Racial issues in DCPS for mixed race kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Montgomery County OP

Im not sure that solves the problem, unless youve got some specific cluster in mind. I have AA friends who live in a great school district in Bethesda who are sending their kids to Sidwell in part out of concern about low-expectation issue/lonely only issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also disagree with this perception of the black boys getting in trouble disproportionately. I guess my son's schools have been outliers, but in each of his three classes the only boy who really had difficulty following rules etc was one of the other white kids.

I've witnessed this first hand. It does happen - more often than you'd think. My daughter told me about the "bad black boys" in her class as well. All four of them are always "in trouble" - together.

Also, I have a relative who had to battle her son's school on multiple occasions for this. The Principal finally sat in on her son's class (surprise visits) and confirmed that their was a bias. He's the most respectful, nice and mild kid you could meet but you would have thought he was a terror based on the number of suspensions he got (all were overturned by the Principal).

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean that other people's experiences aren't valid.

I didn't say they weren't, I just said it had not been my experience. These are at school where the white kids are very much the minority and the teachers are also non white. That may have been a factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused by this conversation. It's interesting. Many of my biracial friends and their kids identify as black, which is very different from my kid doesn't look black and he's treated as Latino. If you raise your kid as black, they will believe they are black. It's almost as if you don't want them to identify. All of this 1/4 this and 3/4 that is just dumb. Eventually, someone is going to call you kid a nigger and you better be prepared.

Will the person calling them that name be you? Because you sound a little unhinged and I'm not sure what your point is. Regardless of how you raise your kid, other people's (and teachers') perceptions are going to play their own role.

This. These whack jobs that talk about all the racists who will be on the attack when it's really them need to get help. There's a lot of haters like the "n" word poster who are the problem for mixed kids. They're fine when they're left alone and allowed to choose their own identity without reverse racists spewing their Jim Crow nonsense.

There was a recent WaPo article by Lawrence Otis Graham, I believe his son is not mixed but fairer skinned, and he was called the N word for the first time at 15 and pretty much came undone. When parents tell you to prepare your child it's not because they wish for it to happen, but because it's pretty rough for that to happen period, and doubly so when the child is completely unprepared.

I just want to correct the record on one point here. I read the WaPo article/watched the interview with Lawrence Otis Graham on ABC News regarding this topic. His son would be considered medium brown-skinned by (nearly universal) AA standards, so "dark" by white American standards. He is not biracial, and no one would mistake him as such. He is AA from a distance, so please don't muddy the OP's question with this comparison. However, I agree that his parents have done him a great disservice by not preparing him to deal with racial bias. That kid sounds as if he has been raised in a bubble!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm biracial and my child looks white. She is who she thinks she is and not what any other human being would select for her. Jesus put her in her skin for his reasons. Enough of these race police trying to overstep him.

I completely agree with you, but my child happens to look black. I wish I could let her decide who she thinks she is instead of society telling her. She has as much European heritage as African, but those things don't seem to matter when it comes to race. It's solely about the color of one's skin. I hope we as a society get past this during my daughter's generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I have a problem with is that he has told me that some of the AA boys in his class get into a lot of trouble, and don't read as well, etc. and I honestly believe that is because of skin color as there are white boys in his class that behave the same way (I have known most of the kids in his class for years). Although I am relieved that my son is not treated this way by teachers, I think it is a serious problem that AA boys are disciplined more harshly and are not expected to achieve as much as other kids in the classroom.

I have noticed this problem as well in my child's class. The AA boys (higher and lower SES)are always in trouble: have to miss recess for being too rowdy, etc. I volunteer in the classroom and it is very disturbing. It has been bothering me a lot but since it isn't my child, I don't think it's my place to say anything.

I don't think the teachers realize that they are treating the kids differently.

I saw this as well with my DS's first school. I was shocked to see this attitude in DC but I believe it is subconscious. It showed how important it was for me to stay extra involved in my child's classroom - helicopter label be damned.

Yes, I think the teachers are not aware of their bias. One of the main "problem" kids in the class is white but doesn't get in trouble on the same level and other white parents complain about his behavior (highly disruptive) openly in front of me. Still, based on my observations (volunteering in the class) and my son's stories, the AA boys are punished more often, loosing recess and other punishments. And kids notice. For example, my biracial son has made comments about black boys being bad, gross generalizations that I am constantly addressing. He is learning that being a black boy is not good and that is one reason why I think he doesn't want to be considered AA. Interestingly, the AA girls in his class are not treated the same way.

This is my line of work and here's how I've seen this play out in the classroom. Two boys are being rowdy, playing or not following directions. The teacher gives excuses for the white boy's behavior and tries to redirect him: "Johnny, you must be tired. This is not like you. Would you like to be my helper?" The teacher disciplines or shames the black boy for the same behavior: "Jamal, you should not be doing that. Go to time out and think about what you did. Your mother would be very upset to find out how you're acting."

These are *actual* things I've heard from being in class with two different teachers. I would not call these teachers "racist" or any such thing, but they happened to have developed subconscious negative views about black boys.

Studies have shown that when guessing ages of black boys, people believe black boys are several ages older than they actually are. There are also notions that they need to be "corrected" or they'll end up as thugs. The human element (like a kid may just be having a bad day or responding to something that happened at home) is more apparent in interactions with white boys and lacking with black ones.

I'm glad that teachers are being made aware of bias through programs and workshops. Negative bias of any kind (other groups as well) can be detrimental to one's self esteem.

[Anonymous]

My kids are biracial and have had no issues in DCPS, but they are girls. I'd plan on a nice middle to upper class public school, with a diverse population. IMO, 'hispanic' boys get as much flack as AA boys.
Also I've seen threads in the private school forums where AA boys are marginalized and subject to more extreme punishment that white peers.

[Anonymous]

*than

[Anonymous]

My sister in law is biracial but identifies as being black most of the time. She went to Murch/Deal/Duke Ellington.

I used to try and point out that she should identify as biracial (this was back when I was a know it all college student who was just discovering the language of social justice). Later I realized that her identity belonged to her. I thinkk all parents have to come to terms with that fact, their kid will choose their own identity. I think this is why we should teach ALL children about racism and institutional prejudice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biracial and my child looks white. She is who she thinks she is and not what any other human being would select for her. Jesus put her in her skin for his reasons. Enough of these race police trying to overstep him.

I completely agree with you, but my child happens to look black. I wish I could let her decide who she thinks she is instead of society telling her. She has as much European heritage as African, but those things don't seem to matter when it comes to race. It's solely about the color of one's skin. I hope we as a society get past this during my daughter's generation.

So what are you going to tell her- you look black and because of racism you'll be treated as black... so that makes you black. My biracial child "looks black". I tell him at all times he has the right to choose whatever he is. I explain that we come from a culture of embedded racism and many people of harbingers of white supremacy- including AAs who promote "one drop". He may face fall-out by racists, but that doesn't change who he is. He is biracial no matter what anyone thinks or says. People forget that the biracial experience includes getting the same discriminatory treatment AAs face, but they also get that same discrimination from AAs. So, he has to ready for the day he's called N. Doesn't make him not biracial. It makes him a victim of prejudice. He's also prepared for when he has to turn away from AAs who espouse hatred against white people. That's what it means to be biracial. One day parents of biracial kids will understand this. When it's not your experience, but that of you child, you don't understand their plight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I have a problem with is that he has told me that some of the AA boys in his class get into a lot of trouble, and don't read as well, etc. and I honestly believe that is because of skin color as there are white boys in his class that behave the same way (I have known most of the kids in his class for years). Although I am relieved that my son is not treated this way by teachers, I think it is a serious problem that AA boys are disciplined more harshly and are not expected to achieve as much as other kids in the classroom.

I have noticed this problem as well in my child's class. The AA boys (higher and lower SES)are always in trouble: have to miss recess for being too rowdy, etc. I volunteer in the classroom and it is very disturbing. It has been bothering me a lot but since it isn't my child, I don't think it's my place to say anything.

I don't think the teachers realize that they are treating the kids differently.

I saw this as well with my DS's first school. I was shocked to see this attitude in DC but I believe it is subconscious. It showed how important it was for me to stay extra involved in my child's classroom - helicopter label be damned.

Yes, I think the teachers are not aware of their bias. One of the main "problem" kids in the class is white but doesn't get in trouble on the same level and other white parents complain about his behavior (highly disruptive) openly in front of me. Still, based on my observations (volunteering in the class) and my son's stories, the AA boys are punished more often, loosing recess and other punishments. And kids notice. For example, my biracial son has made comments about black boys being bad, gross generalizations that I am constantly addressing. He is learning that being a black boy is not good and that is one reason why I think he doesn't want to be considered AA. Interestingly, the AA girls in his class are not treated the same way.

This is my line of work and here's how I've seen this play out in the classroom. Two boys are being rowdy, playing or not following directions. The teacher gives excuses for the white boy's behavior and tries to redirect him: "Johnny, you must be tired. This is not like you. Would you like to be my helper?" The teacher disciplines or shames the black boy for the same behavior: "Jamal, you should not be doing that. Go to time out and think about what you did. Your mother would be very upset to find out how you're acting."

These are *actual* things I've heard from being in class with two different teachers. I would not call these teachers "racist" or any such thing, but they happened to have developed subconscious negative views about black boys.

Studies have shown that when guessing ages of black boys, people believe black boys are several ages older than they actually are. There are also notions that they need to be "corrected" or they'll end up as thugs. The human element (like a kid may just be having a bad day or responding to something that happened at home) is more apparent in interactions with white boys and lacking with black ones.

I'm glad that teachers are being made aware of bias through programs and workshops. Negative bias of any kind (other groups as well) can be detrimental to one's self esteem.

I used to tutor a kid who told me "I can't do well in school because I'm black." He was 10.

I tried to have a long conversation about how that wasn't true but it's hard to know how much it really helped against a lifetime of internalized prejudice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister in law is biracial but identifies as being black most of the time. She went to Murch/Deal/Duke Ellington.

I used to try and point out that she should identify as biracial (this was back when I was a know it all college student who was just discovering the language of social justice). Later I realized that her identity belonged to her. I thinkk all parents have to come to terms with that fact, their kid will choose their own identity. I think this is why we should teach ALL children about racism and institutional prejudice.

This. Let the kid choose. They'll have to deal with the flack/disappointment from their choice. BTW- it's not all rosey for biracials that choose black. They face being marginalized by AAs and non-acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Agree about Shepherd Park neighborhood! On our street alone (out of 10 houses), there are 5-6 multi racial families. It really is a great community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree about Shepherd Park neighborhood! On our street alone (out of 10 houses), there are 5-6 multi racial families. It really is a great community.

Also, we all go to Shepherd and have seen and uptick on neighborhood families attending (traditionally private).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biracial and my child looks white. She is who she thinks she is and not what any other human being would select for her. Jesus put her in her skin for his reasons. Enough of these race police trying to overstep him.

I completely agree with you, but my child happens to look black. I wish I could let her decide who she thinks she is instead of society telling her. She has as much European heritage as African, but those things don't seem to matter when it comes to race. It's solely about the color of one's skin. I hope we as a society get past this during my daughter's generation.

This is an ignorant thread. All AA's in this area are biracial. It is the white and self-identified biracial people that are constantly trying to deny the AA heritage. In my generation, this was known and understood which is why we got rid of the paper bag test (test based on the color of one's skin) here in DC which you posters seem intent on bringing back. Tell your AA parent or grandparent to take a swab test for their genetics and maybe you will get a clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biracial and my child looks white. She is who she thinks she is and not what any other human being would select for her. Jesus put her in her skin for his reasons. Enough of these race police trying to overstep him.

I completely agree with you, but my child happens to look black. I wish I could let her decide who she thinks she is instead of society telling her. She has as much European heritage as African, but those things don't seem to matter when it comes to race. It's solely about the color of one's skin. I hope we as a society get past this during my daughter's generation.

This is an ignorant thread. All AA's in this area are biracial. It is the white and self-identified biracial people that are constantly trying to deny the AA heritage. In my generation, this was known and understood which is why we got rid of the paper bag test (test based on the color of one's skin) here in DC which you posters seem intent on bringing back. Tell your AA parent or grandparent to take a swab test for their genetics and maybe you will get a clue.

What in the world are you talking about? This post sounds ignorant.