Blindfolds on Thursday!!

Hi all,

Don't forget to bring some kind of blindfold with you to class on Thursday. We will be doing an activity to go with the Carlson reading. Be well prepared to talk about his main argument and evidence in class!

Words about Race

I have been thinking so much about our conversation last Thursday in class.

What is white? Why do we need to categorize people? What words should we use that won't be offensive? How do we know? I also noticed that in class and in your Delpit Think Pieces, so many of you used the phrase "colored people" when naming people who are not white.

There is no right answer when it comes to what words we should use.... Often my strategy is to ask people what they like to be called. And other times, I have learned by reading and talking with people about the history of certain words. If those histories are rooted in oppression or violence or injustice, I try to avoid those in my speech.

With that in mind, I am asking you to make a shift in your language. You can experiment with a wide variety of alternatives, but when talking about people of color, avoid using the term "colored people." These images, from Jim Crow America, are my reason why.

White Privilege on youtube

Check out this creative take on Peggy McIntosh's piece:

Video on Race and Schooling

In light of our conversations about Lisa Delpit, check out this video I found on youtube that talks about the power of education in one Black community high school...