(no subject)
I was playing “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist Sometimes” for one of my VISTA friends and we entered into this intense discussion about racism and how we’re experiencing it in our classrooms.
She felt resented when the teacher she works with presented the children with a lesson about Jim Crow and lynching. Being white, she was one of the ‘they’ that had beaten and slandered ‘our ancestors.’
We don’t talk about racism, past or present, in Ms. P's classroom. The kids are still a bit young, and they need so much help with basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, that we just don’t get around to social studies. But I do see it. Racism, I mean. And feel it, though it’s not directed at me.
E’shante, the fairest skinned girl in the class, is finishing her work, coloring in the picture she’s drawn of herself and her sister for her journal. Chyleah, by far the smartest girl in the class, who's been done for at least ten minutes, wanders over and whispers in her ear. E’shante frowns and mutters something back. Sitting across the classroom, I have no idea what they’re saying. Tyrean, the most easily distracted girl in the class, has turned around in her seat and is listening to their conversation. Emanee, completely average, but a doll, looks over as well.
Their hushed discussion escalates into an argument, which is not unusual in itself. Chyleah is always starting something. As I walk over to urge Chyleah back to her seat and the others back to their work, I hear Chyleah say vehemently, “Whatever, E’shante, you’s a white chick.”
Tyrean squeals, “Don’t say that, Chyleah!”
Emanee nods, “You might hurt Miz Alex’s feelings!”
Luckily, Ms. P comes to my rescue. “What have I told you about those kinds of insults?” she demands. Chyleah looks away, a resentful expression on her face, but she does not reply.
“What did I say?” Ms. P asks again.
Chyleah looks up, her gaze darting from Ms. P to me to E’shante to the floor, her self-righteous attitude still apparent. “Sorry.”
“Alright,” says Ms. P, “Everyone get back to your work. I know you’re not finished yet. David, what have you got in your mouth?!”
I’m not sure what to think of the episode. There’ve been others like it, too. As far as I can tell, calling someone ‘white,’ to these children, means the same thing as calling someone a geek, or a social failure, or a brownnoser.
I feel like I should add some analysis to this story, but it's a Saturday night in the summer and I've spent four and a half hours processing the National World War II D-Day Museum today. I just can't do it right now.