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 would first ask the students why they felt that way. Then I would explain to them that you aren't promoting one race over the other. I would allow my class to analyze their own culture/race, and the positive contributions made by others that are within their own race. I would make this an in class project. Then I would have them present their project to the class. As their teacher I would tell my students that they should be proud of who they are and where they came from. Color is not the only thing that makes a person who they are, it is what is in the inside that really counts.