Lynn Pierce’s U.S. history class was recently discussing the name of the Washington NFL franchise when the remarks were made.
WTKR spoke with Pierce off camera:
Pierce told us she was doing a lesson on Native Americans, and a student asked her ‘What’s the big deal with calling them Redskins?’–referring to the football team.In a call with Fusion, Michelle Price, Heritage High School’s director of public information, confirmed that a teacher was under investigation for comments made in the classroom after several students made complaints...
Using the team as an example, Pierce told NewsChannel 3 that she tried explaining why it’s inappropriate to use prejudicial and stereotypical names about any racial group.
She then said, “What would you think if someone started a team called the Newport News N****rs?”
... Price informed me that teacher in question, who WTKR
reports has worked at the school for over 40 years, is white and the
group of high school juniors and seniors present at the time (“about 24,
25 kids”) is predominantly black.
2 comments:
I'm an inveterate iconoclast in my writing and in my interpersonal behavior. The metaphor in question was, as you intimate, precise, and by definition, "accurate". That said, I have never been aware that the term "redskins" in recent times has been charged with heavy racist overtones, even though it can be found to have been used that way historically. However, this current incident comes with a special contextual consideration, the "N.." word being so heavily fraught with toxins in our immediate public social environment. The teacher simply made a foolish tactical blunder. Did he/she even know her students? Kids have no greater social perspective, no sophistication!!
Come sojourn out West Mr Kraus. Come out West and have your awareness recharged a bit. Might not hurt to read up a bit on the topic before you do. Here's a good start:
https://www.hcn.org/articles/a-shooting-of-two-native-american-men-raises-questions-about-race
http://www.colorlines.com/articles/racism-core-native-teen-suicides-pine-ridge
http://www.rollcall.com/news/speaking_the_truth_to_stop_racism_against_native_americans_commentary-242137-1.html?pg=1&dczone=opinion
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-first-nations-people-allies-mark-orange-shirt-day-1.3251133
http://www.civilrights.org/resources/civilrights101/native.html
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