I'm taking my Interdisciplinary Studies class online this summer. The best I can figure out is that this and Ethnic Studies classes are pretty much diversity training. At my work I have to go through diversity training twice a year. Apparently, someone thinks that I don't know I should treat other people with respect and understand that not everyone is going to agree with me. And, that there are other people in the world who have different skin color. I had no clue that there were other people of different skin colors out there until I had diversity training at work and school. I was too wrapped up in my Euro American Caucasian world to even realize that there are other opinions and cultures in the world. And, guess what? You shouldn't make fun of them, or think that you are smarter or better, or not hire or work with them. Oh, and they also have a right to their religions beliefs too.
Do you think I'm kidding and being sarcastic? The work lessons are worse than the school classes, but both are of the same spirit. The thing about school, however, is that I'm paying good money to be told these things. Lessons my parents taught me for free. I'm sure there are people out there who really need to be taught these lessons, but I'm guessing they are not going to be the type to stick through a semester of lessons, or continue employment for any length of time. My other observation about diversity training is that there is never the expectation that anyone other than "white" people need to go through these lessons. Oh, sure, the AAS degree requires all students to have three credits for each area, but everything is taught so that the "white" person can gain an understanding of a different culture.
My summer IS class is entitled "American Indian Studies" and I really wanted this class to be about what the culture entails and not a rant about the "evil white man". Yesterday, she (my teacher) posted a racial joke in the discussion area and justified it by putting "warning, some may be offended" in the subject line. Considering we HAVE to read EVERYTHING the teacher posts, it's not like we could ignore this. I've actually heard this joke before, it's as old as the hills, and wasn't that funny the first time I heard it. I'm not going to justify it by posting it again, but let's just say that the punch line is about the "white man". The thing is, if I, as a "white (wo)man" had posted that in my discussion group, I'm guessing I would have been expelled from the class. Maybe even subject to disciplinary action from the University for posting racially offensive material. Why then, is it ok for the teacher, the person we are supposed to believe unconditionally, to post this joke? Is it because she's American Indian and it's a slam against the "white man"? And why does she get to refer to Caucasians as "white man" in all of her lecture notes and commentaries, but never once uses the term "red man"?
If the point of this class is supposed to be cultural understanding, using racially offensive terms doesn't really accomplish that, does it? Yet, if I bring this up to her, I'm sure I'll flunk, and she'll have some lame excuse about using the term "whites" and "white man". If "red man" is racially offensive, so is "white man" and NEITHER term should be used. I knew that going into this class, so I'm not sure why I'm being told it's ok to use "white man" but not "red man". Both describe a color of skin, both are dehumanizing, and double standards should never be tolerated. It's unfortunate that we do tolerate them. I'm really thinking of telling her that, but after my grade has been posted. Because a person who supposedly "educates" with racially offensive jokes and terms won't think twice about flunking a "white woman" for expressing something that is a double standard being used in her class.
I also seem to feel that the two required books and the lecture notes are being written specifically to be insulting to Euro Americans and Caucasians. I'm guessing it's a case of petty revenge for all the history books that were written by "whites" about Indians. In fact, the beginning lesson had a spiel about that very fact. That the books used were going to be from an Indian perspective, because apparently, in all this time no "white man" has gotten history correct.
I won't let this be a stopping point for my college degree. I will do what I have to in order to not only pass this class, but get a good grade. I've learned two things from diversity classes. 1) They are not really about treating people as equals, and 2) How to regurgitate back to the teacher what s/he wants to hear and not what I really feel.
I guess they really train you for how to deal with a boss.....
