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 you should pull these students to the side, and first explain to them that every culture has something to offer. No one is unequal. Every culture has good and bad to offer. I would explain to them that some people may also want to be White for the very same reasons. They need to fully understand that everyone has something great to offer to world, and it really shouldn't matter about the race of a person.