In Chapter five of Teaching Toward the 24th Century, Karen Anijar speaks to how different ethnic minority groups are treated in the movies…as a joke, but unfortunately, this is not far from the truth in how they are treated in real life. From my experience, indigenous people, hispanics, blacks, latino’s, anyone that is not “white” or “WASP” (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant), has experienced some time of racism; “they have been humiliated, harassed, ignored, denied entrance, or a seat, from restaurants to theatres, to schools, work and even hospitals”. (p.160) Considering in this day and age, it’s a sad state of affairs but unfortunately, it’s reality.
One would hope that by using popular culture movies such as Spike Lees' “Do the Right Thing”, or Steven Spielberg's “Schindler’s List” in the classroom, teachers could educate students about the differences and similarites of people, and to appreciate and have respect for these differences. However, teachers will always be fighting an up-hill battle. I say this because we have influential public figures such as Donald Trump, who is running for, some would say, the most powerful position in the United States, making discriminatory, derogative remarks about illegal Mexicans and referring to them as “killers” and “rapist”. In the past we have taught students about the history of the fall of the Berlin Wall, while Trumps plans on erecting a wall to separate the United States and Mexico.
Perhaps the challenge will be to help students realize that the “Donald Trumps” of this world will always exist, and they will continually try to assert their own beliefs and propaganda on others, but it will be up to them to try and wade through the sea of hatred and lies, and surface with an understanding of acceptance and respect for others.
References:
Anijar, K. (2003). Teaching Toward the 24th Century: Star Trek as Social Curriculum. New York: Falmer Press.
One would hope that by using popular culture movies such as Spike Lees' “Do the Right Thing”, or Steven Spielberg's “Schindler’s List” in the classroom, teachers could educate students about the differences and similarites of people, and to appreciate and have respect for these differences. However, teachers will always be fighting an up-hill battle. I say this because we have influential public figures such as Donald Trump, who is running for, some would say, the most powerful position in the United States, making discriminatory, derogative remarks about illegal Mexicans and referring to them as “killers” and “rapist”. In the past we have taught students about the history of the fall of the Berlin Wall, while Trumps plans on erecting a wall to separate the United States and Mexico.
Perhaps the challenge will be to help students realize that the “Donald Trumps” of this world will always exist, and they will continually try to assert their own beliefs and propaganda on others, but it will be up to them to try and wade through the sea of hatred and lies, and surface with an understanding of acceptance and respect for others.
References:
Anijar, K. (2003). Teaching Toward the 24th Century: Star Trek as Social Curriculum. New York: Falmer Press.