Multicultural EducationMulticultural Education

Lydia HogueLydia Hogue

October 5, 2010October 5, 2010

My two ismMy two ism

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism &&

AfrocentrismAfrocentrism

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

The tendency to believe that one’s ethnic or The tendency to believe that one’s ethnic or cultural group is centrally important and that cultural group is centrally important and that all other groups are measured in relationship to all other groups are measured in relationship to one’s own.one’s own. The ethnocentric individual will judge other The ethnocentric individual will judge other

groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic group or culture.group or culture.

Especially with concerns to language, behavior, Especially with concerns to language, behavior, customs and religion.customs and religion.

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

Can also be defined as making false Can also be defined as making false assumptions about others ways based on assumptions about others ways based on our our own experiences.own experiences.

www.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org

William J. SummerWilliam J. Summer

The term ethnocentrism was coined by The term ethnocentrism was coined by William J. Summer upon observing the William J. Summer upon observing the tendency for people to differentiate between tendency for people to differentiate between the in-group and others. the in-group and others.

He described it as often leading to pride, He described it as often leading to pride, vanity, beliefs of one’s own groups superiority vanity, beliefs of one’s own groups superiority and contempt of outsiders.and contempt of outsiders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ethnocentrismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ethnocentrism

Why is ethnocentrism bad?Why is ethnocentrism bad?

It makes false assumptions about cultures It makes false assumptions about cultures differencesdifferences

By evaluating “them” by what we are best at, By evaluating “them” by what we are best at, we miss the many other aspects of life that we miss the many other aspects of life that they often handle more competently than we they often handle more competently than we dodo

www.home.snu.eduwww.home.snu.edu

Ethnocentric ThinkingEthnocentric Thinking Hebrew as reading “backward” Just say “Hebrew is Hebrew as reading “backward” Just say “Hebrew is

read from right to left”read from right to left” British drivers drive “on the wrong side” of the road British drivers drive “on the wrong side” of the road

Just say “opposite” or “left hand side”Just say “opposite” or “left hand side”

Students going on Mission trips are encouraged to Students going on Mission trips are encouraged to say “Oh, that’s different”say “Oh, that’s different”

www.home.snu.eduwww.home.snu.edu

In My ClassIn My Class

I provide different Multicultural activitiesI provide different Multicultural activities Parents come in and talk about their culture Parents come in and talk about their culture Lots of Multicultural books changed monthlyLots of Multicultural books changed monthly We bring special visitors in to talk, and cook We bring special visitors in to talk, and cook

food from different culturesfood from different cultures Each month we have a Multicultural book of Each month we have a Multicultural book of

the monththe month

Multicultural BooksMulticultural Books

AfrocentrismAfrocentrism

A world view which emphasizes the A world view which emphasizes the importance of African people, taken as a single importance of African people, taken as a single group and often equated with “Black people”, group and often equated with “Black people”, in culture, philosophy and history.in culture, philosophy and history.

Part of this reaction involved previewing Part of this reaction involved previewing history to document the contribution that history to document the contribution that Black people made to the world civilization.Black people made to the world civilization. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/afrocentrismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/afrocentrism

Afrocentrism-A different world viewAfrocentrism-A different world view

1818thth century European historian Mr. David Hume century European historian Mr. David Hume said “I am apt to suspect the Negroes…to be naturally said “I am apt to suspect the Negroes…to be naturally inferior to the White. There never was a civilized inferior to the White. There never was a civilized nation of any other complexion than white…nation of any other complexion than white…

2020thth century scholar Mr. Arnold J Toynbee said century scholar Mr. Arnold J Toynbee said “When we classify mankind by color, the only one of “When we classify mankind by color, the only one of the primary race…which has not made a creative the primary race…which has not made a creative contribution to any of our twenty-one civilization is contribution to any of our twenty-one civilization is the black race”the black race”

Afrocentrists argue that such ignorance and Afrocentrists argue that such ignorance and blatant racism were common among blatant racism were common among mainstream scholars, educators and historians mainstream scholars, educators and historians well into the 20well into the 20thth century century

People need to teach world history with new People need to teach world history with new eyeseyes

www.exeriencefestival.com/a/Afrocentrismwww.exeriencefestival.com/a/Afrocentrism

Thomas JenningsThomas JenningsSeed Planter-1791Seed Planter-1791

Joseph WinterJoseph WinterFire Escape Ladder-1878Fire Escape Ladder-1878

George BeckettGeorge BeckettLetter Box-1892Letter Box-1892

Ulysses S WaltonUlysses S WaltonDentures-1943Dentures-1943

Paul WilliamsPaul WilliamsHelicopter-1962Helicopter-1962

Dr.Anthony B WillDr.Anthony B WillVehicle Steering System with electronic power Vehicle Steering System with electronic power

regulation unit-2003regulation unit-2003

Janet Emerson BashenJanet Emerson BashenSoftware Invention-2006Software Invention-2006

www.inventors.about.com

African American Books African American Books

Come Join The CircleCome Join The Circle