This week there are several required readings and some optional readings.
The many readings listed on this page will provide more information
than you can absorb in the short time we are together. Consider bookmarking
sites that are particularly appealing to you. All resources for this
course will remain open to you from now on. You can return whenever
you want to review these materials.
The
Language of Closet Racism
Paul Gorski starts this article with a thought provoking statement:
"Any person who has grown up in the American public school system
has been educated to hold racial prejudices." See if you agree
with Gorski after you read this article. Pay particular attention
to the three strands of the language of closet racism: fear, un-awareness,
dis-ownership.
Eliminating
Racism in the Classroom
Richard Morgan's short article provides a quick overview of issues
and ideas for confronting bias and stereotyping in the classroom and
in society.
Implicit Association
Test
To help better understand your own bias, prejudice, and learned attitudes
take the Implicit Association Test. The IAT can be a disturbing experience
because the test purports to deliver an accurate reflection of your
unconscious pre-disposition to racism, gender, and sexuality. (There are a number of IAT tests focused on many different issues.)
This unique online 'twitch test' was developed by Yale University
and the IAT Corporation. You will need a Java enabled browser to try
one of the IATs). It will take about 30 uninterrupted minutes to complete
the test. Included on the site is an informative FAQ that provides
insight to the validity and reliability of this instrument. If you
take this test you have the opportunity to discover and confront your
learned prejudicial behaviors.
Beyond Prejudice
/ Understanding Prejudice
Jim Cole argues that many unintentional prejudicial responses are
the result of early learning, which is often in conflict with later
non-prejudicial learning. He offers sound advice on how to break the
bonds of unintentional prejudicial behavior. You will find concise
essays and a number of interesting self-assessments and brief articles.
Cole contends that we must first acknowledge that we have learned
prejudicial behaviors, and that we must confront these behaviors without
guilt or blame. Cole provides videotapes and training materials on
his site, but it is decidedly non-commercial, with an emphasis on
self-assessment and solid advice.
Cole's Quiz on Prejudices
This is an intriguing exercise. Based on your answers you are offered
additional information about the subject. Thought provoking and low
stress, Cole's Quiz is an excellent introduction to his website.
Y? The National Forum on Differences;
Dare to Ask, Dare to Answer
This site gives people from different ethnic or cultural backgrounds
a way to ask embarrassing or uncomfortable questions. This site features
a very large forum area with dozens of discussions on every imaginable
topic. Thousands of questions and answers have been archived and can
be searched by keyword. There is a gritty edge to things on this site
that some will find uncomfortable.
