About This Lesson
Lorna Rivera, PhD, tackles the question of whether or not we are living in a post-racial society. Drawing on research by sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva and his theory of "colorblind racism," Dr. Rivera argues that discrimination against people of color and immigrants is a current social problem. She discusses language oppression, particularly related to Latinx students. She argues that rather than embracing the idea of the United States as a "melting pot," we should consider emphasizing and retaining the diversity of different groups.
Though questions for educators:
- What implications could Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's theory of "colorblind racism," and in particular his assertion that colorblindness is in itself a form of racism, have on your teaching?
- Dr. Rivera references research showing that some college instructors, perhaps unconsciously, assume that Latinx students do not speak English fluently and falsely accuse them of plagiarism. In a well-publicized case from 2016, for example, a professor accused a student--a first-generation college student and a first-generation U.S. citizen--of plagiarism for using the word "hence." What lessons can teachers draw from this incident?
- Dr. Rivera challenges us to reevaluate the symbolism of America as a melting pot. Instead, she asks us to consider the importance of retaining the diversity of different groups.
- In what ways does the tension between melting/merging different groups and retaining diversity play out in the classroom?
- Can you think of times when your students identified as American, members of ethnic or racial groups, or as members of your school community?
- How can these ideas help us to create supportive and welcoming classrooms for all students?
