Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: I Wish I Were Black! As a teacher of 5th grade students, I try to make sure that my students have a good sense of all the people and cultures that make up this country. Last couple weeks, I paid special attention to the African American people who have made significant contributions to the US. We read a book written by Walter Dean Myers. We have studied scientists, writers, and political figures. Students were very engaged and interested in the content. Yesterday something happened that puzzled me. Three of my White students told me that they wished they were Black. This was not my intention when I planned all my lessons on contributions of African Americans. How should I address this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I think that it is important to celebrate African American Culture and other cultures as well. What you described doing sounds like one of the many Black History Month tributes that I have experienced in school. Many other cultures have their own months as well, but "white culture" does not. Maybe in the following weeks of class you could do segments on important people from other cultures including white culture. In school, I remember one of the most important things that they taught us about white people in history was about slavery. That is not something that your white students can be proud of so find things to teach and emphasize that will make them proud to be who they are just like you did for you African American students.