Teaching About Racism

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The following three questions was copied from this web site. They come from a list of "Springboards For Understanding "Old Style" Racism. Teachers are to use these to start discussions. http://www.understandingprejudice.org/teach/racoldsb.htm

What is your take on these questions and how would you answer them?

1, The "one-drop rule," which defines anyone with one drop of African blood as Black, is unique to the United States. Why was this rule originally developed -- what purpose did it serve?

2. Would Black Americans be better off with a different definition than the one-drop rule?

3. Would you like to see racial classifications abandoned altogether? (Note: If so, society would have to eliminate race-based affirmative action programs as well as certain medical practices that use racial information for diagnostic and treatment purposes)

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2003


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