[EDEQUITY Immigrant Dialogue] Self-condemnation among our children

From: Marta I. Cruz-Janzen (cruzjanzen@ACC.FAU.EDU)
Date: Fri Feb 09 2001 - 10:16:30 EST


My dissertation research, Curriculum and the Self-Identity and Self-Concept
of
Biethnic and Biracial Persons, documents the impact of invisibility from
the
schools' curricula on students. Although it focused on biethnic and
biracial
persons, I think the message is the same. When children do not see
themselves
represented in curricular materials and programs, particularly in a
positive
light, they internalize the negative stereotypes. Gloria Ladson Billings
has
written about this and coined the concept, self-condemnation. James Banks,
Christine Sleeter, Carl Banks, and several respected multiculturalists have

written about this. Yes, it is a severe concerns. We know that knowledge is

power and those who control the knowledge also control the power. I wrote
an
article titled: Invisibility: The Language Bias of Political Control and
Power. It appears in Annual Editions: Multicultural Education 98/99
(Dushkin/Mcgraw-Hill). I write that it is not only what students of color
are
taught but what they are not taught that hurts them. They are taught that
they
have never contributed anything worth mentioning and that they are
failures,
drug abusers, criminals, lazy, etc. They are not taught about the enormous

contributions their ancestors have made to this world civilization and
nation.

Marta Cruz-Janzen
<cruzjanzen@ACC.FAU.EDU>

>Message from Susan J. Smith <ssmith@edc.org>

It's been a terrific discussion. I'm learning so much from all who have
contributed to the conversation. In reading the panelists' postings, I was
struck by how many of you became interested in studying/working on issues
related to immigrant girls because of your own experiences. I think it is
important to have role models like you as teachers and principals as well
as scholars and activists.



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