Blog Post #3

The Academic and Social Values of Ethnic Studies

Author: Christine E. Sleeter

 Author's Argument

Christine Sleeter's argument is that ethnic studies provides opportunities for minority students to overall succeed in a system that was built against them. Many systems in the United States have clearly been built corruptly. This corruption makes it extremely difficult for people of color, minorities, and others who face prejudices to become successful in America. This was made strategically and purposefully; we know this by simply looking at America's history. A country built on slavery, colonization, imperialism, and bribery obviously would not be fair to all of their citizens. We can see this by taking a history class and being American citizens. But today, we can see this almost crystal clear in school systems across the country.

    The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies: A Research Review goes into detail about the unfairness in lessons and textbooks public school in the United States teach. Through the seventies and eighties, where there was a change in societal views, there was a clear disconnect in changing curriculums to share histories of African American, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian American studies. This disconnect was between teachers and textbook makers. Teachers assumed textbooks would be free of biases, and textbook creators assumed teachers would avoid bias. This created clear biases in classrooms throughout the country, which overall contributes to the corruption in the United States. Euro-American studies continue to be taught throughout the country today, no matter the racial statistics of schools. This means that students of all racial backgrounds are being taught the histories of their oppressors. The text states, "Systematic analyses, however, consistently find the opposite. While content related to African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans have been added, deeper patterns and narratives that reflect Euro-American experiences and worldviews, and that have traditionally structured K–12 textbooks—particularly history and social studies texts—remain intact." Though slight histories have been added to these texts, the underlying message of Euro-American studies is extremely prominent and taught. This is the problem. 

    The system is built to make itself look better than it is. Because Euro-American studies are being taught in schools rather than other important studies for students of color to learn, the "white-savior" complex is seen. Euro-American studies have been seen with extreme bias, making it look better than what it is. We know that the United States was built on corruption, and with Euro-American studies being taught, it is seen that Euro-American history is the way to go. The United States is teaching its students to be like their oppressors. This only makes the country's corruption grow. All in all, it is extremely difficult to fix this because the system was built broken, and the miscommunication is clear between teachers and textbook creators, causing yet more corruption. 

Reflection:

After reading, I believe that ethnic studies does nothing but good for overall academic communities. Ethnic studies provide opportunities for different cultures and histories to be taught in a Euro-American based ciriculum. This country focuses mainly on the successes of people who have done a lot of harm throughout their careers. Ethnic studies keep students engaged which helps them overall achieve in academic careers.