Yesterday evening,I was a part of a panel for my old academic advisor and friend back at junior college; he teaches a class for people about to become teachers.
The panel was about multicultural education, and the demographics (all white women) greatly disturbed me.
I'm not saying white women can't teach. However, I think they are naturally going to have a hard time reaching out to minority children. Here's why.
My old high school history teacher, Mrs Kard, used to say I was knowledgeable in history and always encouraged me. But for one reason or another, I always handwaved her notions and instead constantly called her "mami" and "Mrs Kardanshian". She could never make the connection with my old boneheaded misogynistic self. (She was a white woman)
Now, my old wrestling coach on the other hand, managed to reach me. He was able to train me from a dud to a stud on the mat and the wrestling field. He had me mind fucked. He told me to do something and I did it. He taught me a lot about individuality and to believe in oneself. I was born in a two career household and my dad worked all the time. My old coach/mentor was the one who taught me how to be a real man really.
The difference between my old coach/mentor and Mrs Kard? My old coach/mentor was a black man. When I think about it more, I realize how my most influential role models in my life are non-white. And while this may come from a interacial guy, if Booshman says i'm in a zebra squad, i'm the albino in that group. If this was the case for me, I wonder what it would be like for other minority that had it harder then I did and faced steeper socioeconomic obstacles
And there I sat in a panel, looking at a group of enthusiastic white women from rural Iowa believing they'll pull miracles in the few urban areas my state has. If those kids are anything like I was, they won't be able to reach them and possibly be objectified for being bootyful. We need more minority teachers that can better reach and relate to minority students.
At the end of the panel, one of them (an older woman) placed her hand on mine and essentially begged me to reconsider my current career path to become that guy. But I say no way Jose; I lack the patience.