I have to start by saying that I just went to the Chancellor's Academy at the University of Illinois and Pedro was a speaker there. He was amazing to listen to. Ironic that he promoted this book and then I found out I was going to be reading it!
Social norms play a huge part in the lives of young adolescents. Pedro talks about two things specifically that I have had a lot of experience with in my life. He talks about the use of the phrase "acting white" and the "model minority" thought. I grew up in a small town of 600 people that you couldn't even consider a suburb of Champaign. My town, as were most around here at the time, were pretty much all white in terms of race. I remember when an African American student had moved to town and started going to school with us. He instantly became friends with us all since we were such a small school, but there was something weird about him that didn't make sense to me until I was much older and also until I read things like what Pedro wrote. This student was friends with us all and was accepted by his peers. He started to act weird though much like Pedro's son did. He stopped trying in class. He would tell teachers off and try to get in trouble. He loved to play music and didn't really like sports, but he tried out for nearly every sporting event we had and not once tried to be in the band. I remember being at a party after we graduated and hearing him for the first time use the phrase "acting white." He explained how he started to fall off because he was getting made fun of by his own cousins and his peers from his old school because he was "acting white" and wasn't doing the traditional things that African Americans should be doing at his age. He is thankful to this day that he had positive role models around him in his parents and teachers who cared enough to push him to just be him and not to live up to these stereotypes that plague children of color.
The other experience I have is with the "model minority" thought process. I have seen this from the time I was in middle school, all the way through college, in the Air Force, and now as a teacher. I had a great friend in middle school through high school that was of Asian decent. She was an amazing person, but we rarely got to see her because her parents wanted her to live up to the standards of the "model minority". She would get in trouble for getting a B on an assignment. She wasn't allowed to go anywhere on certain days because those were days of study. It was interesting to see, but I chalked it up to just cultural differences at the time. When I was in the Air Force I had to go to technical training school, and while I was there I got pressured hard by an Asian American student who told me one night that his parents would "kill him" if he wasn't able to get top graduate of his class. It was a sad situation where he felt so pressured that he ended up dropping out of the program and going to an easier one just to please them with grades. I again thought this was all a cultural thing. In college I had numerous friends who had to constantly report back to parents or who would always be picked first in groups because they were Asian. This is the first time I realized its not really a cultural thing as much as it is a social stereotype now that even Asian families get wrapped up in and have to live up to. I see this in middle school as I teach when kids go to the Asian's for help on their work because they believe them to be smarter than everyone else. It's what they have been taught by society to think and the Asian kids feel as though they must live up to that stereotype.
I think Pedro brings up a lot of good points, but these are two that really stick out to me in Chapter 1 and are two that I believe need the most attention right now. We have to start breaking these stereotypes as a society. It isn't going to be on the African American and Asian populations alone to stop the molds and to break out and be different in order for the stereotype to stop. It's going to be on the entire human race to stop this. Some will tell you that you are "just a teacher." Would Pedro do most of his research in schools if he didn't think that was one of the most important places where change can occur though? I challenge everyone in society, especially teachers, to help break these stereotypes and to just listen. Listen to what kids have to say and encourage them to do what they want and to be who they feel they really are. It's time for change.
Hi Zach,
ReplyDeleteThose two points about "acting White" and the "model minority" both stood out to me as well. It's interesting that we have both had experiences with people who have been accused of "acting White" due to interest in school or music or anything else that does not belong to their race's stereotype. I'm glad that your friend had supportive parents and teachers, like Joaquin did, in order for that to not become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The concept of Asians as a "model minority" is not new to me either. I remember one of my undergrad education classes at U of I (maybe Ed Policy Studies?) referring to Asians as the "ideal minority". From my experiences teaching, I have seen that a number of my Indian and Korean students seem to face these situations. A number of them face a great deal of pressure from their parents to succeed, and face expectations of becoming doctors or disappointing their families.
You and Noguera are so right that the best thing we can do to help our students is to not allow social stereotypes to influence the way we treat our students. Some Asian students may need help academically. And some Black students might excel academically but not in sports. The most important thing we can do is work to have a good relationship with them and get to know them as individuals rather than parts of a certain group.
I think it is really neat that you met Noguera! It is great that you ended up in this group! I found your comment, “Some will tell you that you are "just a teacher." Would Pedro do most of his research in schools if he didn't think that was one of the most important places where change can occur though?” to be inspiring and so on point with Noguera’s message. It can seem like a huge task to try to change perceptions. It seems like each piece of reading for this class gives very concrete methods that we can do to work towards equity for all. Noguera says that kids are the least prejudiced of all people. It is our job as educators to keep them from becoming prejudiced
ReplyDeleteIt's really awesome that you met the author! That makes the book so much more personal in some way! I really like the story you related of your African-American childhood friend. As my son is Black and growing up in a very white school district, I hope that he will see the value in the district as well as the district seeing the value in him. I know he might have some struggles understanding his identity as Ugandan-American and black in a white family and even just being adopted in general, but I am confident in my community and how much they have loved him already only being home three months. I hope it continues to be as such! Thanks for sharing that story!
ReplyDeleteEmily, I wonder how families like yours will change the way society operates and the expectations we have for all kids. My own children are white, as are both of their parents, but they have an aunt who is Chinese-American and uncles who are Mexican-American and African-American. I have to believe that this will be the norm in their generation; they will have cousins who look differently than they do, but who will come from a similar position of privilege economically. How will stereotypes evolve? Will they continue to exist at all?
ReplyDeleteZach,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that society needs to change. The points that Noguera shared about what an educator can do stood out for me also. I want to make a mental note to incorporate those points in my classroom. I also don't like that phrase you're "just a teacher". Sometimes you're a teacher, a second parent, counselor, friend, and hero. I feel that if you make a difference in one person's life, you have succeeded.