Because of courses such as CHYS 2p38, sensitive and important topics pertaining to minorities are discussed. This, in return, allows be to share my views on certain issues while obtaining some insight from seminar leaders and classmates. One of the biggest issues that come to mind is the misrepresentation of identity. Especially those of minority students. According to Lei’s article (Lei, 2003) and as discussed in our seminar, there is an omnipresent clash between the monolithic ideal and the true identities of minorities.
As a second generation African-Canadian student myself, I have experienced an undercurrent clash between my African identity and my Canadian identity.
Until the age of seven, I was living in a fairly metropolitan town where I went to school with a multitude of students from many countries around the earth as well as many ‘‘black students’’. I had a multicultural group of friends. After that, I moved to a relatively smaller town where I was the only black student in the entire school. What a shock that was! The other students would ask me about my country of origin, they wanted to know how many languages I spoke, about African food and as odd as it may sound, they wanted to know about my hair. I took absolutely no offense from all these questions since I did not find them harmful or derogative. My new classmates were simply curious. However, I did find it somewhat different.
Up to that point, I had not seen myself as very different from my peers. One day, a friend pointed out that I was like an ‘‘oreo’’, white on the inside and black on the outside. What she meant was what she termed as being ‘‘a person who has the attitude of a ‘‘white student’’ while physically being ‘‘black’’. What I got from this was that black people are usually perceived as loud, abrasive and not very studious. It was somewhat upsetting to come to this realization since it was such a negative representation of my heritage and the person I perceive myself to be. Also, it certainly not a stereotype that reflects how every other black student sees themselves.
Using my personal experience, I can definitely relate to Lisette, the black student in Lei’s article who internalized the negative stereotype while attempting to distance herself from it and at the same time, wanting to challenge it (Lei, 2003)
I didn’t really think much of this comment but reading the article by Lei made me question how a ‘‘black student’’ is supposed to act. In reality, there really is no such thing as a ‘‘black way to act’’ because people are different and not all black people are the same.
Considering the fact that many of us will be working in classrooms, it is highly likely that we will teach children from different backgrounds. I think that it would be important to remember to remind students that people are individuals and stereotypes do not necessarily apply to all. It is crucial that we look beyond the common belief and question our beliefs.
What do you think?
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