Racism, sexism, and elitism were institutionalized long before the first English settlers arrived at Jamestown in 1607. The class I just finished through the UC Berkeley History Social Science Project focused on racism in the United States and what we, as educators, can do to help our students and the public understand the long standing and insidious nature of racism and to pursue actions to accelerate the process of ending racism.
Racism in the United States is a subject that cannot be ignored. We read in the news about white people carrying guns while protesting coronavirus restrictions. These people are praised by our president. We read about a black man who is shot for jogging in the wrong place at the wrong time. The discrepancy is obvious. These are just two examples of endemic racism in white America.
Closer to home, when I hear my Carondelet black students telling me about how they are followed by store employees when shopping alone or with their mother, but not when they are accompanied by white friends. And when I hear about Carondelet Latina students telling me about white adults telling them they should go back to where they came from, it shows how deeply racism is ingrained in the minds of so many white Americans. This is not something happening in some southern state or in the midwest. These are Carondelet students who experience racism on an almost daily basis right here in Contra Costa County.
We also need to acknowledge that it is white people who are the problem. And that includes all of us white people. Sure, none of us are racist, but can we even pretend to know what it is like to be not seen by others as being white? Can we know what non-white students hear when we speak to them? We can have the purest hearts in the world and still be seen as racist. We need to talk about racism as teachers who want to better understand how it affects our non-white students. We need to talk to students to see our reflections in their eyes. Most important, we need to explain to our white students how ingrained racism is in our society and what can be done to eradicate racism before the next 400 years pass by. Understanding is the first step to making change. Doing nothing is not an option, not for those of us who wish to “serve the dear neighbor.”
Sounds like a great class Mitch. This relates closely to a PD bookclub that ALS and Student Life are reading called "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" This book has brought up some valuable discussions about race/ethnicity in the classroom. The author Beverly Tatum describes how racism is like a smog that blankets our cities and unless we are actively doing something to get rid of the smog, we are enabling the status quo of racism to continue.
One of the takeaways from the book is that it is not a bad thing that black kids sit together in the cafeteria. It is important to have groups represented on campus like API (Asian and Pacific Islander) Latinos Unidos, BSU (Black Student Union). I appreciate that BSU has stepped up and presented at MLK day, but I wonder if tasking these groups with educating the Carondelet community on racial issues may be a bit of a tall order. I think having a safe and comfortable space where students can relax and build trust with each other is a great start. If these groups feel up to the challenge of educating/presenting, then by all means we should make space, but I want to make sure that this burden does not fall solely on these clubs.
One other thought that I had concerns diversity goals in staffing. I'm sure that the hiring/staffing committee has put great thought into hiring racially/ethnically diverse staff, but I am curious if there is an actual policy or goal in place. To me it would make sense to have a goal of having a staff that mirrors the local racial ethnic composition.
The racial makeup of Contra Costa County is
White alone, percent 65.5%
Black or African American alone, percent(a) 9.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.0%
Asian alone, percent(a) 18.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.6%
Two or More Races, percent 5.3%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 25.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 43.2%
I spend quite a bit of my time with old people, especially old white men. I also spend a lot of time with my family, including four generations and many of their friends. It’s common experiences and world views that link people together. As world views merge, so will the people. When I read the title to that book, my first question was, “Why wouldn’t they be sitting together?”
Blacks have been tasked with educating whites for over a couple of centuries. It’s not working too well. Like the sitting at the table thing, people listen best to their “own kind.” It is difficult to do the old “wink, wink” when it’s a friend who is calling you out. With more white people pointing out those micro-aggressions and the lopsided benefits of white privilege, we will reach a tipping point that will usher in real change.
Racism in the United States is a problem white people have made. In fact, white people brought it over from Europe along with smallpox and a potpourri of other diseases. It is time for white people to resolve this problem. We all need to focus on the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, serve “the dear neighbor without distinction.”
I appreciate your response. We are both interested in resolving the same problem. Whatever we can do will help. You are certainly right, it is not a problem for the disenfranchised to resolve. The stories of the CHS students I wrote about were eye openers for others in the classes. Such stories are extremely valuable to hear for those who probably will never have similar experiences. It is an example of how talking together can help. And having safe places where students and teachers can discuss such issues is invaluable. It is not my ideas or your ideas that will move us forward. It is the sharing of ideas and the development of actions that will facilitate change.
I echo everything you've written, Mitch.
wow… i look at the date of the blog writing… and i look at the news right now… it is as if you were preparing for the events of this summer…
This was so timely Mitch. It is so important that in acknowledging that racism is indeed systemic, it is white people who need to bring voice to the need for change. Silence is not an option that will solve what exists. Being proactive in addressing the issue and in creating solutions requires an understanding that even if, as a white person, I do not consciously or actively perform racist acts, I still contribute to the racism that exists because I have to be an agent of change through my words and actions.