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!) First I would ask the three particular students in whole group or aside individually why they said that they wished they were Black? I would have to examine the reasons behind their perspective and viewpoint. I have taught 5th grade and after our study of the Civil Rights Movement, etc. that has never happened in my own personal experience of this age group. I would have to make an analogy to the students what would happen if I talked about significant contributions of Hispanics in the U.S. or Asians would they then say that they would rather be Hispanic or Asian? Then I would have to remind students that each person is unique and contribute in their own special way no matter what the ethnicity/race they are. We would have to open up the discussion more in detail of how other groups of people are significant as well. Maybe showing a video or pictures of different groups of people who have contributed to the United States would help as well being a visual for students to better understand.