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!) The purpose of this lesson is to highlight people of great achievement who happen to be African American. They can serve as wonderful role models for any American student and I think these students are wishing to be black because are looking at the historical figures as role models. I would tell the students that they do not have to change their race to have the same qualities as the people in the lesson. Hard work, dedicated, and motivation are the driving forces that allowed for success. These are not racial traits. They are traits of someone who wants to succeed.