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Author Topic: Students laughing at black characters, help!  (Read 7289 times)

Offline GrenWhit

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Students laughing at black characters, help!
« on: March 25, 2011, 10:19:25 am »
 I like to use pictures in class when I teach, and I like to showcase people of all sorts in my pictures.  I live in a rural area, and seeing a non-white, non-Korean during a lesson tends to draw immediate laughter and the occasional ignorant remark.  This usually turns into a mini lesson on why that is inappropriate, and can sidetrack a lesson.  I still feel like it is important.  What would you do?
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Offline Artist Formerly Known as Moderator Jason

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2011, 10:23:26 am »
When they hired you they hired your culture and upbringing as well.  Do some things about you and yourself.  If you are personally offended to something that no one else is, tell them.  Even wierd stuff.  For example, you could be some excentric religous person from some religon no one ever heard of and it offends you for someone to *insert some wierd oddity here*

If anything, it is their introduction to globalization.  They need to see everything so they can understand and accept it. Do things about you and things about the rest of all western cultures.  I use a little of every culture in my lessons.
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Offline summerthyme

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2011, 10:27:23 am »
I make a conscious effort to include pictures of people of all races/ethnic backgrounds/etc.  My new first grade students (first grade middle) make remarks, but I think my second and third graders are starting to get used to it.

I try to expose them as much as possible so they'll get used to the idea of, you know, other peoples, and hopefully won't laugh every time they see someone new and different.
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twitch

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2011, 10:28:04 am »
i don't even think about what race or colour of person i'm putting in my powerpoints. 

i know it must be a celebrity, a sports star etc just to get the students' interest.

they laugh and love it when i use jung mi-ran (korean female weightlifter), they LOVE beyonce, beckham, kpop stars (then i look extra cool because i know who the kpop stars are....lol), soccer players, justin beiber (ugh)....
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Offline dmhr25

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2011, 10:34:18 am »
It's a great idea to include people of many different races in your presentations.  I also try to use pictures of different people in what the kids may consider gender specific jobs.  For example, in the elementary sections about professions - I make sure to include pictures of male nurses, female police officers, etc.

I also try to include famous people too - just to keep it interesting to them.
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Offline GrenWhit

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2011, 10:36:31 am »
Quote from: summerthyme on March 25, 2011, 10:27:23 am
I make a conscious effort to include pictures of people of all races/ethnic backgrounds/etc.  My new first grade students (first grade middle) make remarks, but I think my second and third graders are starting to get used to it.

I try to expose them as much as possible so they'll get used to the idea of, you know, other peoples, and hopefully won't laugh every time they see someone new and different.

I do the same, but sometimes it gets frustrating.  I know a picture can't get its feelings hurt, but I don't like exposing anyone to ridicule.  For the record, I won't be changing that based on this poll, I'm just curious about how everyone else does it.  So far it's been only marginally effective, but every I guess little bit helps.
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Offline glitterstarbeau

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2011, 10:57:13 am »
I teach high school and they've actually never reacted one way or the other to someone's race.  But put up a girl in a bikini, you get a reaction.  But I think it's good to do it the same way as in America:  pictures with some white people, black people, Hispanic people and maybe an Asian person thrown in. 

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Offline WorkingTitle3484

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2011, 11:10:59 am »
I think it's essential to include pics of every size, shape, and flavor during class.  Personally, I grew up in a super diverse city in Northern Jersey (USA), and it was common to not speak English in friends' homes.  It annoys me when a vid/pic of a non-white/non-Korean comes up, and I hear some kids laughing for no reason (that's being visually displayed).  At these moments, I ask kids 'what's funny' and they hush up. 

I remember, the other day, this kid wanted to see the textbook's vid (which had a black girl) one more time.  Suspicious, I asked the class, 'Do you want to see it again?' and surprisingly, some said yes.  As I walked over to repeat it, the kid who started it said, 'Yeah, I want to see Robert's gf!' 

I stopped class, stood this kid up, and tore him a new one on why it's not funny and hurtful to say/think that.  In the end, he was really disappointed and ashamed.  I didn't care personally, but I don't want these kids to go out into the world and get stomped for laughing at someone different.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2011, 11:12:58 am by robyoung3484 »
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Offline Gunpo_Erin

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2011, 11:46:06 am »
This situation happened to me today in class.  I was teaching Elementary Grade 4 Lesson 2- THis is my sister.  We were covering the "Listen and Speak 2" portion- where Minju(korean kid) asks Lucy(an African-American child) who was in the photo.  The camera pans to a photo of an older lady- Luc's grandmother.  The kids roared with laughter and made some rude remarks(don't think they understood they were rude.).  I was taken a back and wanted to reem them out but had NO idea how or where to start. 

With that said- I think we need to include photos of all kinds of people- skinny, fat, tall, short, while, brown, black, purple, those in wheel chairs, etc. 
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Offline GrenWhit

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2011, 11:51:17 am »
I actually had a classic moment last week during a lesson on opinions, advice, and American Idol. 

We had already talked because I showed them a black finalist and they laughed at him before he even started singing (he was very good).  Then, the next video we critiqued was William Hung, and instead of laughing at his voice, they all kept asking if he was Chinese.  I told them he was Korean and they freaked out.  Most of their advice was about feeling national shame.

I know; I lied, and a lie never felt better.
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Offline raskal

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Re: To Intergrate or not to integrate (read main post before answering)
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2011, 12:03:53 pm »
I have experienced the same thing.

I say keep putting people from all walks of life in the pictures. Try to expand their tiny world view.
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Offline cadwg

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Students laughing at black characters, help!
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2011, 08:52:53 pm »
My students always laugh everytime a video clip is shown that has Kevin it it. My co-teachers told me that they laugh because he is "Black". I find this so offensive. Does this happen in your classes?
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Offline whatisinmyhead

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #12 on: April 10, 2011, 08:57:37 pm »
i dont know who black kevin is, but i avoid using pictures/videos that include black people. super homogenous society can equal offensive reactions (by western standards) to something unfamiliar. i know other teachers who have had similar experiences.
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Offline GEK

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #13 on: April 10, 2011, 09:03:44 pm »
I once asked my students why "Black Kevin" was so funny and they said it reminded them of the live "negro" African show at Everland.

I was like, "what!" 

They explained that there is a "junglish Africanish" show promoted at Everland where a large group of black folk (don't know where they're from, but Everland mostly employees Russian waygooks) parade around acting like jungle folk....

It's a funny show. 

 
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Offline SBangSan

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #14 on: April 10, 2011, 09:04:56 pm »
Is Kevin the one on "Do you like Spring" for grade 6? my kids were all cracking up and I refused to believe that was why...
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Offline plummetdown

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #15 on: April 10, 2011, 09:13:54 pm »
my students are the same, they are not use to the differences in skin color yet. They asked me if kevin was related to obama.  :o
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Offline happyBuddha

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #16 on: April 10, 2011, 09:20:23 pm »
I'm glad my students haven't been laughing at the black character in their book. I would be soooo offended and absolutely disappointed otherwise. This Everland show I'm hearing about seriously must be wrong on so many levels, but honestly from what I've been seeing on television (this is cable tv though) there have been numerous positive images of black people. That was a very pleasant surprise.
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Offline OrangeBlue

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #17 on: April 10, 2011, 09:24:13 pm »
Still a long way to go, though. I don't know about this particular book character, but I've heard plenty of the usual stories of kids crying when first meeting their new black English teacher.
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Offline happi

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #18 on: April 10, 2011, 09:59:12 pm »
i'm so sorry to hear that your kids laugh at kevin.  my students dont dare to laugh him or poke fun of other students cause they know i will not tolerate it.  maybe you should give your students 'the talk' and see what comes of it.
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Offline lishajuma

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Re: Students laughing at Kevin
« Reply #19 on: April 10, 2011, 10:14:14 pm »
I teach High school students and don't tend to have this problem. I think if your kids are laughing at a black person on TV or in a book, then I think it would be a good idea to do a lesson on differences and equality etc. I have had many interesting discussions with my students and I think it's really important to educate them on these issues, especially if you teach in the country where some students aren't exposed to different ethnicities as much as say city children. I completely disagree with the person in one of the previous posts who said they simply don't show pictures, videos etc of black people because of their students reactions. I think you are being a lazy teacher by not actually teaching them about different cultures and what appropriate behaviour is.
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