Through Ebony Eyes Reflective Response

Mark Ellner

Gail Thompsons book Through Ebony Eyes was very interesting and one that I
believe I got much more out of than I thought I would originally. Thompsons
personal experiences brought out many real issues that to be honest I had thought
of, but never discussed with other teachers or students. Thompson provides many
arguments, but overall her main argument is that its not enough to just say you
dont see color and that you teach everyone the same. Thompson believes that in
order to teach children effectively we need to learn and understand the differences
between cultures and what the implications of those differences are when it comes
to education.

Stories of black students and their family and cultural differences being ignored
and used against students by teachers who dont see the need for multicultural
education support Thompsons arguments. She also presents stories of teachers
who on purpose or without even realizing it are racist toward black students during
their class. For example singling out the black student when all the students in the
class are talking. Right away the book presents theories for black childrens
underachievement. Many of these theories are ones teachers have heard about for
years, but dont really get to the point. They are also theories that deal with teacher
behavior towards black students. Thompson states, regardless of students
backgrounds, teachers beliefs, attitudes, and expectations have been shown to
become a self-fulfilling prophecy for students (Thompson, 2004. p.19). What a
perfect statement? This puts the responsibility squarely on the teacher and their
belief system. Teachers have to change and their ways to meet the needs of all
students, not just students from the norm. Thompsons personal upbringing is a
perfect example of what many black students must deal with as they go through
school.

There are great themes and discussions throughout the book, but 3 I found most
interesting where the use of the N word, Ebonics, and how to react to being accused
of racism. I think most white people would agree that its confusing that black
students are able to use the N work at leisure, but if it is used by a person of any
other race it becomes one of the worst insults there is. The book did a terrific job of
discussing the N word and its consequences on people of all colors. Today it
remains controversial for African Americans to use the term publicly, and it is
totally unacceptable by most African Americans for nonblacks to use the term
(Thompson, 2004, p. 156). The book addresses the reasons for using the term, and
most revolve around hatred and negativity. I agree with Thompson that the N
word has never been a term of endearment for me. Hence, I believe that no one
should use the term (Thompson, 2004, p. 160). Thompsons discussion on Ebonics
was probably the most interesting chapter for me. I really never thought of Ebonics
as an acceptable language. I looked at it like any other slang language that would be
considered lazy. The description of Ebonics was terrific and really stresses the point
about differences and how those differences should not be thrown aside. Each
student has a past and its the teacher job to understand the importance of that past
to the student. Thompson states Teachers who equate speaking Ebonics with
ignorance and deficiency covertly or overtly transmit a negative message to African
American students (Thompson, 2004, p. 146-147). The last theme that Im sure
most teachers have confronted at one point or another is what to do when you are
accused of racism. As a teacher who has be faced with this, I really appreciated the
discussion. A comment that stuck to me was when she used the USC student who
said African Americans are conditioned to believe that racism is the source of all of
their misfortunes (Thompson, 2004, p. 175). While this is not always fair, it is
understandable and is an issue that has to be respected. Thompsons thoughts
about how to handle being accused of racism were very useful. I know I would want
to ignore the accusation and move on, but that can actually make the situation
worse. Teachers need to address it and make it something that all parties can learn
from. The initial reaction of defense or anger, while understandable, will become
damaging. Another point Thompson made was that its important to look at the
situation and self evaluate it to see if there was something you may had done that
came across as racist. Its critical to look at ones self and not just attack and blame
others.

My first official teaching job was as an associate teacher at, Central Park Elemtary,
a majority black school in north Omaha. 95% of the students were black and most
of the teachers were black. It was an amazing experience that taught me a lot about
myself. When reading this book, I immediately kept thinking back to my students at
Central Park. They were dealing with many of the same issues stated in Thompsons
stories. I could have really used this book before I taught there. I went into the job
with the I dont see color attitude. I know now that that strategy did not fly and I
had to quickly adjust the way I taught. I was not used to the different cultural
aspects of teaching poor black children and my schooling certainly did not prepare
me for it. Thompsons thought that its critical to learn about others cultures and
how they can impact education are spot on. I would have been well served to have
done research and take the time to know about the students and their lives outside
of school. I always felt my relationship with my students was good, but I know I left
something on the table that could have made the experience even better for
everyone. This book provides the knowledge and skills for a white teacher such as
me to use to make a more effective learning experience for black students.

I feel this book will have a major impact on my growth in Multicultural
Education. By really focusing in on the black students and the issues that go along
with teaching black students, I was able to gain a new appreciation for what needs
to be learned about teaching black students. Its not just okay to say everyone is
equal and to show pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. When teaching
students we must use equity and by doing that, embrace and recognize everyones
differences. I also think this book does a great job of helping teachers take a step
back and look at themselves and how they really teach black students. Its
impossible to not have some bias about students. Once we admit that and realize
we need to be in a constant state of growth we can start to understand what it takes
to meet the needs of all students.