African-Americans today? I’m not sure I want to get into that.
Africans back when slavery was in full swing? Highly debatable, IMO. At least being oppressed by starvation and poverty, you’re working for yourself, and not dependent on some foreign stranger who can beat you and rape your wife at a whim.
Yeah, but wasn’t their fault. :rolleyes:
Someone needs to tell this person that while some of these kids are the ancestors of slaves, some are quite possibly the ancestors of slave traders.
By ‘this person’, I mean Miss Hogan, of course. The smiley is directed at her too. In case that wasn’t clear.
Well my probelem with such a statement is this.
They are in all likelyhood better off NOW. Just maybe not from 1619 to 1865 or so.
Actually I find this argument slighly dishonest for one other reason. Very few “African-Americans” are completely descended from Africans. Many are heavily European and/or American Indian. A good number are, by ancestry, more ‘Caucasian’ than anything else. But we have that old one drop rule, so people with ‘trace’ amounts of African ancestry are “black”. As a result there is no way these black Americans could have really completely “stayed” in Africa is there?
I am mixed Indian and white. Perhaps some of my chromosomes owe some of my other ones an apology. But I can’t honestly wish that Columbus never came either.
Also, if we really want to nitpick, slavery is not exclusive to “black history” even in the context of the Americas. In fact many “white” people underwent slavery in the last century in Europe or the former U.S.S.R. Some people still practice slavery in Africa.
Descendents, perhaps?
Funny shit.
The same type of person? God help us.
OK, I’m an idiot.
I remember reading this in my local paper. The article said that there was an experienced black teacher who had taught the course for years, but they were transferring the course to a white teacher. I can understand why parents would be unhappy about that.
I’m a teacher myself, and while I know plenty about African-American literature, and would be happy to teach a course on the subject, I also know that many of my students will be more able to discuss the subject in depth with a black teacher, and so I would happily yield the course to a black teacher if a qualified one was available.
There’s a qualified and experienced black teacher available who has taught the course in the past. Why change?
Possible reasons:
(1) The black teacher is retiring
(2) The black teacher wants to teach something else
or hopefully…
(3) Black and white were mere coincidences, since race was not a consideration in the assignment
As to the Heidi Fleiss thing, at our school we had former drug addicts come in and talk to us about drug use, so sure, have her come teach about abstinance as long as she is teaching in accordance with the school curriculum. I see no conflict. (This is assuming Ms Fleiss would be speaking from a “reformed” pov).
I’ve heard this argument many times, invariably from white Americans. I always want to ask them if they’ve considered the converse; do you consider yourself better off for the past (enslaved) presence of Africans in your country.
Implicit in your post is, “Well they oughta be grateful to us anyhow”. In a sick sort of way.
Do you reject any notion that America owes its current hegemonic position, in large part, to its use of slavery in building the nation. Or are you grateful to the slaves, and slave traders (black, white and Arab) for the legacy they’ve left you?
It’s not your fault. You might be the ancestor of idiots.
I agree to a point. One could make the agrument that without slavery and colonization Africa might have stayed a nice place to live. Most of the problems in Africa now are caused by traditional enemies forced into the same area by lines in the sand and/or power vacuums. As I said, one could make the agrument, but I’m not the guy. My knowledge of African history is pretty poor. Any volunteers?
Are you sure, syncrolecyne? Sure my great grandmothers on both sides were Native Americans and my grandfather might have been part-European, but I’m sure that I’m mostly African descended. :Sigh: I dunno. This gets into the whole “Is there race?” can of worms and I, personally, would rather not go there.
One could also agrue that a lot of that European blood wasn’t put there consentually, at least before this half of this century. Sure there were exceptions back then, Jefferson and Sally Hemmings being one, but just because a person is born of a race doesn’t make them part of the culture. That agrument could turn very bad also.
Let’s turn to one thing we can all agree on. The woman in the OP is a total tool. I actually feel a bit bad for her being that ignorant. Reminds me of a lot of my relatives. 
I’m not happy that my ancestors on one side of the family were Welsh coal miners, dirt poor, nearly slaves in their own right.
They worked for starvation wages in bad conditions for long hours, and generally died young. This was the case on both sides of the Atlantic.
I’m also not overjoyed that my ancestors on the other side of the family were Italian peasants, that finally gave up on their native land to become penniless laborers in America. My great-grandfather and great grandmother both died in their late twenties, shortly after their arrival here. My grandfather and his siblings were raised in foster homes.
While I’m not overjoyed by this history, I’m not overly upset over it either. Many families have similar histories. The history of average people in the world has historically been a miserable one.
It says something about this country that I and most of my relatives are now professionals and homeowners. We are in happy marriages for the most part, and usually die at a ripe old age after a pleasant retirement.
We’ve come a long way from the old days. I hope this is the message of the class in question, though I doubt it.
I’ll go with that.
[slight hijack]
I am reminded of something I saw on the news a few years ago. I think it was on 11/8/2000. After a number of little old Jewish ladies were complaining that their presidential votes might not have been counted, a number of Republicans turned out in force to protest… something or other. I guess that they were unhappy that Bush didn’t win by a larger margin. And they were PISSED.
Anyway, one particularly enraged black male shouted into the camera (paraphrased), “Democrats are evil! They supported slavery and they’re going to bring it back!.”
Yeah. Gore’s entire platform was built on the promise of restoring slavery. :rolleyes: Assmunch.
[/slight hijack]
Actually, I heard a gentleman of color mention his dichotomous feelings about this the other day. (Can’t find a link, but will post it if I do.) On the one hand he felt bad for the suffering his ancestors went through. On the other hand he was very appreciative to be living in the USA instead of Africa today. He, and Airman Doors, never said that slavery was a GOOD thing but that there had been a positive, if totally unintended, consequence of his great-great-grandparents’ bondage.
Agreed!
All Black history teachers teaching European history (or any history dealing with predominately white people) should be fired immediately.
Heh.
In ninth grade, my Alabama History teacher was black. In 10th grade, my Western Civilization teacher was black. (He used to regale us with stories of his past life, when he was a chief of the Mandingo tribe.)
Never (till now) occurred to me that they shouldn’t be teaching those subjects due to their race. I was stupid enough to believe they were teachers based on their merits.
Just call me a crazy white boy.
Airman Doors:
I think it’s the prospect of having someone with this perspective teach the class that bothers Ms. Hogan.
How White is too White to teach in tis school?
How does one determine one’s relative level of Whitness (Whitcosity? Whatever.)
Does one drop of White blood make one White?