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How Does Schools Affect The Role Of Racial Identity In Education

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I have always identified as a heterosexual African American female. With my grandparents trying to recover from what was taken from my Granny, my family considers us as lower middle class. My family is simply made up of white-collar workers that have excelled in their positions despite their cultural identities. I typically struggle with my racial identity because there are no societal efforts to show African Americans in positive light, especially African American females. I have always felt that it is definitely harder to be an African American female versus a white female. Today, most African American females are seen acting like buffoons on reality television or as struggling single mothers, while white females are typically on shows as doctors or happily married females. These identifications affect the education of students because it affects the way they learn, but also in the environments in which they learn. Schools reflect these notions by their geographical location, their student population, and most important …show more content…
I can recall coloring my pictures more of a peach color, but only because a black crayon would hide the features I drew in with pencil. My whole life I have identified as an African American not only because the color of my skin, but because of the heritage of my family. As a future teacher and current student, I believe that it is important to integrate diversity and multiculturalism into the classroom. Our social identities play a humongous role in who we are, so instead of ignoring the consequences or suppressing the ideas associated with certain micro-cultures, we have to encourage students to accept them. Growing up in a predominately-white neighborhood and having been raised by black parents, my acceptance of diverse opinions and cultures started in the school system, so I believe in changing the school system we can change the people and the

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