Black History Month
challenges us to find
a way to talk about race
In a speech marking Black History Month last year, Attorney General Eric Holder famously remarked that, when it comes to race, the U.S. is “essentially a nation of cowards.” He went on to say, “…if we are to make progress in this area we must feel comfortable enough with one another, and tolerant enough of each other, to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us.”
Holder’s comments are likely to strike a chord with educators who regularly face such a challenge—how to talk about sensitive topics—in the classroom. The subject of race and racism often makes people uncomfortable and even angry. It’s hard to get the conversation started, and even more difficult to keep it going in a way that is non-confrontational. The topic elicits a range of emotional responses: white students may act in a defensive manner because they feel blamed for racism, while students of color may react angrily because they have lived with racism and feel others don’t understand—or, worse, don’t care—about their experience.
While it may be, as Holder calls it, an “artificial device to generate discussion that should come more naturally,” Black History Month does offer us a valuable chance to engage in a vital conversation about race and racism. In fact, Holder suggested that “we use February of every year to not only commemorate black history but also to foster a period of dialogue among the races.”
But knowing how tense it can be, how do you create the right environment for a candid, and courageous, discussion in the classroom?
Set ground rules
Explain to students, in a positive tone, that talking about race and racism requires us to be even more respectful and generous than we usually are because this topic often causes people to become passionate, tense or even angry. Because it’s easy to hurt people’s feelings while talking about race, try setting some ground rules for communication to keep the tension at bay. The rules could be as simple as:
- Listen without interrupting
- Watch your body language
- No side conversations
- Speak for yourself, not for another or for your own whole ethnic group
Encourage a nonjudgmental environment
To encourage students to speak freely, remind them that no one in the classroom is intentionally prejudiced or racist; everyone probably has good intentions. And if someone says something that they find surprising or hurtful, have them consider the fact that the speaker may have misstated his or her opinion, may have wanted to ask a genuine question in a safe environment, or may not have known that what he or she said would cause any hurt.
Prepare for a messy conversation
In spite of your best efforts to prepare the classroom for this discussion, you may still be surprised by the range of emotions, issues, and questions that will be raised. In many cases, teachers must simply be willing to engage in the “messiness” of the conversation. Because even though they aren’t always easy, these conversations have the power to foster genuine understanding, compassion and unity.
To find more ideas, lesson plans and resources for Black History Month, please visit RaceBridgesforSchools.com.
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Tags: black history month, free lesson plans, free teacher resources, printable lesson plans, lessons for elementary teachers, educational resources, lesson plans for home schooling, starting a social justice club, embracing cultural diversity, inclusive classrooms, teacher productivity tools, easy lesson planning, African American
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