I would not use the illustration that draws on Mason's definition of racism unless the students have or would be undertaking quite an extensive study of issues of race and racism. For what it is worth instead I would suggest that you get your students to look at how the concept of racism has been arrived at, that it is the sum of historical events and ideologies based on the supposed 'inferiority' of black people. Racism is specific to the experience of black people particularly the treatment and justification for the treatment their ancestors received during slavery. Racism is a concept based on political, economical, historical and social factors. In the same vain as anti-Semitism is specific to the Jewish experience so is racism to the black peoples experience.
Negative expressions or actions directed by black people towards white people are not acceptable and perhaps more research needs to be done to understand what some people term as 'reverse racism'.
>>> [log in to unmask] 01/26/01 05:34pm >>>
Hi,
I gave a lecture on 'tackling racism' to a couple of hundred PGCE students
today.
Several were keen to emphasize that Black and minority ethnic people can
display racism towards white people; they did not accept that this does not
simply balance out white racism.
I would welcome suggestions on how to address this. I certainly don't want
to defend harassment, aggression or bulying whoever the source; neither do
I want to deny the fear or pain experienced by white surviors of violence
committed by Black people.
nevertheless, it seems to me that
'white racism' = prejudice + power, while
'black racism' = prejudice
and the Power makes a lot of difference!
I fear that this was lost on a portion of my audience, who were a bit keen
to say that racism is an entirely two way issue.
Any ideas?
Nick.
Lecturer in Education,
School of Education,
University of Exeter,
Heavitree Road,
Exeter,
EX1 2LU,
England.
tel (44) 1392 264869
fax (44) 1392 264960
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