White is NOT right

The two articles, Deculturalization and the Claim of Racial and Cultural Superiority by Anglo Americans by Joel Spring and The Indian Boarding Schools by Michelle Bollinger, share a theme of assimilation to white culture. Joel Spring highlights many different examples of what he calls "cultural genocide" dating as far back to the civil war and as recent as the racial motivated attack at Columbine. Bollinger describes a situation dating back to the 1870's of white people essentially forcing Native American children to assimilate to white dominant culture. The most recent article, Native Americans being left out of US coronavirus data and labeled as 'other' from The Guardian, shows that groups of people are still being forced to identify as 'other' rather than seeing their identities validated on a race breakdown selection. On a daily basis in our past, present, and future, we send subliminal messages (and some not so subliminal messages) that they "white way is the right way".

When talking about white assimilation and dominant white culture, it would be inappropriate to not mention the current events. George Floyd is the most recent victim of dominant white culture and white supremacy. After Floyd's wrongful death, this idea has become prominent again. All over the news, white people are telling black people the way they protest is wrong. The protesting is "too violent",  "too aggressive", or even "negating the mission of the peaceful protests". Many media outlets are shaming the current protests but refusing to acknowledge that the white way of peaceful protesting hasn't been working.

American history is filled with what Spring calls "cultural genocide". In education, we continue the narrative that "white is right" by teaching white US history, teaching theories and concepts created by white scientists and mathematicians, and having students read white literature.  COVID-19 and the pandemic is going to make history books in the future. If we are not collecting data on Native American COVID cases, how are teachers of the future supposed to teach Native American history and the racism and oppression they faced during this time? Again, we are only telling the white narrative and leaving entire populations feeling like they have no option but to assimilate or else they are "other-ed". 

Not only do we as teachers white wash or content, we expect students to act upon American norms. In schools we teach students how to communicate appropriately and we teach students how to respect their teachers and peers. Similarly to how the Native Americans were forced to act and speak english in the The Indian Boarding Schools article. Communication and respect are viewed differently among other cultures. In America, it may be considered disrespectful to not look someone in the eyes while they are speaking to you. In other cultures, it is very inappropriate to look into the eyes of an elder or teacher of higher status. Appropriate voice volume is also another norm in American culture. We may scold students for being too loud or yelling, but at home where they are more free to act upon their culture, they speak at a higher volume. 

As an educator of a students with a broad range of cultures and upbringings, I often have to step back and ask myself, "Am I contributing to white dominant culture?". Students face trauma every day being told that their way is wrong and they are sent the message that they should assimilate. Every decision I make as an educator impacts my students and I can pretend it doesn't. I can't give them any more trauma. Enough is enough, white is NOT right.