multiculturalism

Pithissippi Burning: Race, White Nationalism, and American Culture, Why Multiculturalism is Wrong, and The Challenge of ‘Multiculturalism’ In How Americans View the Past and the Future all present extreme views of multiculturalism in a modern society. Why Multiculturalism is Wrong makes an example of the Netherlands’ interpretation of the word and claims multiculturalism justifies inequality of minorities. The Challenge of ‘Multiculturalism’ examines teaching history from a perspective other than the tradition white perspective. Pithissippi Burning sums up the fear and hatred that occurs when individuals refuse to learn about, acknowledge, and respect people who are different from them.

To me multiculturalism is practicing an acceptance of and having respect for cultures and groups of varying beliefs and ethnic origins. It welcomes others’ views, perspectives, and practices. It does not accept stereotypes. It is treating all cultures as equal. I grew up in a very diverse school system in which many ethnic, religious, and even economic groups were represented. I am not sure if it was the way in which the school presented information to us or if was being mixed from early on, but I feel everyone had a mutual respect and understanding for one another. We celebrated our differences by learning about other cultures, but we did not concentrate on the differences. I do have to acknowledge that each person’s experience is different. While I felt that my school welcomed diversity and provided an education where every group was represented, I experienced this as a Caucasian female with a Christian upbringing.

The Challenge of ‘Multiculturalism’ talks about changing social studies curriculum to provide some districts with a more ethno-centered (Afro or Hispanic) curriculum. Do I think that our current social studies lessons primarily depict a white viewpoint? Yes. Do I think some school systems should change curriculum to depict another viewpoint? No. I think social studies lessons should be based on the same information for all students. If a student is black it does not mean they should learn about history only from an Afro-centered perspective. The same is true of white students. More should be done to ensure that all students are learning history with more than one point of view represented. For example, if a school system adopts an Afro-centered textbook then supplemental materials should be used to show this is not the only perspective.

Providing students with more than one view on historical and current events is an important aspect of multicultural learning. Instead of presenting material in a way that is one-sided and promotes a right and a wrong (where applicable of course) we should encourage our students to see things from other viewpoints. This will foster an understanding and respect for people, cultures, and views that are different.

Banks, J.A. (n.d.) Diversity within unity: Essential principles for teaching and learning in a multicultural society. Retrieved from http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/multicultural/banks.htm