"My" people

[Dill]

(04-13-2018, 03:35 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: So these are minor things that happen all of the time. One example that happened today was a discussion we were having about globalization. Now, in a classroom of over 100, there are about 4 black students in the room. 2 of them sit right behind me (I sit in the front because I'm old and can't hear or see well ). In our talking about globalization, we have talked about hip-hop culture and the way it has spread across the world, specifically in reference to the Japanese hip-hop culture. When talking about this, and other topics that one would often associate with black people, the professor gestures more towards the black students and looks their way more often than when we are discussing topics people would associate with white people, or maybe Hispanic/Latino groups.

It's a very minor thing and it seems inconsequential to most people, but it impacts these students. The two that sit behind me talk about it sometimes and it is very interesting. I've had some conversations with them about this and how common this sort of thing is. It's not that the professor has any bad intentions or that there is any negative association the professor has, but it is a reminder to these students, and the rest of the room, that they are different and they are among us. They shrug it off because of those factors and because they are so used to it.

 does he ever call them "his" African Americans when he gestures to them? 

If I were a professor and talking about Japan to a class with some Japanese students, I might throw a glance their way occasionally, wondering how they react to what I am saying. 

But associating Japanese students with Japan does not seem to be invoking a stereotype as does associating hip hip with black students in general. Sort of like nodding to the black students when talking about watermelon.