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 ask students why they felt this way and discuss their feelings with them. It is important to hear students and meet them where they are. I would also discuss why I had chosen to highlight African Americans during the course of these two weeks. I would try to incorporate units that celebrate people from diverse cultures. Unless this were Black History Month, I would tend to pick a topic and make sure that those I represent based on the topic represent people of all backgrounds, including race and gender. Or this could be used as a way to continue with several units also celebrating contributions of women, Latinos, Asian Americans, whites, etc., so that students have a balanced, well-rounded perspective.