Tom Brady…all that different?

I have no idea what Tom Brady has been going through as far as trying to balance twenty-plus years of playing in the NFL and being there for his wife and children.  And yet I do know what he’s been going through.  A week ago, Brady and his wife Gisele Bündchen ended their very public marriage after thirteen years.  At times, the elite NFL quarterback and the world renown supermodel have seemingly been fairly open about his playing career over the course of more than two decades and its impact on their relationship and their children.  Not too long ago, Gisele talked about growing apart and “wanting Brady to retire” which he did at the end of last season, at least for a short while.

Sport is often called a microcosm of society for a reason.  And yet many sport commentators and journalists want to make Brady out to be one of a kind because of his fame and fortune and the fishbowl in which he lives.  Yes, he has pressures and public scrutiny that I can’t imagine.  His competitiveness and passion for the game of football is off the charts.  Even Gisele has admitted that.  And that can be a double-edged sword.  That unbelievable passion for your career can make it difficult to find the time or energy to be there for your kids or your wife for that matter.  Prior to their breakup, Gisele said she’d like Tom to be “more present;” a tough thing to do given his love for the game of football and all that he puts into being the best.

There are those who argue that elite athletes and coaches have more pressure on them than fathers in other lines of work.  I don’t buy it; pressure comes in all shapes and sizes.  And it’s not just about the demands of the profession, it’s also about the demands of one’s family situation.  For instance, what about the father who has to balance two jobs to support his family, all the while being there for his stay-at-home wife and his child who has a serious lifelong disability?

Rather than pressure, it seems to me that commitment to one’s family is of paramount importance.  Certainly, making that lifelong commitment is extremely difficult.  It means putting your family first and laying it all on the line for your children and wife.  So much of the discussion around Tom and Gisele has revolved around what’s best for them.  And yet being a good daddy requires a realignment of sorts, as Brady is discovering.  Brady now says his focus is on his children as well as winning football games.

In her book Lessons:  My Path to a Meaningful Life, published only a few years ago, Gisele writes, “…I love my husband – and most of all, I trust him.  With Tom, who provides our family with a stable foundation, I’m able to create a home.”  That home looks different now, but the need for commitment, cooperation. and trust continue.  It won’t be easy for Brady, the father, but then again it never is.

According to the Pew Research Center, many fathers today (about half) find it “very” or “somewhat difficult” to balance work and family life.  Brady is no different.  Many fathers today (about 30%) say they “always feel rushed” trying to balance their responsibilities.  Brady is no different.  Finally, many Americans (about half) say men face a lot of pressure to be an involved parent.  Certainly, Brady is very familiar with pressure.  On the football field he thrives on it.  But family is a different kind of pressure, with its own rewards.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness 

Links to more from Dr. Bucher…

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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The N-Word: When Can Whites Use It?

“The N-word “is arguably the most consequential social insult in American history, according to Randall Kennedy, a professor at Harvard Law School.  Two decades ago, he wrote a book simply entitled n—–: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word.

Throughout history, the N-word has frequently and casually been used by people of diverse positions and backgrounds, including U.S. Presidents, Senators, and Supreme Court Justices.  In the words of Maya Angelou, the N-word has evolved into something that is “vulgar and dangerous.”

Kennedy, in his searing book, discusses the use of the N-word by Whites and Blacks alike.  For example, he talks about Chris Rock, who uses the N word liberally, but also makes it clear that Whites can’t say things about Blacks that Blacks say about themselves.  For many, the N-word is a cover for white racism.

Recently, the Pew Research Center asked U.S. adults about their views on the use of the N-word.  7 in 10 adults say it’s never acceptable for Whites to use the N-word.  Interestingly, 4 in ten adults say it’s never acceptable for Blacks to say it.

As a sociologist, I tend to focus on the social context of language.  In other words, in what setting is the word being used, whose using it, who is the audience, and what led up to its use?  With virtually every word we use, context means everything.

Robert Sraver, the owner of the NBA Phoenix Suns, was recently suspended, in part, because he frequently used the N-word.  His excuse?  “He was just saying what he heard someone else say.” Evidently, Sarver, who is White, is one of the Whites studied by Pew who say it’s OK to use it sometimes.

Before I get ahead of myself, I need to come clean.  More than two decades ago, I was teaching Introduction to Sociology at Baltimore City Community College.  I had assigned an excerpt from a book I read at Colgate University, The Autobiography of Malcolm X.  The direct quote I read word-for-word to our class came from a discussion Malcolm X had with his English teacher, Mr. Ostrowski.  After Malcolm mentioned he was thinking of becoming a lawyer, Ostrowski responded, “A lawyer—that’s no realistic goal for a n—–.  You need to think about something you can be.”

After class, one of my African American students wanted to see me in my office.  When we met, he accused me of being a racist because I used the N-word.  His accusation blindsided me.  I mentioned I was simply reading Malcolm X’s own words straight from the book, but he would have none of that.  As he saw it, I was a white guy showing my true colors.  That experience taught me a valuable lesson.  It’s never, ever appropriate for a White person to use the N-word.

For Whites, the N-word overrides and obliterates context.  It’s that powerful.  The circumstances don’t matter.  The timing doesn’t matter.  The audience and whose saying it doesn’t matter.  Pure and simple, don’t ever use it.

 

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness 

Links to more from Dr. Bucher…

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Why Howard U:  A White Guy Explains (Part Two of Two)

With a year of teaching under my belt, I started thinking about getting my Ph.D. in sociology.  I was teaching a full-time load (five courses) at Baltimore City Community College.  Married a couple of years earlier, I was a new father.

As discussed in my previous post, I pared my list to three universities within driving distance:  American, Johns Hopkins, and Howard.

Hopkins was closest to my home and place of work, so I scheduled my initial interview with them.  After going over my transcript and recommendations, it became clear that their interest in me was dependent on attending full-time.  That clearly wasn’t going to happen, given that I had to support my family.  Down to two.

Next came American U.  I hardly remember the interview, but do recall that nothing really grabbed me, nothing stood out.

That left Howard.  It was the Mecca of Black Colleges located in Washington D.C., the nation’s “Chocolate City,” a term used by Cornel West in his book Race Matters.  Howard stood out for a number of reasons.  It:

  • had a strong reputation as being one of the best places to study race and ethnic relations.
  • would radically challenge me, personally and professionally.
  • would help me relate to my students, most of whom were African American.
  • was viewed as the most prestigious HBC in the country

I clearly remember meeting with Dr. James Scott, Chair of Howard’s Sociology Department.  He was warm, interested in my academic background and family, and most importantly, made it clear that Howard wanted me.  Interestingly, he would later head up my dissertation committee.

After the interview, I discovered Howard’s sociology department was only a few years old.  This made me a bit uncomfortable.  Other soc majors pursuing their Ph.D. shared Howard was putting them through the wringer.  Supposedly, the Department wasn’t taking any chances; weeding out anyone who couldn’t cut it.

But the more I thought about Howard, the more there was to like.  It was very affordable which was crucial since I wasn’t eligible for a scholarship.  It was a little more than an hour from my home or my place of work.  And I could teach my full load at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC), commute to Howard, and then return to BCCC if necessary for a night class before heading home.

The fact that Howard was 99% Black was a positive.  At BCCC, I had grown accustomed to teaching in a historically Black college environment.  I enjoyed my students, and probably learned as much if not more from them as they learned from me.  Howard would stretch me academically, fit into my budget, and allow me to earn my Ph.D. in a relatively short period of time or so I thought.  Time was of the essence, especially with a growing family in the near future.  Clearly, it was a business decision for me.  But they wanted me, and that was huge.  In retrospect, I couldn’t have made a better choice, for all the reasons above.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness 

Links to more from Dr. Bucher…

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Why Go to Howard U:  A White Guy Explains

Howard University’s The Illtop Journal, sponsored by comic genius Chris Rock, opened with a piece titled “white student’s guide to howard u.”  Chuck O’Fay, the name given for the author of this humorous piece, describes some observations he made as a student at Howard.  One in particular had to do with dating.  “If you’re a white guy and you think a “sister” is checking you out you’re probably wrong.  She’s just wondering what the hell you’re doing at Howard.” 😊

Milverton Saint, an African American blogger, argues against Whites attending Howard, stating, “There isn’t a single example in the entirety of human history of one white person coming into a Black space and allowing it to remain a Black space.”  He goes on to say that Whites who are allies should support Black space in colleges, not dilute it.  When I went to Skidmore College, an all-women’s college at the time, I heard this same argument.  Skidmore’s culture would be irreparably harmed if it admitted male students.  Soon thereafter, yours truly along with 15 male students from Colgate attended Skidmore as part of the Colgate Skidmore exchange program (note:  in return, Skidmore sent 16 female students to Colgate, an all-men’s school).  Both Colgate and Skidmore are now coed.

Recently, Dr. Wayne Frederick, the President of Howard, issued this powerful statement; “Howard has a unique responsibility to provide opportunities for talented Black individuals to uncover the truth, debunk stereotypes, and inspire children of color to believe that anything they can dream they may also achieve.”  Given that Howard is referred to as “The Mecca” for Black education and empowerment, some might ask why a White guy like me took a space that could and should go to a Black student?

The vast majority of Howard students still are African American and female.  Whites made up around 1 percent of the student population when I attended.  Nevertheless, Howard students have always been extremely diverse, representing a rich mix of cultures, countries, faiths, and social backgrounds.

As a white graduate of Howard who spent 7 years at the Mecca working toward my Ph.D. degree, I have been asked more times than I can remember why in the world I decided to go to Howard.  It might help to share that this decision was not rushed; I did my homework when it came time to pick a graduate school in the area.  I wanted to go somewhere part-time since I was teaching full-time at Baltimore City Community College and supporting my family at the time.  Also, I was interested in pursuing my work in the field of sociology, having most recently earned my Master’s Degree in soc at New York University.

I narrowed my search down to four colleges and universities that offered doctorate degrees in sociology – Johns Hopkins, American, Howard, and Delaware.  I researched all these campuses and visited the first three, once I figured Delaware was a bit too far.  Why I chose Howard might surprise you.

–to be continued

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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A Relaxing Summer Vacation without Aggravation Is Still a Luxury for Many Minorities  

Woodbine Cottage, Lake George NY

“Modern hotel, air conditioned, television, good food, variety of amusement sports. Protection for the Negro traveler.  Contact Samuel ‘Pinky’ McFerson and his wife Dorothy (proprietors).”

Protection for the Negro traveler?  In Lake George, a resort situated in the Adirondacks, a rural region where many visit each summer to get away from it all?  The Woodbine Cottage was included in The Traveler’s Green Book (1963-1964 edition).  This book, which listed restaurants, gas stations, theaters, bars, and hotels, was referred to as the “Bible of Black Travelers.”  So if you were Black and planning on taking a vacation at Lake George in the 60s, the Woodbine Cottage was one place where you could be pretty sure of a safe stay without aggravation.

Many vacationers, even today, don’t have the luxury of going anywhere and leaving their stress and problems behind.  In Souls of Black Folk (1903), the eminent black scholar W. E. B. Du Bois addressed the critical importance of something Blacks have historically done for survival when they hit the road or take a vacation.  They step outside of themselves, constantly.  Du Bois refers to double consciousness as someone’s awareness of his or her own perspective and the perspective of others.  Double consciousness allowed Black and other racial and ethnic minorities to be as safe as possible.

For instance, Roberto, a Latino, talks about his father taking road trips in the Color of Fear.  “When my father hit Texas, he never stopped.  He went straight through Texas.  I mean he must have stopped for food.  I can’t believe that – I don’t ever remember stopping.  I know we didn’t stop to sleep.  I mean he wanted to get out of that state as fast as he could.”

While Roberto’s father lived in another era, many minorities today still know they can’t just head out with no specific plan in mind.  Forget about getting away from it all.  One black traveler’s double consciousness helps her plan.  For example, which towns her family should avoid, or at the very least drive through without stopping; when to use a credit card to buy gas so they can avoid person-to-person contact; and where it’s safe to spend the night.  Spontaneity and fun detours give way to meticulous planning.  For many, going it “alone” gives way to letting people know where you are each step of the way.  Long meandering trips give way to shorter trips where you have a better feel for what you might encounter.  And for some, relaxation, feeling like you belong, avoiding stress and leaving one’s worries at home is still a luxury.

Victor Green, the author of the Traveler’s Green Book, included a brief section, “Your Rights.”  One of those rights was being able to go on a “vacation without aggravation.”  In the 1948 edition of the Book, he wrote, “There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published.”  After more than seven decades, that day is still not here.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Awareness, Acceptance… Something’s Missing When It Comes to Autism

In recent months, there’s been a push by the autism community to replace the word “awareness” with “acceptance;” to move on from simply promoting awareness to bringing about acceptance and inclusion of individuals on the spectrum.  What’s the big deal you might ask?

As the father of a middle-aged autistic man, I recently tried to make an appointment with my gastroenterologist in Frederick, Maryland.  My wife and I like him a lot, he seems to listen well and knows his stuff.  When it came time for our son Jimmy to have his first colonoscopy, my wife and I naturally thought of him.  We called his office and told his staff a bit about Jimmy but made it clear he’s extremely well-behaved and cooperative.  Before making an appointment for Jimmy, the staff wanted to check with the doctor.

After a few days, a staff member informed us that we should go to Mercy Hospital in Baltimore to get this procedure done.  When we asked why, they said 1) the doctor doesn’t feel sufficiently qualified, and 2) he feels it takes a certain kind of person to “handle them.”  I then asked if I could talk with the doctor, but was told I needed to make an appointment and there would be a charge.

Autism awareness doesn’t necessarily lead to autism acceptance in health care.  A lack of acceptance can stem from a number of factors, including misinformation about individuals on the spectrum, a lack of insight into the disability, and a lack of willingness to serve individuals who might require a little more time, patience, and preparation.

In my writing and teaching, I highlight the critical importance of awareness and acceptance in valuing diversity.  But there’s another component of diversity consciousness that’s absolutely critical but often ignored, and that is understanding.  (see Bucher, Diversity Consciousness: Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities)

My guess is our local gastroenterologist, like many others, lacks understanding of the breadth and complexity of the autism spectrum.  My guess is that he has minimal knowledge of what autism is and isn’t.  My guess is that he’s reluctant to take my son on as a patient because he buys into many of the myths that surround us.

Myths such as?  Autistic people (or patients) are anti-social.  Autistic people (or patients) are not cooperative.  Autistic people (or patients) are difficult to relate to.  Autistic people (or patients) lack the ability to control their emotions.  Autistic people (or patients) require “specialists” who have special training in serving those with intellectual disabilities.  Autistic people (or patients) require a great deal of time and energy.

While some of these myths possess a sliver of truth, they’re all stereotypes that take a very diverse category of people and make them all out to be alike.  Yes, understanding any group takes time and effort.  But it allows us to transform ourselves and appreciate others.  For two years, I researched a book that I ended up writing about my son and my family.  The understanding that I developed during that time allows me to be a better father I think, someone who is even more tuned into the needs of his son and family, and someone who is even more committed to promoting diversity consciousness in our communities.

Awareness, understanding, and acceptance are all necessary; all are interrelated and feed off each other.  By the way, we’ve moved on to another gastroenterologist in the area.  Also, my wife and I are moving on from this doc as well.  If our son is not “qualified” to be his patient, we aren’t either.  Unfortunately, the gastroenterologist that we just left has no idea what he’s missing.  Jimmy is one cool guy.  Just ask his other doctors who also practice in Frederick.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Will Smith did a “bad thing,” but he needs our help

In his recent blog, “Will Smith Did a Bad, Bad Thing,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar argues that the actor’s slap at the just held Oscars perpetuated racial stereotypes.  And while I agree, I only agree to a certain extent.  It’s all too easy to forget that Smith can’t perpetuate racial stereotypes all by himself.  He needs help; lots of it.

In the eyes of many, the so-called “slap” of Chris Rock gave credence to long-held, negative stereotypes about Black men, namely that all Black men are prone to physical outbursts and violence (even those who are highly educated and well-to-do).  It’s important to remember that stereotypes aren’t only a mild exaggeration, they go way beyond.  These stereotypes, or images in our minds, can only take hold if they have a receptive audience.

A receptive audience is prone to take this single incident and blow it all out of proportion.  If we’re talking stereotypes, it’s no longer just about Will Smith; rather our propensity for violence becomes a racial thing.  What then makes an audience receptive?  While the answer to this question is complex, a few things stand out.

We become a receptive audience when we:

Isolate ourselves from others who don’t look, and perhaps think like us.  As a white guy, I have spent the last 40 years or so of my life immersed in racially and ethnically diverse populations.  But I’m not sure immersed is accurate, since I could retreat to my white suburban neighborhood after work.  But let’s be clear.  I can live an isolated existence in an integrated neighborhood.  I can find myself teaching in an integrated school and know very little about my students or the communities in which they live.

Rely on the media to tell us what we need to know about Blacks or any group for that matter.  If we rely on the media to inform ourselves about Blacks, we might unconsciously assume that Will Smith is just like those other violent Blacks on tv and social media who react impulsively and with little regard for the sanctity of human life.  It goes without saying that we can be critical of those Black images as well.  After attending Howard University, my mind was less and less apt to gravitate to images that portray Black men as violent.  Why?  As a student at a Historically Black College, I was constantly confronted with tons of images that showed Black men to be scholars, thoughtful, caring, and humble.

View race as a biological rather than a socially constructed label.  The perception of black men as innately violent has a long, racist history.  Dating back to slavery, the perception of black male violence has been used as a form of social control and denigration.  White male violence on the other hand is not racialized; it’s simply violence.  When Denzel Washington explained the slap as the work of the devil, I believe he was portraying Smith’s transgressions as an individualistic act, an act if you will that had nothing to do with race.

Hesitate or even refuse to step outside of ourselves and our comfort zones.  When I stay inside my own little social cocoon, I’m more comfortable and less challenged.  At Baltimore City Community College, a historically Black institution where I taught for four decades, my teaching style pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I was a “sponge” when I interacted with my students; I asked open-ended questions that promoted soul-searching.  In the course of difficult dialogues that put a premium on becoming vulnerable, probing for the truth, and showing respect, my students and I engaged stereotypes time and time again.  We discovered how similar we are, regardless of race, and we also became much more aware of the differences within racial groups.

Jump to conclusions and avoid critical thinking.  As a professor, I know what a difference it makes to be able to think deeply about race and other dimensions of diversity.  Asking questions, reserving judgement, and analyzing evidence are all part of the process of searching for truth and debunking stereotypes.  In light of the current concern being expressed about doing this very thing at school, there’s a tendency to avoid the subject of race and/or sterilize it in a way that makes it palpable to the masses.  If anything, this will further perpetuate stereotypes.

 

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Students Make Themselves Heard:  The Central Park Exonerated Five:  Part 4 (of 4)

Previously:

As a White professor teaching sociology and diversity at a Historically Black College (Baltimore City Community College), I often dealt with sensitive and potentially divisive issues.

Roughly 3 decades ago, one of my Intro Soc students raised a tough question.   Was the first chapter of our Intro Soc book – Society:  The Basics (by John Macionis) full of racial stereotypes?  Some background.  Throughout Chapter One, the author talked about the Central Park Five to illustrate the sociological perspective.  His analysis relied on media accounts and findings of the justice system, both of which supported a guilty verdict for these five young Black and Brown men.  After an open and sometimes heated discussion, the students wrote Dr. Macionis and shared their concerns.  To John’s credit, he not only responded in writing but also flew to Baltimore to sit down and talk with my students.  What ensued was a learning opportunity for all of us.

 On page 2 of his text, Dr. Macionis wrote, “…the boys (14 to 16 years-old) offered no sensible explanation for their crime beyond seeking the excitement of what they called a night of “wilding” (an important distinction:  later it came out the boys actually said they were “wilin’ out,” slang for having fun or hanging out; not wilding).  Macionis continues, ”Thus this terrible event provoked people everywhere to confront the basic question:  What makes people do the things they do?”  (author’s italics)

We now know that these five young men were falsely accused of raping and beating a white female jogger in Central Park.  There was a speedy trial and a speedy response.  Those charged in 2002 were exonerated after a serial rapist confessed to this crime, and a positive DNA match corroborated his story.  Five young men, ranging in age from 14 to 16 years, served between five and twelve years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit.  Now middle-aged men; it left an indelible scar on them.

How many of us heard of this story but until now, didn’t know they were exonerated?  And how many of us know they’ve been exonerated but still assume they’re guilty despite overwhelming evidence.  Research by Natalie Byrd, who covered the case for a major NYC newspaper, found that less than 5 percent of the many stories that came out after the attack referred to The Five’s alleged role. (Savage Portrayals:  Race, Media and the Central Park Jogger Story).  To this very day, former President Trump refuses to acknowledge their innocence and refuses to apologize for calling The Five “muggers” and publicly pushing for their execution.

That’s the nature of deep-seated racial bias.  Even in the face of evidence that proves us wrong, we hold on to untruths about certain people because that’s what we’ve been taught over and over again.  That’s not just true of our former president, it’s true of people in general, of us.  Unlearning long-held, inflexible ideas about black or brown youth or any other race or social group for that matter is unbelievably difficult, but it can be done.

Ava DuVernay, who directed the documentary “When They See Us,” interviewed each of the five young men.  Their forced false confessions were an indictment of the legal system, a system that rushed to judgement and pushed hard for a guilty plea from the get-go.  And rather than critically evaluating what may or may not have taken place, the media simply caved into social and political pressure and fed the public what many assumed was true and wanted to hear.

Perceptions are sociological, in that they have everything to do with our cultural milieu.  Culture, if you will, is the screen through which we see and process information.  Hence the title, “When They See Us.”  It refers to the many youth of color who continue to be dehumanized, blamed, judged and accused on the spot when a crime takes place.

My Intro Soc students taught me a valuable lesson, one of many that semester.  It’s a lesson I wouldn’t have learned if not for a classroom climate that valued diversity and encouraged questions as well as honesty.  Dr. Macionis benefited as well.  He agreed to take out any reference to the Central Park Five in future editions of his widely-used Intro Soc text and sent each of the students who met with him a copy of the new edition once it came out.

 

Note:  I recently watched Ava DuVernay’s excellent television miniseries (Netflix), “When They See Us,” which got me thinking about this class.  DuVernay does an excellent job of humanizing the five boys (now men) who were referred to as The Central Park Five, and years later were exonerated.  I highly recommend it.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Students Make Themselves Heard:  The Central Park Exonerated Five: Part 3 (of 4)

Previously:

As a White professor teaching sociology and diversity at a Historically Black college (Baltimore City Community College), I regularly dealt with sensitive and potentially divisive issues.

This particular day, one of my Intro Soc students raised a question on the second day of class.  Why was the first chapter of our Intro Soc book – Society: The Basics (by John Macionis) full of racial stereotypes?  What ensued was a learning opportunity for all of us.

As mentioned earlier, Andrea wrote a letter on behalf of the class expressing their concerns about Chapter One.  After about three weeks ,  Andrea got a response in the mail from  Dr. Macionis.  She informed the class the author wanted to fly to Baltimore and meet with us.  We were encouraged that Dr. Macionis would want to take the time to discuss our concerns in person.  To my way of thinking, John knew my students’ life experiences were not typical of the average college student, and he knew he needed to hear what they had to say.  In depth.

John arrived shortly thereafter and a group of us met him at our library.  After introductions, my students began to make themselves heard in a respectful but heartfelt manner.  Listening intently, he apologized to those students who saw his discussion of the Central Park Five in Chapter One as one more example of racial stereotyping.  He made it clear this wasn’t his intent at all.

To elaborate, throughout Chapter One of the first edition of Society: The Basics, Macionis discussed the Central Park Five in a way that assumed their guilt.  Chapter One even poses the question, “Why do people (e.g., these boys) do the things they do?”  Macionis then continued his analysis of The Central Park Five.  Knowing these five boys (four African-Americans and one Latino) were teens, knowing they were economically disadvantaged minorities, and knowing they were boys are the kinds of things a sociologist might take into consideration to understand this case better.

On John’s website, he states he still does work the old-fashioned way – by himself.  He continues, “all the content…is done “in house” so you (the reader) can have complete confidence in accuracy and quality.”  Unfortunately, John and I didn’t do our homework years ago.  We assumed these young men were in fact guilty because that was the judgement handed down by the criminal justice system in 1989.  What’s more, their guilt was accepted at face value by the mainstream media.  Even Donald Trump jumped on the bandwagon at the time and called for the executions of the Central Park Five in a full-page newspaper ad that appeared in The New York Times.

One of the exonerated men, Yusef Salaam, recently shared, “Had Donald Trump has his way…we would have been dead.”

–to be continued

 

Note:  I recently watched Ava DuVernay’s excellent television miniseries (Netflix), “When They See Us,” which got me thinking about this class.  DuVernay does an excellent job of humanizing the five boys (now men) who were referred to as The Central Park Five, and years later were exonerated.  I highly recommend it.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

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Students Make Themselves Heard: The Central Park Five :  Part 2 (of 4)

Previously:

As a White professor teaching sociology and diversity at a Historically Black college (Baltimore City Community College), I often dealt with sensitive and potentially divisive issues.

This particular day, one of my Intro Soc students raised a question on the second day of class.  Why was the first chapter of our Intro Soc book (by John Macionis) full of racial stereotypes?  What ensued was a learning opportunity for all of us.

John Macionis, Professor of Sociology at Kenyon College in Ohio, recently retired from full time teaching.  To the best of my knowledge, the 15th edition of Society: The Basics was the last.  We were using the first edition in 1992, a little more than two years after the incident dubbed the Central Park Five.  Before I continue, I should mention that my sociology colleagues and I felt his text was superior to any other intro soc books on the market.

For the last few years, a great deal has been written about diversity and its place in the curriculum.  But what is sometimes forgotten is that if students sense a warm and supportive classroom climate, they are often more likely than their professor to introduce diversity and other sensitive issues into the curriculum.

As I mentioned earlier, Andrea asked a tough, excellent question that I felt merited a meaningful response.  In some ways, I think I was being tested since I remember being the only White individual in a class of 25 or so African Americans.  And we hardly knew each other.  I suggested to the class that given the way they feel, they should write a letter to the author.  Class was winding down so Andrea took the lead and said she’d draft a letter and bring it to our next class.

When we met, Andrea volunteered to read her letter out loud.

Dear Professor Macionis:

I am a 22 year-old college student.  I am studying to be a nurse.  We are using your textbook in one of my courses, Introduction to Sociology.  I am writing because many of my classmates and I were concerned with the first chapter and some of the things you wrote.  You began with a highly publicized incident in which a woman jogger was attacked by a number of teenage boys in New York City.  Throughout the chapter you continued to give an explanation on why the attackers committed such a crime.  Using the sociological perspective, you characterized the attackers as young males who were economically and socially disadvantaged minorities.  You went on to say that their social background played a major role in their behavior.

The first chapter in this book is like so many other sources of information on minorities.  It preys on the negative.  I think it is also important to point out that many minority group members do not engage in this type of behavior.  These events can also be considered a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Some young boys are constantly exposed to this type of negative reporting, so they just act out other people’s expectations of them.

I do not want you to think my feelings toward this first chapter are irrational or inflexible by any means.  Hopefully, this letter reflects my dissatisfaction with the constant negativity on any race or minority.

Sincerely,

Andrea and our SOC 101 class

After discussing the letter for a few minutes, the class asked Andrea to send it to Dr. Macionis.  Since I knew of John from work I’d done with his publisher, I provided Andrea with his contact information.  Then we waited, hoping we would hear from him.

–to be continued

Note:  I recently watched Ava DuVernay’s excellent television miniseries (Netflix), “When They See Us,” which got me thinking about this class.  DuVernay does an excellent job of humanizing the five boys (now men) who were referred to as The Central Park Five, and years later were exonerated.  I highly recommend it.

Check out:

Dr. Bucher’s Web site on Diversity Consciousness:  Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities 

Buy Dr. Bucher’s book – Diversity Consciousness

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Diversity Consciousness  Links to more from Dr. Bucher

Dr. Bucher’s Facebook page on Autism

Dr. Bucher’s Website for his book A MOMMY, A DADDY, TWO SISTERS AND A JIMMY:  AUTISM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

 

Next blog:  Part Three

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