Your enormous reply:
1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
Reply to at least two classmates.
65 thoughts on “Discussion Board Post 4”
1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
“ Teaching versus Showing Casing”
In African culture, diversity is provided in opportunities that are showcased in clothing and dance. We as African Amercans their clothings to be different and therefore want to touch and wear them considering them to be exotic. Without taking the time out to find their actual representation. Teachers need to provide teaching points before showcasing immigrant culture. It has been proven that the current teaching force has limited knowledge of minority people and their culture. Just by going to museums and seeing handmade materials and by having parents cook different cultures’ food of a certain culture is not enough. I believe that by providing knowledge and interest in African and African American , teachers can change young minds on the educational values of African born children in US Schools. Cultural events need to be given more educational lessons than just providing excitement/entertainment.
“Repairing the African Image Through Multicultural Education”
While the United States has opened its borders to immigrants and refugees, the welcoming of migrants has not changed in the curriculums. They use Eurocentric worldview, the school textbooks In the US school system does not always paint an objective representation of Africa. Conflictingly, the image of Africa is often negative and reflects a bad image which prompts support for non western sources in teaching. In my response, schools should update these textbooks that include more representations of African in a much positive light. If no change is made, I fear that the immigrant Africans will probably grow despite their native born country and may not want to go back ( Visit ).
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
Africans are widely misunderstood for being poor, having poverty, political conflicts and breaking numerous diseases. They are often presented in such a bad image. The US has about 1.3 Million African immigrants, Nigericans being at the top. Additionally the speaker spoke on how Africans in communities support each other by communication back home so if a few people send messages back home that such an area is good, other Africans would want to migrate there, thus creating a community. Africans are amongst the most educated group and that when most come to this country given the opportunity they are often hungry for education and opportunities to do better not just for themselves but the next generation to come. Additionally I did not know about the diversity visa. I found that so interesting to be aware of now.I can especially relate to something professor Fanta stated. I myself is an immigrant from Jamaica that migrated to the United states but even though I have my citizenship I still consider myself to be Jamaica alone. I have one foot here and one foot there, Jamaica will always be my home first.
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
In my topic source we have Guest speaker Nalani Krishnankutty speaking on how Immigrants shape(d) the United States. I selected this because she spoke deeply about the hatred we have on immigrants that came to America and how it needs to change because it was mostly immigrants that helped the United State with so many major developments. It matters to know this because I believe Americans forget that this was not their land and that most of their ancestors migrated here to America for a better life away from Europe. It’s a very interesting Ted talk and I would recommend that everyone click the link to get further educated on the topic.
“Teachers need to provide teaching points before showcasing immigrant culture” Exactly!!!! Sometimes teachers just go with the basic, oh were going to learn about this culture, then show the very basics of that culture. They dont even bother searching up the culture themselves to learn it. If they put in the effort to learn about a culture, every culture can be learned about so beautifully
Your responses were very insightful and it is very clear that you are very passionate about this topic. It was so good to hear that you are deeply connected with your roots and I hope you instill those values to your children as well. It is also shocking to read textbooks created a couple of decades ago and seeing the blatant racism or misinformation in them. I was able to learn a lot from your response
Your responses were very insightful and it is very clear that you are very passionate about this topic. It was so good to hear that you are deeply connected with your roots and I hope you instill those values to your children as well. It is also shocking to read textbooks created a couple of decades ago and seeing the blatant racism or misinformation in them. I was able to learn a lot from your response.
Your responses were very insightful and it is very clear that you are very passionate about this topic. It was so good to hear that you are deeply connected with your roots and I hope you instill those values to your children as well. It is also shocking to read textbooks created a couple of decades ago and seeing the blatant racism or misinformation in them. I was able to learn a lot from your response.
I really enjoyed your response Elecia because you explained how diversity is provided in opportunities and clothing and dance and you also spoke on how teachers change young minds on educational values for African born children and how teachers need to provide more teaching points. I also enjoyed how how you spoke on how even today immigrant well Cummings has not changed in the curriculums at all and how if there’s no change how will it get any better for these African-American born immigrants. I also really enjoyed the video that you provided and your source on this topic because it really explains how immigrants shaped the United States and I really enjoy Ted talks as well .
I think you have done an amazing job on answering the questions. The responses are very complete. I carefully read the answer you gave on question three. I liked how you presented it. I also believe that Africans are widely misunderstood for being poor, having poverty, political conflicts and breaking numerous diseases. Well I believe this bad image created about them is very wrong, does not suit them at all. I personally know a lot of Africans from different countries and they are very educated and respectful, also very smart.
Learning that African Immigrants is one of the smartest individuals in the U.S. is something that was interested to me; the negative images that’s portrayed on the medium shows that African Immigrants are poor, live in poverty, and known for diseases. However, the medium never mention the positive things that African Immigrants accomplished in the United States. Reading and learning more about the African Immigrants gave me insight of the reasons why they migrated to the U.S. and how they wanted to give their family a better life.
Hi Debanie, I also was happy to learn that African immigrants are some of the smartest individuals in the US. I too grew up with the poor, diseased, pity picture that the media paints as the only picture of Africa. The negativity was heightened in the latter years with the media’s portrayal that all Africans are thieves scheming and plotting to steal if given the chance. It was nice to read and see a positive focus on African accomplishment in the US.
Hi Elecia!
Great post. I enjoyed reading and agree that teachers have very little to zero knowledge of minority people and their culture. Should I dare to say that the educators themselves also need educating.. What also needs to change is the negative mindset towards Africans breaking, the stigma and stereotypes associated with them. Once we’ve achieved that through cultural education only then will there will be true progress.
Your responses were spot on. I enjoyed how detailed you were and it shows you really took the time on this. I love what you said about the learning system here in the U.S. we do not go into enough detail about culture and how America be littles Africa but yet we don’t Acknowledge it is a Continent with such rich and amazing history except we focus on slavory and the areas that we consider to be poor yet many of them are richer in life than many Americans live everyday. Great execution!
Your response was spot on! I loved how in detail you went about immigration culture and espically the school systems in the U.S. we do not go into enough detail about the history of immigration and the history of Africa and nor does the continent get the credit it deserve for how diverse and beautiful it is. Great execution!
I do agree how they are misunderstood and it saddens me that people correlate these things to Africans. I know highly successful African Americans because I went to a high school that’s population was mostly African Americans and I’ve seen a lot of them become wealthy so it surprises me how that is still a mindset in people because I have created great friendships and have been so inspired by so many.
Under the sub-title Demographic Representation, it breaks down the demographic of the African American Community. During the late 1900s, many Africans from different nations immigrated to the United States “Hailing from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and other countries, the African population is noticeably diverse culturally, linguistically, economically, and educationally.” Being guilty myself I tend to categorize and group all African Americans into one group when in actuality there is a vast cultural, sociological, and educational difference depending on what part of Africa they are from. Being a Korean American myself this is the equivalent of assuming Chinese, Japanese, Korean are the same group of people, which is a very narrow-minded way of thinking.
While watching Africa in America I noticed that many African Americans lose or were never strongly tied to their roots. Historically in the past Africans were brought to the US as slaves and as generations pass their roots and heritage begin to die. There are many African Americans who are unable to identify their roots and just refer to themselves as Americans. One source I found very interesting is the Washington Post (link is posted below). It talks about looking back throughout history and seeing how many black men and women lose their ties with their roots and the events that lead up to this tragic reality.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/25/lost-lineage-quest-identify-black-americans-roots/
“Being guilty myself I tend to categorize and group all African Americans into one group when in actuality there is a vast cultural” I feel like a lot of people do that to so many cultures. For example, Asians, there are so many different types of Asians but nobody pays a close attention to them because it doesnt matter to them.
I use to do the same thing of cataforizing African Amercians in to on group not knowin the full history that Africa was just the name of a contient and not africa has a whole. I love the fact that you can relate it to your own racial background because yes China has a contient is often confused with asia and japan and people just assume koreans are chinese too. I do not however believe that there roots were died instead most african slaves were abused by their slave masters those producing mix raced babies.
Marrayam bibi I enjoyed your response on diversity programs revisited because you explained how many scores implanted cultural programs to improve diversity for all and especially the African culture and how schools are trying to improve diversity but they’re doing it in the wrong way they’re rather making fun of that African culture. In my opinion that’s very wrong because African born immigrants should feel proud of where they come from rather than getting made fun of on hold or are or where they come from or what kind of food they eat or what they dress. I feel we really need to fix this injustice because we are all equal in the end and we should value where we come from especially in school and in the education system.
I do agree with you and also catch myself at times not fully knowing much about African Americans and their cultures and I tend to think it’s all the same but it isn’t and there’s so much more to learn about them and their wonderful cultures.
I find it very upsetting that African Americans are unable to identify their roots and have their heritage die because it’s who they are and where they come from and someone’s culture is always what they should be proud of and happy about and be able to show that off.
“Diversity Programs Revisited”
Many schools have implemented cultural programs with the intent of educating their teachers and student body on the diverse backgrounds and experiences of their student population. Due to the entertaining nature of these programs, however, African exhibitions are often reduced to superficial activities such as sampling of ethnic foods, modeling of African style clothing, and performing folkloric dances.
Thornhill (1999), a Canadian social critic, has denounced this celebratory practice as a deliberate distraction from a serious debate on multiculturalism. There is a lesson to be learned from the following admonition made to the Canadian Consultative Council on multiculturalism, at one of its national hearings.
Schools are trying to revisit diversity but unfortunately they are doing it the wrong way. They are rather making fun of African culture by telling them to sample ethnic food and model African style clothing. I feel like if you ask someone to show you their ethnic food, that’s not making of African culture, that’s maybe being interested in it. It’s a step in the right direction, however I also feel like school’s can teach African history rather than telling students to dance. When you learn about African history, you can see all their problems and you can learn about African culture that way.
Something I can relate to from the video “Africa in America” is when the woman was talking about how first a group comes then word goes back that this place is good. So that more people come and a community forms, That is what happened with my family too. First my uncle came, then he told his brother that the place is good so he came too. Afterwards, once my mom heard that it was good, we came to New York too. Now all of my cousins are here from my mom’s side and we have a community. We can count on each other or else it would feel lonely that only my uncle would be here. I feel like when you move to a new place, it’s easier if you know people are already there to help you.
https://www.saada.org/resources/introduction
This link talks about South Asians migration to America and how they’re treated. I selected this because it talks about migration from another place, not only Africa. I feel like everyone who migrated to America came for an ideal life, but it just bought them hardships. South Asian communities had so many hardships too. They were treated exactly how the Africans were treated. This matters because it shows that America should start treating immigrants better. America should not let immigrants’ dreams die because they matter. Immigrants are America’s future honestly.
Schools are trying to come off as ” lets not offend the diffrent cultures and do something for them” but instead of making these other cuture feel more involed they protray them as puppets and acts in school plays and playing dress up.I especaially agree with the speaker in Africa in America on the community topic. When your an outsided you want to make a home of were you are current at so you spread words to get others that similar to you into your circle so you can almmost feel at home. Its almost the same in uptown bronx there are mostly jamaicans who lives there so it almost always feels like I am back home in Jamaica whenever I go up there. The language, the food, the music,.. its a good feeling.
I do believe immigrants from different parts of the world have a lot in common, but there is a deep injustice particularly towards the African American community as they were brought here against their will. However, I believe we are one of the most progressive generations, and hopefully immigrants that come into this country will appreciate the country and be deeply connected to their roots.
Hi Marryyam. I agree with your second paragraph about how we need to broaden our teaching of Africa instead of sampling the food, dress and dance. My daughter took a dance class and when it came for Africa week, she was trained in the dance, dressed in the costume and yes, the school was bringing in African food. She practiced often and the dance was wonderful, however, when I asked her what the dance meant she had no answer and started wondering herself. Knowing that African dance can be storytelling of folklore, prayers, or sometimes just plain entertainment, I encouraged her to ask her teacher. She came back to me a couple of days later and said her teacher told her that she didn’t have to worry about that and that what was important was that she know the dance. I was not surprised to find out her teacher was not African and truly believe he did not know the answer himself.
Activity 1: What do you know about African-born immigrants in the US?
I personally don’t know much but What I do know it they are not treated fairly , they are certainly misrepresented in the media , in society.
Activity 8:
Your enormous reply: 1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
The first and second paragraph of African born immigrants in the us really stood out to me because it speaks on the education system doesn’t really recognize their presence or value it and they should have a voice to because we all are equal no matter where we come from and I think we all deserve a better education for all . The second paragraph explains how African born immigrants their presence is poorly reflected in critical decisions and education planning due to their background and black race and history . I feel no person should be discriminated from anything just because of who they are and what race they are.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
What I learned watching ‘’Africa in America’’ is the United States is a very controversial country and it’s also the main place where all immigrants go and come to find a ‘’better life.’’ I’ve also noticed society and social media focus on one part of Africa which is the poverty levels and they don’t really show or focus on the good things . So I really think it’s misrepresented in many ways . What is being portrayed is all the bad things poverty diseases and all these other negative things but that doesn’t really happen on a day-to-day basis in Africa.
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
Study shows African immigrants in US do well, despite …https://news.ku.edu › 2020/06/18 › study-shows-african…
This article really breaks down everything on what these people go through and I found it really interesting.
I agree with what you said in #2 because many people tend to truly believe that Africa is so underdeveloped and poor meanwhile it is not all true as there as many good things to show the world but unfortunately people focus on the negative aspects so many people are uneducated as to what life is truly like.
I also believe that Immigrants come here for a better life, they also contribute a lot to this country. This whole “ bad image” thing created towards African immigrants and other immigrants in America was a way or the only way to make immigrants look bad or put them down. As an example we take Africa, the media focuses only on the bad things and never the good things. I believe in every country bad and good things exist but at the end of the day I believe the media in general is just a way to manipulate people. Media is a joke.
I agree, Africa is very underestimated in many ways and social media doesn’t teach and show Africa’s accomplishments, traditions and beauty anymore, everything is surrounded by negativity and hate.
I agree that society focus on one part of Africa which is poverty. Developing the knowledge about African Immigrants will give insight of the reality that they live while moving to the U.S. African Immigrants migrant to the U.S. for a better life and opportunities to help their family back home. Instead of the medium broadcasting the negative aspect of African Immigrants, they should broadcast the positive and accomplishments they’ve achieved.
1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
“Africa in Fact and Fiction ”
– Africa is generally shown as a bad image in media and curriculum in the U.S. , it is shown as underdeveloped, poor, many diseases going around, and etc. In reality, it is not all there is to show the world about Africa, like the many cultures, geography, history, languages, and literature are not represented as much, hence why many people are uneducated about them. There are many more good things and positive aspects to show and the first step to overcome that is that these curriculums should be more up to date and have days to show students in class about the many different cultures in Africa, and have students actively participate.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
– Africans are always shown in a bad light making it seem like they are poor, uneducated, having many problems, and etc. , meanwhile that is simply not true. Africans are very educated and they seek education as much as they can so they have more possibilities in life and they can have a better future for their families and future generations to come. The many cultures of Africa are not represented properly so many people have trouble really recognizing them and then end up just believing it is just one culture. I can relate to this as I am Asian but where I’m from is not recognized as Asian so not many people know and in conversations when I mention it they end up saying stuff like wow I did not know that or when I say I’m Asian they assume that I am either Japanese, Chinese, or Korean. There are many Asian countries and cultures out there which are not recognized in the world.
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
– https://library.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/data/guides/english/howard_journal_communications.pdf
Here its talked about how many people who completed a survey on whether the perception of African Americans on TV is true or not and I was shocked to see the results of it.
I agree with your comment on the media not portraying the other side of Africa, the great schooling systems, the booming economy that is taking way. It’s important to showcase these massive things taking place because it will give people a new view of Africa, not one portrayed with diseases and famines
1. Teaching Versus Showcasing
Diversity in African cultures seems to bring more attention to showcasing clothing and dance. Cultural events for African cultures in schools need to be more educational than just entertaining which has to be brought up to the teachers and administrators of the school in order to put some more attention to it. Being considered as “immigrant minorities ” and their cultures there have not been much of a priority in many schools. Those cultural events have an audience which most if not all of it is American citizens, they find African clothing exotic and the dance entertaining which only a very few take the time to find out their actual meaning. I believe that for sure there should be some curriculum changes on teachers teaching procedures. There should definitely be topics added to being based on minor immigrant cultures with educational purposes for students and others. I believe that will also help to be more connected to the culture.
2. Something I can relate but not exactly (since I’m from Europe) to the video “Africa in America” is that the gentleman speaking in the 7th minute of the video said that “ here I was an American in America and the person I looked up to the most loved everything about where he was not”. This reminds me of my father, even though I am from a small country located in Europe, my father likes a lot more of the lifestyle back home including work, how culture is treated there, how teachers teach the students, including that is also the food. This also grew in me the appreciation for this country as growing up and having a better understanding on how things work back home. Besides that I am a very patriotic person and Albania will always be my first home.
3. US Immigrants Bust Myths About Immigration | Truth or Myth
This video is about immigrants in America about their myths and truths. I selected this video because it goes on details about the immigrants that come here. The immigrants these days have a “ bad image” because we come here and somehow destroy America or that immigrants are uneducated or that they left their own country from certain circumstances . Well, it is not true, immigrants are here to contribute more than they actually take. There are immigrants who back home had diplomas, they were police officers, doctors etc. Immigrants here pay taxes, I believe that there are a LOT of Americans who do not work or pay taxes. Immigrants have contributed a lot to this country as for example new jobs have been created. Adding to that they come here with the purpose of a better life for them and their family, and I also believe that immigrants are very hard working if not the most working people. I believe this is important because whatever “ bad image” was created for immigrants is not true at all and it needs to change. Watch the video for more, it’s interesting.
I agree with your comment on how schools should make immigrants feel welcome by involving a multi-cultural aspect in their schools. Many students of African descent feel left behind because the schools are not able to help them feel welcome to help them be themselves.
Hi Ardit!
Fantastic post! I enjoyed your research video very much. It was so heart breaking to hear these immigrants struggles and the stereotypes associated with them. I loved the fact that not all were just myths or all truth but rather a combination of both and that they gave some details and explanations for their answers.
Hey Ardit! I like the source that you picked which is about busting myths about immigrants. I do believe there are many myths that people put on the media and sometimes it leaves a bad image. I do agree that immigrants have contributed their parts and some people claim they steal money but immigrants pay taxes and work hard for their money. My parents are immigrants and I see them as hardworking people who came here for better opportunities for themselves and family!
1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
“Addressing the Missing Voices in Multicultural Education”, I decided to summarize and respond to paragraph number 3.
The multicultural face challenges in the American Education System. Immigrant students are ignored in the educational system because their cultural is ignored. Providing U.S. students with the knowledge about multicultural will enhance their multiculturalism education means; it will help adjust relevance in all students of different race to understand and support multicultural.
Response: In my opinion, the professors should be willing to commit to learning and developing systems and knowledge that they need to thrive and participate to educate their students about multiculturalism. All students of different race should have the entitlement to benefit from the richness of our multicultural society and to develop the understanding and skills they need to contribute as confident world citizens.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.” I’ve learned that the African Immigrants traveled to the United States because they’re provided with many benefits which will help their family. Many immigrants from all around the world immigrated to the United States in search of their American Dream. Immigration helped to make America grow into a big and diverse nation even though some people believed that African Immigrants were illiterate, but they’re more educated than most people born in the U.S. African Americans and other immigrants came to America for jobs, better education, better government stable economy and many more.
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
I selected this topic because it gives the statistics of African American that moved to the U.S., the percentage of African American that graduated with their college degree compare to people that was born in the U.S. and the things they’ve accomplished to become successful.
The paragraph I have chosen is the last paragraph on page 4 continuing onto page 5. I chose this paragraph because I believed it was truly important to not talk about an issue that still resides in our country today. the paragraph talks about how immigrants from all over the world who come to America especially at the age of teenager aren’t taught how to properly connect with the culture here. That means that the students who may come from Africa aren’t really helped in any way to learn the American culture and dialect in their own way. The schooling system in America doesn’t quite bring about most cultures of the world. Kids are felt like they are left behind because schools might truly not care about their backgrounds. Especially African-born Immigrants who come to the United States, their cultures aren’t represented correctly and they have a harder time adjusting to American society. The article shows how it isn’t easy to assimilate to a certain culture without it bringing about your interests. Immigrants have it harder to learn because they are introduced to a new schooling system, and that leaves many children and teenagers behind. Our schooling system should seek to promote these cultural variations because culture is not important just for African-Americans, but for people all over the world. This paragraph shows how the schooling system doesn’t appeal to African-born students and it leaves them behind because their culture isn’t represented. Immigrants face a tough time already to assimilate to American Schooling, but schools have to make it an effort to want to bring these kids’ cultures into their schools to make students feel more welcome and to make them feel more at home.
Something I learned in the video “Africa to America.” was that there is an abundance of research we haven’t done when it comes to Africa. The media doesn’t show the other side of America, the pride, the culture, and the fast-paced growing economies. Maybe this isn’t their objective, but all we see in the news about Africa is the diseases and the people who starve because of there not being an abundance of food. Although that is very important, the light is not shed on the culture, how the schooling systems have grown, and how the economy has grown as a result of it. There is a whole other side to Africa in which we haven’t even seen yet, and I feel as if its a bit unfair because the one side the media shows us is the famine and negative governments, not the people who grow businesses, the people who are prideful of their cultures. The people who make Africa the great continent it is today.
An article I chose has to do with what I learned about Africa in the video “Africa in America”, and the article talks about how Africa’s economy has grown to a higher dimension because of the new technologies they use and produce, also the abundance of natural resources. When the continent prospers, the schooling system prospers as well because these countries are heavily invested in Africa’s future in becoming a powerful global economy.
https://www.ey.com/en_us/tax/why-africa-is-becoming-a-bigger-player-in-the-global-economy
1. The paragraph I have chosen is the last paragraph on page 4 continuing onto page 5. I chose this paragraph because I believed it was truly important to not talk about an issue that still resides in our country today. the paragraph talks about how immigrants from all over the world who come to America especially at the age of teenager aren’t taught how to properly connect with the culture here. That means that the students who may come from Africa aren’t really helped in any way to learn the American culture and dialect in their own way. The schooling system in America doesn’t quite bring about most cultures of the world. Kids are felt like they are left behind because schools might truly not care about their backgrounds. Especially African-born Immigrants who come to the United States, their cultures aren’t represented correctly and they have a harder time adjusting to American society. The article shows how it isn’t easy to assimilate to a certain culture without it bringing about your interests. Immigrants have it harder to learn because they are introduced to a new schooling system, and that leaves many children and teenagers behind. Our schooling system should seek to promote these cultural variations because culture is not important just for African-Americans, but for people all over the world. This paragraph shows how the schooling system doesn’t appeal to African-born students and it leaves them behind because their culture isn’t represented. Immigrants face a tough time already to assimilate to American Schooling, but schools have to make it an effort to want to bring these kids’ cultures into their schools to make students feel more welcome and to make them feel more at home.
2. Something I learned in the video “Africa to America.” was that there is an abundance of research we haven’t done when it comes to Africa. The media doesn’t show the other side of America, the pride, the culture, and the fast-paced growing economies. Maybe this isn’t their objective, but all we see in the news about Africa is the diseases and the people who starve because of there not being an abundance of food. Although that is very important, the light is not shed on the culture, how the schooling systems have grown, and how the economy has grown as a result of it. There is a whole other side to Africa in which we haven’t even seen yet, and I feel as if its a bit unfair because the one side the media shows us is the famine and negative governments, not the people who grow businesses, the people who are prideful of their cultures. The people who make Africa the great continent it is today.
3. The article I’ve chosen has to do with learning about Africa’s booming economy. I chose to include this article because it has to do with how the continent is starting to become a powerful global economy front runner because of the massive investment in finding natural resources, and creating and using powerful technology. This revolves around the idea of schooling because the platform is being provided for kids and teenagers to thrive in Africa, and the importance for the future is massive.
https://www.ey.com/en_us/tax/why-africa-is-becoming-a-bigger-player-in-the-global-economy
I think it’s good to have more market competition in the global economy. I’m excited to see what new innovations come out of Africa now that there is investment into the country and its citizens. I think that other countries should take notes. Investing in the youth is never a bad idea.
I agree it is an on going issue in our world today and culture needs to be adressed more in schools as well. Sometimes teachers look at it as issue instead it can be something we all need to talk about an acknowledge.
1. The paragraph I have chosen is the last paragraph on page 4 continuing onto page 5. I chose this paragraph because I believed it was truly important to not talk about an issue that still resides in our country today. the paragraph talks about how immigrants from all over the world who come to America especially at the age of teenager aren’t taught how to properly connect with the culture here. That means that the students who may come from Africa aren’t really helped in any way to learn the American culture and dialect in their own way. The schooling system in America doesn’t quite bring about most cultures of the world. Kids are felt like they are left behind because schools might truly not care about their backgrounds. Especially African-born Immigrants who come to the United States, their cultures aren’t represented correctly and they have a harder time adjusting to American society. The article shows how it isn’t easy to assimilate to a certain culture without it bringing about your interests. Immigrants have it harder to learn because they are introduced to a new schooling system, and that leaves many children and teenagers behind. Our schooling system should seek to promote these cultural variations because culture is not important just for African-Americans, but for people all over the world. This paragraph shows how the schooling system doesn’t appeal to African-born students and it leaves them behind because their culture isn’t represented. Immigrants face a tough time already to assimilate to American Schooling, but schools have to make it an effort to want to bring these kids’ cultures into their schools to make students feel more welcome and to make them feel more at home.
2. Something I learned in the video “Africa to America.” was that there is an abundance of research we haven’t done when it comes to Africa. The media doesn’t show the other side of America, the pride, the culture, and the fast-paced growing economies. Maybe this isn’t their objective, but all we see in the news about Africa is the diseases and the people who starve because of there not being an abundance of food. Although that is very important, the light is not shed on the culture, how the schooling systems have grown, and how the economy has grown as a result of it. There is a whole other side to Africa in which we haven’t even seen yet, and I feel as if its a bit unfair because the one side the media shows us is the famine and negative governments, not the people who grow businesses, the people who are prideful of their cultures. The people who make Africa the great continent it is today.
3. The article I’ve chosen has to do with learning about Africa’s booming economy. I chose to include this article because it has to do with how the continent is starting to become a powerful global economy front runner because of the massive investment in finding natural resources, and creating and using powerful technology. This revolves around the idea of schooling because the platform is being provided for kids and teenagers to thrive in Africa, and the importance for the future is massive.
https://www.ey.com/en_us/tax/why-africa-is-becoming-a-bigger-player-in-the-global-economy
In African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools (Harushimana and Awokoya, p.42) states teaching with films in a classroom has always been seen as educational however it tends to cause discomfort to students due to the unfairness and disrespect to their cultures certain films are based on. Films don’t show the truth behind certain countries and cultures and tend to depict different backgrounds as unintelligent and distort the reality of the people and where they come from which is offensive.
What I learned from the video in “Africa in America” is that Africans are one of the highest percentages of people to migrate to America. It’s kind of weird to hear people say this is the land of opportunity and that is why they come here because it’s hard to see the opportunities here considering our system is so messed up and unfair.
This video shows multiple views on how much of a culture shock it is for people who migrated to the US. I feel this is important because it shows that the US doesn’t live up to expectations. One person even pointed out someone’s fake smile and that’s something that stuck with me; the fakeness. It also shows how people in the US aren’t educated enough on the African culture. It’s sad that people look at America as a dream when it’s not close to that when they get here.
Culture shock is absolutely real and it was surprising to me how hard it hits some people. My father gave me examples of how his country and upbringing were much different compared to his experience here in the United States. One prime example he mentioned was the fakeness or the artificial personality people seem to show here to each other.
Students do end up in discomfort when they are shamed and judged from where they come from. Plus too much discomfort will make students not want to come back to school. Like you mentioned, films have to be appropriate and shouldn’t cause discomfort to any student in the classroom. If a teacher is going to use film I think they should look over it and see if it’s good to show to students.
1. Teaching Versus Showcasing
It is important for students to be taught about cultural diversity and the values of African and African Americans because, through a proper understanding, a student will be able to connect and appreciate cultural diversity. If a student is taught the general definition of culture, they may not understand the concept, but through research, proper presentation, and deep understanding they will realize how connected we all are as human beings through our culture. Teachers must provide enough evidence, examples and put value in the culture for students to understand that it’s not just entertaiment, fun-looking traditions; it’s someone’s life and heritage. We are culturally improficient when people whose cultural origins and traditions are not the same as our own are not appreciated or misunderstood.
2.
I’ve learned from the video that social media covers only one side of the culture and it’s something that immediately draws attention and creates drama. Africa is portrayed in a very poor and degrading way. TV shows the negativity of Africa. Social media only show the worst scenes and the most terrible situations like poverty or diseased people. People start to forget African values, culture, and history.
3.
https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-4/media-representations-africa-still-same-old-story
This article shows how media and other sources portray African culture and how stereotypical can it be.
I chose Demographic Representation as my paragraph. The population of America is not the same as it was one year ago let alone fifty years ago. The population is always growing, always changing. So is its’ diversity and demographic make-up. In the past thirty years African immigration in the US has increased significantly hailing from countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Somalia to name a few. Not only are the African immigrants changing the demographics of the minority populations in communities but, also in schools. With such an increase in diversification, it is extremely important to take note of the different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds of the expanding population, specifically in the education system. By adopting and integrating African perspectives to accommodate the multicultural dynamics within the education system, this will help in creating a more streamlined and inclusive curriculum, building a more conducive environment to learning, developing their literacy skills, enhancing both the teaching and learning experience for teachers and students, and overall gaining a better insight of the educational needs of these African immigrants.
After watching the video “Africa in America”, I learned that Africans are amongst the most educated immigration population within the United States. That was extremely surprising to learn as a lot of emphasis over the years has been towards Asians and Caucasians with regards to education. It was also very interesting to learn that some of the most successful African immigrants achieved this through education and not through athleticism or entrepreneurship. I related to this very much. There is absolutely nothing wrong with capitalizing on ones athletic skills or business opportunity but I must say there is something very inspiring and empowering about immigrants who don’t typically look for an easy way or shortcut but rather work hard to attain a higher level of education in order to succeed.
I chose this article for my research source about this week’s topic because I found it extremely intriguing to learn that African immigrants are amongst the most educated of all other immigrants. Keeping in line with my fascination I found this article which is a pretty interesting read. It provides quite a bit of information, background, and statistics on Sub-Saharan African immigrants in the US being more educated that those in top European destinations. This shows that African immigrants are not only more educated compared to other immigrants in the US but other countries too.
Hi Cherry, the article was an interesting read. It shows statistics on how African immigrants in the U.S are more highly educated compared to African immigrants in European countries like France, Italy, and Portugal. It also shows that they are more likely to be employed and more likely to have a college education.
1) “Demographic Representation”
There was an African immigration to the United States during the 90’s, and during this time it was shown that the people who came from these African countries varied in culture, education, economic status and language. Africans made up 6% of all immigrants in the United States while sub-Saharan Africans made up 5% of the African American population. The size of this group and it’s growing population brings to light the multi-ethnic makeup of American society. This is more so prevalent in the American education system. The African perspective on multicultural education is pivotal in understanding the needs of African-born children in our education system.
– I never took into account our own level of education in regards to teaching foreign-born children. I haven’t even really gave it much thought that some individuals may be more or less ahead of our current education and what the American education system needs to do in order to address that. Minority groups within minority groups are often overlooked in our local and federal systems.
“Addressing the Missing Voices in Multicultural Education”
Multicultural education is defined as a process whos main goal is for students of a diverse racial, ethnic and cultural background to have an equal chance to perform academically in school. While the idea is nice, implementation is difficult. African immigrants come from many different cultural backgrounds with their own beliefs and customs. Everyone has their own voice that wants to be heard. African nations and cultures are not well known within mainstream media, and this representation is crucial for a sense of identity and pride among African-born youth. A curriculum cannot be oblivious to the activities of a particular nation and choose to exalt another as this can create a feeling of isolation and intellectual intimidation. A curriculum should be culturally sensitive and promote awareness and respect for the cultural variation within our systems. Implementing these curriculums is ideal but also poses another challenge within itself. It is up to teachers to make education more impactful and meaningful, but how is that to be done when the one teaching cannot relate to most of the students in the class, as the classroom is so diverse. Methods to implement culturally responsive teaching has been successful in some classroom environment, there is still no universally accepted model for how this problem is to be approached.
-Coming from a background that wasn’t taught in schools, I can see how this experience can be alienating. Obviously I have it much easier than others, I was born here; most of my family was not. None of my culture and heritage was taught in schools and I even had to sit in classrooms where the human rights of my people were debated. Teaching a specific version of history while maintaining the curriculum is surely a difficult task, so I have to give credit to the people of education who manage to get it done.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
– I thought it was interesting that African immigrants were the most educated minority group in the United States. I had no previous thought as to who might be the most educated group, but now it’s something to think about. I also thought it was interesting that IT professionals and other STEM employees were based in Africa making American wages. African people are really close with their neighbors, at least from what I’m gathering from this video; so it’s really good that these people living in Africa are making a good bit of money. It was said that because of this close relation, the person making a lot of money would help invest in their community. You affect one person, you also affect others. I never knew how close relations were held in this community and I’m joyed to see that these people care so much about each other. They want to genuinely invest in their communities and promote growth.
3) https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/immigrants-contribute-greatly-to-us-economy-despite-administrations
-This article talks about how the U.S. administration’s take on immigration harms both immigrants and the economy of the United States. I selected it because it’s a common debate I see in social media regarding immigrants and jobs in the United States. The article goes over the numerous advantages that immigration brings and how immigration has positively affected American economy and the common misconceptions may have regarding immigrants and employment. This information matters because I believe people should be well informed about the demographic of people they live amongst. Despite coming from another part of the world, I’m sure your immigrant neighbor, friend, or coworker loves being in this country as much as you do, and they show it through their work ethic and pivotal role in building what the United States is today.
“– I never took into account our own level of education in regards to teaching foreign-born children. I haven’t even really gave it much thought that some individuals may be more or less ahead of our current education and what the American education system needs to do in order to address that. Minority groups within minority groups are often overlooked in our local and federal systems.”
You are right, this is a very sad fact, but don’t you think that when we come to a foreign country, we must follow its rules of the game. I do not argue that the country should help us assimilate, but should we strive to rewrite the style of education to the style to which we are accustomed? Will America lose its uniqueness in this case?
“– I never took into account our own level of education in regards to teaching foreign-born children. I haven’t even really gave it much thought that some individuals may be more or less ahead of our current education and what the American education system needs to do in order to address that. Minority groups within minority groups are often overlooked in our local and federal systems.”
You are right, this is a very sad fact, but don’t you think that when we come to a foreign country, we must follow its rules of the game. I do not argue that the country should help us assimilate, but should we strive to rewrite the style of education to the style to which we are accustomed? Will America lose its uniqueness in this case?
“– I never took into account our own level of education in regards to teaching foreign-born children. I haven’t even really gave it much thought that some individuals may be more or less ahead of our current education and what the American education system needs to do in order to address that. Minority groups within minority groups are often overlooked in our local and federal systems.”
You are right, this is a very sad fact, but don’t you think that when we come to a foreign country, we must follow its rules of the game. I do not argue that the country should help us assimilate, but should we strive to rewrite the style of education to the style to which we are accustomed? Will America lose its uniqueness in this case? 🙂
“– I never took into account our own level of education in regards to teaching foreign-born children. I haven’t even really gave it much thought that some individuals may be more or less ahead of our current education and what the American education system needs to do in order to address that. Minority groups within minority groups are often overlooked in our local and federal systems.”
You are right, this is a very sad fact, but don’t you think that arriving in a foreign country, we must accept its rules of the game. I do not argue that the country should help us assimilate, but should we strive to rewrite the style of education to the style to which we are accustomed? Will America lose its uniqueness in this case?
Hi Joseph, I agree with you that mainstream media doesn’t seem to know much about Africa or their cultures which is often why its misrepresented. This could have a negative influence on the confidence and pride of African youth and that is why a better curriculum is necessary to tackle these misconceptions we commonly see in the media.
1) In the paragraph “Repairing the African image through multicultural education” they mention that U.S. schools promote a eurocentric worldview that does not paint a realistic picture of Africa. African children already deal with enough discrimination due to the western media portraying Africa as diseased and full of uneducated individuals which is why the use of non-western sources in teaching could benefit African students and other minorities.
2) In the video “Africa in America” African migration expert Fanta Aw mentions that those who immigrate in many ways want to make sure that the next generation is better off and part of making sure that the next generation is better off is the willingness of making sacrifices. When she said this it reminded me of my parents because they both migrated from mexico to the states for a better life not knowing when was the next time they were going to see their families again. When my parents got to the states they weren’t familiar with New York or the english language but they’ve come really far and built a life out of nothing.
3) https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/multicultural-education
This is the source i chose to share, personally i feel that multicultural education should be introduced in U.S. schools because it teaches students to appreciate and value cultural diversity.
“When she said this it reminded me of my parents because they both migrated from mexico to the states for a better life not knowing when was the next time they were going to see their families again. When my parents got to the states they weren’t familiar with New York or the english language but they’ve come really far and built a life out of nothing.”
Good words. Think about it, we come to the United States for a new life, for opportunities, for all that this country is rich in. So is it worth changing? Will we lose opportunities?
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Upon reading “African- Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools” one section of the reading resonated with me. “Addressing the Missing Voices in Multicultural Education” in this section of the reading it talks about how all men and women no matter race or cultural background or gender should all have the same oppurtunities in education, no matter racial background. Growing up in immigrant house hold as many may know education is believed to be one of the fundamental building blocks instilled in us from the time we enter school. Pressure is put onto us because our parents know that the world that we live it is not a forgiving or understanding world and many opsticals will be put in our way due to fact we come from immigrant backgrounds and our families are looked at as “aliens”. Multicultural education is an idea, a reform, no one really knows how we will get to this equalibriam but many are trying. This reform caters to families of all immigration background but in particular to the African-born students. There is a culture clash when coming to America, with many immigrants as well because they are put into a brand new setting and the clash is with there culture. Their cultural knowledge is instilled in them and this reform helps them adapt to this new experience of learning in this new enviornment.
In the video “Africa in America” the man by the name Azarias Reda; he speaks about the value and understanding of the opportunities that are here in America that many Americans like my self take for granted. My parents are very big on investing into my future life. As was said by the women Fanta Aw, PhD in the documentary that education is an investment. My parents always say this to me from the moment I was able to think and grasp the idea of my future, I should never look at education as a waste because it will the open the doors for you that couldn’t open for me my father always said. My father came to this country by boat from the Dominican Republic and became very successful he went on to own his own business and provide a life for us he never had, although with all these accomplishments he always says I still wish I could have educated my self more because I wouldn’t have had to go through as many tough times as I did.
The article that I choose for this topic is called “The Growing Diversity of Black America”. I choose this piece because it goes into great detail on black immigrants in this country and also what striked me the most was that statistics it gave on Black adults and gaining a college degree. Roughly 3 million black adults have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. In 2019 there was a 33% increase on recieving bachelor’s degree when back in 2000 it was about 24% of the population that were getting a degree. Education is valued a lot more I feel in immigrant house holds because many of them know what it is to not have anything and the opportunities that can be given when they are educated.
The paragraph I choose in the reading of “African- Born Immigrants U.S. Schools” was on multicultural education. When coming to the states as an immigrant you are faced with many challenges. One of them is developing into a new setting. With multicultural education reform this allows for equally education for all races, men and woman. Many do not know how this would be acieved but it always great to know that this is an idea that is in the works. Growing up in a completely different country or continent and learning the ways or the culture let alone grasping the idea of being taught a whole new grading system is hard in its self.
In the video Africa in America, the speakers spoke about a great deal of things I relate to and one of them is education. Coming from an immigrant family the value of education is held to a very high standard. My parents came from nothing and were able to provide their childrean with a life they never had they dont have many regrets but one the ones they do have is not being able to get a better education and theyve instilled upon us the magnitued of how important education is. Many americans who were born here do not value education compared to those that do and the value that you hold. the speakers spoke about how education is a long term investment that will pay off in the end and my family has always been ones to make sure i remember that as well.
the source on this topic that i have choosen is the Growing Diversity of Black Ameria. one topic that stood out the most to me was the growing number of black adults have a degree. This stood out to me the most because many immigrants let alone black immigrants are let down in the education system. They are given the same help or the same tools compared to others, This is a growing issue in our country and it’s almost like a silent issue but it needs to be heard. No matter what complex situation are put in front of these people they understand how important it is to be educated and they continue to grow and thrive in this system.
1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
«Addressing the Missing Voices in Multicultural Education»
We need to somehow introduce into the curriculum the cultures of all peoples that come to the usa, you need to somehow learn not to deviate in priority to the side of one race if it prevails in the class.
This all sounds unrealistic to me, sorry. In my country they say “if you try to catch three birds with one stone, you won’t catch a single one”.
«Acknowledging New Minorities in the U.S. Curriculum»
African image renovation. It is also needed by all nations in the United States. What we do not know and do not understand can shock us or inspire feelings of pity, humor, contempt. It is these feelings that children of other races often experience when we try to introduce a foreign culture. Children are not ready for this. They do not study this in the school curriculum and therefore the random days of “foreign culture” seem silly and funny to them. It is necessary to bring in such days with the school curriculum so that it begins to seem like the norm, and not a ridiculous farce. My opinion: America was originally formed as a multinational country, knowledge of the culture of other peoples is important for the stability of this country.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
I liked the idea of how the immigration of a particular region takes place? Usually a group of people comes to a certain area and assimilates there, then they inform their fellow countrymen in the country they are from, they invite them, promise all possible help, talk about the region. This is how certain regions are sown by immigrants from specific countries. Radio effect.
Also the thought that many Africans come to America being very smart and with a great desire to develop and achieve success, and if you give them this opportunity, the opportunity on an equal basis with everyone, without prejudiced decisions, then most of them can be successful and useful. You don’t need to disappoint them, you need to give them wings.
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
I will not offer you video reports from YouTube. I suggest you watch one of my all-time favorite films. A film about a talented African boy and his talent, his struggle. This film gives wings!
https://www.netflixmovies.com/finding-forrester-2000
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1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
«Addressing the Missing Voices in Multicultural Education»
We need to somehow introduce into the curriculum the cultures of all peoples that come to the usa, you need to somehow learn not to deviate in priority to the side of one race if it prevails in the class.
This all sounds unrealistic to me, sorry. In my country they say “if you try to catch three birds with one stone, you won’t catch a single one”.
«Acknowledging New Minorities in the U.S. Curriculum»
African image renovation. It is also needed by all nations in the United States. What we do not know and do not understand can shock us or inspire feelings of pity, humor, contempt. It is these feelings that children of other races often experience when we try to introduce a foreign culture. Children are not ready for this. They do not study this in the school curriculum and therefore the random days of “foreign culture” seem silly and funny to them. It is necessary to bring in such days with the school curriculum so that it begins to seem like the norm, and not a ridiculous farce. My opinion: America was originally formed as a multinational country, knowledge of the culture of other peoples is important for the stability of this country.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
I liked the idea of how the immigration of a particular region takes place? Usually a group of people comes to a certain area and assimilates there, then they inform their fellow countrymen in the country they are from, they invite them, promise all possible help, talk about the region. This is how certain regions are sown by immigrants from specific countries. Radio effect. Also the thought that many Africans come to America being very smart and with a great desire to develop and achieve success, and if you give them this opportunity, the opportunity on an equal basis with everyone, without prejudiced decisions, then most of them can be successful and useful. You don’t need to disappoint them, you need to give them wings.
3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
I will not offer you video reports from YouTube. I suggest you watch one of my all-time favorite films. A film about a talented African boy and his talent, his struggle. This film gives wings!
https://www.netflixmovies.com/finding-forrester-2000
“When she said this it reminded me of my parents because they both migrated from mexico to the states for a better life not knowing when was the next time they were going to see their families again. When my parents got to the states they weren’t familiar with New York or the english language but they’ve come really far and built a life out of nothing.”
Good words. Think about it, we come to the United States for a new life, for opportunities, for all that this country is rich in. So is it worth changing? Will we lose opportunities??
1.) “Africa in Fact and Fiction”
This paragraph, it talks about how in Africa the educational systems are way different than the western education systems. Students who study in Africa have learned information and history about Africa only but when they decide to emigrate they would have to learn about a new curriculum. Getting an education in the western education system is different and African students may be seen as different people. In school, some are seen as “uneducated individuals” due to being from Africa. All the stereotypes are implemented on them which makes them feel uncomfortable at their own middle schools and high schools. No student should be shamed or judged from where they come. Everyone goes to school for an education and no student should feel uncomfortable at all. Every child who goes to school no matter what background should be seen as a student that is there to learn. Having a multicultural education would be beneficial for African students because it would create a safe environment for them.
2.) From this video, I learned there are many misperceptions made about Africa and they talked about how the media doesn’t help at all. In the media, people see Africa as a poor and diseased place but in the video, it mentioned how even though there are some issues in Africa, not everyone goes through it since everyone has a different experience. I can relate to this because sometimes the media can spread misperceptions about a country or race and it can spread so fast. Nowadays, social media apps like Instagram can spread misinformation about certain topics. For instance, in social media, I saw some people say that all immigrants or Hispanics are criminals and steal money which isn’t true. Spreading misinformation like that can be harmful and people may see Hispanics as criminals all because someone said it on social media. So I think it is important we address those misperceptions because they can be damaging to one’s image. In the video something I learned that I was astonished about was “demographically speaking most of America’s African immigrant population hail from 12 of the 50 plus countries that make up the continent” and that the Nigerians make up the largest segment. I love that the African immigrants that were interviewed showed their pride in being African. When the interviewer asked Fanta Aw if she considers herself American or African, she proudly said she is an African who is living in America.
3.) https://youtu.be/95fuYlK2Kow
I selected this source because here they show how they make their students feel comfortable at school. The staff makes the school more welcoming to African American boys. I like how they keep them motivated to stay in school and they also created a safe space for them to talk about their situations and schoolwork. I feel like this matters because students should be getting all the help they need at school. Plus, they should feel motivated to do good and receive that special support. One of the students said without the support their GPA would have gone down so he was glad that his school was able to help him. Supporting the students will prevent them from failing and dropping out of school. Students will also feel more comfortable since they aren’t being judged. Overall, I think every school should provide that support and safe environment for all students!
1) Select 1-2 paragraphs from “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools.” Summarize it and respond to it.
Paragraph 1. Teaching Versus Showcasing
When it comes to African cultures, diversity days seem to provide opportunities for showcasing clothing and dance. The audience, which is predominantly American citizens, finds African clothing exotic and the dance entertaining; very few take the time to find out their actual meaning. Cultural events need to be given more educational meaning than entertainment. This would require that both teachers and administrators recognize the meaningfulness of the event, which is not the case in most schools. Teacher education programs need to diversify instruction to include topics related to new immigrant minorities. Summary and response: Teacher education programs really need to include curriculum that not only includes the history and culture of the immigrant students in their classroom but go past that in a broader sense to introduce students to new views opposite of those taught in old textbooks. Africa is the continent with the highest number of countries in the world, (53-54 per UN stats) …. So how is it that teachings about these rich and colorful cultures of the countries in Africa are not introduced at an early age of US instruction…along with traditional study of European nations? How do we just miss the ball on this teaching/learning lesson in our classrooms? I believe it goes back to the first sentence in this my summary, “teacher education programs”. How would I as a teacher be able to teach something that I myself am not familiar with, because it had no emphasis in my teaching instruction? We need to get the teachers instructed in this, so that they themselves can develop a passion and therefore a confidence in wanting to include Africa in curriculum of their students. By doing this, not only are they educating students on the second largest continent in the world, but they are also creating a feeling of inclusion and confidence for those many diverse African immigrants sitting in classrooms.
Diasporic Versus Mainstream Films:
Media Mediation in a Diverse Classroom Due to its visual, audio, and dramatic effect, film constitutes a powerful educational medium in the U.S. curriculum. In culturally and ethnically diverse school settings, however, teaching with films can cause emotional discomfort to learners, as Daly (2007) remarked. Children‘s self-esteem is affected when the images flashed on the screen represent a distorted reality of who they are and where they come from. The African image through the lens of Western media Harushimana and Awokoya: African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools Harushimana and Awokoya 43 has been and remains negative and derogatory. Summary and response: I agree with this take that we need to practice and increased sensitivity when teachings about Africa are viewed on video, audio and film. As (Traore & Luken, 2006) were quoted in the reading “Most of the derogatory epithets that American-born students use to characterize African students, such as smelly and savage …” I find these thoughts very saddening and quite disgusting, and I think it’s just due to plain ignorance in what has been fed to the US via these film mediums and lack of or incorrect school instruction. The reading states;
“Of all the images of African people that permeate the Western media, that of famine and starvation is the most consistent and persistent. The news texts are frequently accompanied by moving pictures of some poor, emaciated, and malnourished figures of women and children who are sorrily staring into the camera (the reader), their eyes empty and hopeless, as if pleading for mercy. (Michira, 2002, n.p.)”
I cannot imagine how uncomfortable a student might feel if a film was shown which depicts their country in these negative ways instead of focusing on the rich history and splendor of the country they love and belong too. That’s why I feel that film is a great medium to use because visual learning is so impacting, but much responsibility and sensitivity must be practiced. This again goes back to the point I summed up in the previous paragraph in that it comes down to, “teacher education programs” as it is the responsibility to the adult’s giving instruction.
2) Discuss something you learned and/ or can relate to from the video “Africa in America.”
In this video I learned from the two individuals interviewed (Azarias Reda and Fanta Aw, PhD) are very prideful of their African heritage. It was interesting to learn about the Diversity Visas of which 48% are granted to African immigrants. This is something I had never heard of before. The program was started in 1990 when US government and congress realized they needed to increase the levels of diversity. At that point Africa was absent from migration and this was a way to help international students migrate to American culture. The fact that this “D lottery“ held yearly by the State Department helps 50,000 families from around the world is great and reinforces that we must as a nation, continue to put in place programs that will support the migration and facilitate their arrivals and not turn a blind eye once they are here. I liked Redas statement that “Travel abroad brings new appreciation to the opportunities available in the US”, because I love to travel and have always held this same sentiment.
(3) Share your source on this topic–let us know what it is, why you selected it, and why it matters.
My source is a documentary I saw a while ago and never forgot. It speaks about literacy in West Africa. It is the story of the lost libraries of Timbuktu that even some Africans are just discovering. This documentary is very enlightening and is so worth the time to watch from beginning to end.
BBC The Lost Libraries of Timbuktu
DB 4
In the text, “African-Born Immigrants in U.S. Schools: An Intercultural Perspective on Schooling and Diversity”, the author discusses how the current school curriculum should be improved in a way that is both multicultural and culturally sensitive. This is because like everyone else immigrants from Africa take pride in their identity and their roots. By the curriculum being oblivious to these students’ history will make them feel excluded in the classroom. And by having a culturally sensitive curriculum promotes awareness and respect to different cultures. This will help students be more engaged and confident to share their experiences. This is interesting because when I was child in school, I thought to myself that my teachers probably knew nothing about Bangladesh or weren’t ever going to cover it in the curriculum. So, the information I learned was either from my parents or the internet. I was one of few students who were from Bangladesh in my school so when it came to talking about my background, I was a little more reserved. From watching the video “Africa in America”, Professor Fanta Aw addresses the misconception of Africa that is portrayed in the media such as disease, poverty, corruption. What I learned about from watching this video is rejuvenation and vibrance like the Professor mentioned. For example, the fastest growing area economically is in parts of Africa. There is also a strong sense of community between Immigrants in the Us and their community back in Africa. This relates to my family, and part of the idea that you don’t want to abandon your roots and who you are. My parents would often stay in touch with their family back in Bangladesh and send money over to help their family and their community. The article I selected is titled “Common misconception about African Immigration.” I chose this article because I wanted to challenge more misconceptions of African immigration that are commonly shown in the media and that may be in school curriculum.