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!) This is a difficult situation. I think the only way to handle it would be to allow the students the opportunity to research contributions made by their own race and/or culture. Essentially, it's important that students (and really anyone) recognize the contributions of other cultures to the central culture of the world, but it's also important that students (and really anyone) have an understanding of their own culture's contributions to the central culture of the world and have pride in their own culture.