“It’s
often said that racism is just a part of life: that racism will always exist;
that those who experience should ultimately have to accept it with stoicism. I
don’t think that’s it’s good enough to leave it at this” - (Southhommasane,
2013)
Are you a racist? What is considered
racism? How would you define it? There are many aspects and questions related
to racism and its effects on culture, identity and education. Racism is an
ongoing issue faced in the education system, which should not be accepted in
any way or form by anybody in Australian society.
Taha (2013),
states, “A total of 45 per cent of Australians were born overseas, or have at
least one parent who was born overseas”. So how does anybody have the right to
treat somebody like they do not belong? Does being labeled Australian make you
richer or nicer? We are all Australians in our own way. If anyone should be
judged or mistreated, it is those who are cruel enough to bring up peoples
cultures as being not good enough.
The Minikel- Lacocque (2013) reading explains how
students felt being stared at by ‘white students’, being made uncomfortable in
a place they have the right to be in just like anybody else. ‘‘You need to go back where you came from”
(p.432), we have all heard that line being said to us, or someone we know… but
when will these racist comments end? The question is, whether or not enough is being done to
ensure that there is an understanding that racism is no accepted, and
consequences will be enforced.
Racism leaves students feeling all
different kinds of ways, and with many reactions. While some “constantly feel
like an outsider” (Lacocque, 2013, p.433), to others reacting violently to try and
deal with the attack on their identity. These constant comments make students
feel like what matters to them, i.e. their culture is not important or
respected. Racism in turn can affect a students overall link to education and
the formation of their identity.
In fact, Taha from the ABC (2013),
states, “When dealing with racism, the school has employed
anti-racism contact officers and worked to build a sense of community”. This
ensures that there is a sense of acceptance being inbuilt by the schools staff,
and an attempt to ensure that all feel they belong to a multicultural family. Racist situations should be stopped, even
though it may at times mean social suicide for some, as many students would
call it. It leaves us wondering whether sitting back and watching it all happen
makes you just as bad as the person committing the ‘crime’.
Building a community of understanding and
respect in an education system ensures that there is a sense of respect and
belonging by all. It helps to prepare students for life after school, and the
array of different cultures and people they will interact with on a day-to-day
basis whether it is in the work force or shopping center.
Racism whether it seems little or quite
obvious should never be left un-dealt with, as we all deserve “fair treatment
and equal opportunity (Southhommasane, 2013)” in the land down under.
References:
·
Taha,
M. (2013). Teachers, pupils on mission to
tackle racism in Australian schools. Retrieved October 7, 2013,
from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/hip-hop-helps-students-overcome-racism-in-australian-schools/4854174.
·
Minikel-Lacocque, J. (2013). Racism, college and the power of words: Racial microaggressions
reconsidered. American Educational Research Journal, 50, 432.
·
Southhommasane,T.(2013). Battling racism involves everyone. Retrieved October 8, 2013 from http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1801931/blog-battling-racism-involves-everyone/.
Hello Mariam,
ReplyDeleteI have read your post and i found it very interesting as i too have explored the notion of racism on one of my earlier posts. Also, i have recently read through a book (ill leave the reference at the bottom), where the author, Wayne Au, refers to multicultural education as, "anti-racist education" instead. His reasoning for this; that the idea of multicultural education, "has come to mean something superficial", and in relation to your post this is referring to how racism targets the superficial aspects of ones own identity, and so an interesting notion can be gained from this: that as you have said, "Building a community of understanding and respect in an education system ensures that there is a sense of respect and belonging by all.", which also links with the notion of accepting multiculturalism in order to perpetuate such sense of respect and belonging. Additionally, i believe you are correct, that racism should be dealt with by perpetuating notions of acceptance and belonging, and also that the notion i have explored with multiculturalism, or the way that links with your argument was interesting to explore.
Emre Guden
This is the reference of the book by Wayne Au i referred to:
Race, Richard. (2011). Multiculturalism and Education: Contemporary Issues in Education Studies. Continuum.