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!) Reading the selection made me think about me being an African American living in a dominated southern white culture. I remember at times wondering why all the inventories, scientist and etc were always of another nationality. I commend you on implementing multicultural education into the curriculum, because as a youngster I always thrived for that knowledge. The issues of the white students wishing to be black, isn't far fetch. The roles are just reversed. I would address the class as a whole about embracing their heritage and culture. I would discuss with the class the meaning of diversity and acceptance and explaining that throughout the school year we will be exploring a variety of cultures and that it's okay to find different cultures interesting. I will also elaborate on the fact that skin color, size, or gender has nothing to do with intelligences and achievements.