We Can't Grow if We Don't Know

Dominance is a topic that is largely covered in the text. White Dominance is something that most teachers have heard of and it is not an uncommon topic. Perhaps the fact that it has been addressed so much may lessen the importance of the topic. White people have heard about this over and over and the topic has been covered. Howard talks about the fact that the enemy here is not White people that are the the enemy, it is dominance itself (p 31). The perspective with which we look at each group of people is what gives us our viewpoint. Each of us have different backgrounds and events in our lives which shape how we view the world. With students it is the same way. Each class can not be taught the same way, and each student cannot be taught the same way.

In order to grow as educators and just human beings in general, we need to be aware of what is going on. We need to understand the depth of the suffering and pain that the World is going through. One of the participants in Howard's workshop said, "We are a World in need of healing, but healing can only begin when we acknowledge the depth of our pain" (p 52). He goes on to talk about how White Educators must choose to challenge themselves. In a world where White people make up the majority of educators, it is important that they are not only aware of their role, but also are aware of how much of an impact they can have if they choose to be open about the subject of White teachers and the rising diversity of students.

I personally have had approximately 50 teachers throughout my educational career. If I remember correctly, 4 of them have not been White. That means that about 92% of my education have come from White adults. If I said that this is why I am the way I am, then that would be giving in to the White Dominance theory. I would be saying that since White people have taught me, they have taught me in the "White Ways." Whether this is true or not, I am who I am because of a million different experiences, not because I have had White teachers. Being "Anti-White" does not make a person understand more about being African-American, but being open to different ideas, opinions, thoughts, and hopes for future students does make a difference.

I hope that the lens through which I view the World is a Christian lens. I have been brought up believing that each person created is a Child of God and that they have the ability to learn. This should go beyond race and socioeconomic status. The way I have been educated has shaped how I think and learn and how I view my future students. One of the most important things that I have learned is that everyone is different but everyone deserves to be given a shot. They deserve to have a chance to do something big and meaningful. I hope to give as many children out there the chance to succeed and believe in themselves to accomplish something that they want to do. Something that goes along with this is truly believing that the students can do this.