Convinced...
Well, I'm not a teacher but I am a college student that attends the
University of Minnesota @ Morris which although it boasts the highest percentage of minority students amongst the whole U of M system it is still predominantly white.
I would like to offer this advice to you.
I suggest that you stay at this school.
I'm saying this because you could be someone that those students of color can depend on. Seeing as there are only 3 other teachers of color there. But more importantly, your presence at this school is just as crucial as if you went to an inner city school.
For many of these white students it is the first time that they come in contact with an educated black woman. They need to be aware that we are not just cooks and golf caddies (though there is nothing wrong with these professions).
At my school, I have actually met white students who have never met a person of color...period. And then they get here and its some kind of culture shock and they have all these prejudices and biases that an activist student like myself is forced to deal with.
Hopefully your presence at this school will empower students of color but also make white students aware of whats going on with people of color.
I don't know what class you teach but my strategy, which is my plan when I teach high school, is to drop some multi-cultural knowledge on my students.
I plan on teaching Government and/or U.S. History...so in addition to those sad history books we will have selected readings from "Souls of Black Folk", "Soul On Ice", "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" and other such readings that will enlighten ALL my students about the TRUTH of our Nation.
I hope that this helps you.
Peace
[This message has been edited by lastpoetnsite (edited February 26, 2001).]
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