Difficult Topics: Issues of Race and Ethnicity Scenarios
Gerry Cox, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse
Aesthetics - A student in an art class raises issue with the value of studying African masks and suggests that this is not really art but craft.
The Dole - A student during discussion of economic policy in your class starts complaining, "All of those Hmong people on welfare who have loads of children, who refuse to learn English and otherwise take jobs away from good, hardworking Americans."
Feeling Unvalued - A student raises this issue in a class discussion on bringing diversity to the campus and increasing scholarship aid for student of color: "Why should all of the advantages be given to students of color? I get no support from my family. I've had to cover all of my college expenses on my own by working nights, week-ends, breaks, and summers. It is not fair! I think that it is reverse discrimination."
A Mathematical Question: A student in a statistics class says, "I'm glad to be in a class where all these issues of race and culture and diversity aren't important. Everyone knows that most of the great mathematicians were from Europe. Anyway, it doesn't matter here."
A Racist Plot: An African-American student in a discussion of sexual orientation says, "There are no African Americans who are naturally gay. This whole issue of sexual orientation is a plot of the rich, white, racist thinkers. They have taken advantage of those who don'e fit in and convinced them that they are gay."
Criminal Injustice: A student says, "I read in our textbook that30% of African-American males are either in prison or subject to some type of supervision by the legal system. Isn't this an indication that there is some kind of flaw with these people?"
Holiday Injustice: A student complains about: "All those 'Moslems,' Jews and other Heathens who do not celebrate real holidays, skip class for fake holidays, refuse to take finals on Friday afternoons or Saturdays, and do not let us good Christians celebrate Easter break, sing Christmas carols at school and have Christmas trees at school."
My Best Friends: A student says: "I'm color blind. Some of my best friends are colored people. Everyone should be treated the same. Affirmative Action gives some people privileges that are not fair."
All Minorities Are Jocks or Poor: A student asks a minority student: "Are you on the basketball team?" or "Are you from a ghetto?"