with everybody else just because I believe honesty on all sides without fear is important. That doesn't mean I think people should be allowed to use inflammatory language or derogatory comments either. That isn't appropriate in any conversation...but trying to silence the other side or calling them racist as soon as they disagree with political correctness or voice any reservation regarding race or class isn't going to solve anything. Then we go back to everyone being politically correct and nothing getting solved because people don't want to offend anyone.

Why doesn't that make sense?