Race & Ethnicity

As always, the class discussion on white ethnic Americans was very stimulating. I absolutely love that our class is such an open forum. In another course that I am taking the question was asked, why it may be uncomfortable to talk about racism in a classroom. Some responses were: you may not want to insult any specific person, you may be afraid to let your views be known, whether for or against, you may be targeted or threatened with violence, you may be laughed at, ignored, and so on.
I suggested that it depends on the boundaries originally set up between the instructor and the students. Quite naturally I boasted about our class. I pointed out that just because the course title is Ethnicity and Race doesn’t guarantee that none of the above issues would become a problem. Or for that matter, everyone will openly participate. However, if the instructor sets the tone from the very beginning about not only what will be covered, but what will be expected of every student. We are old enough and mature enough to decide for ourselves if the content is something we are open to learning about and openly discussing. I mentioned how respectfully and even comically we all share with one another, our personal views, thoughts, and questions.
Several students approached me to ask what is our instructor’s name and do I know if the course is offered next semester. I am so proud to be a part of our class. Thank you professor Iovannone and all my classmates!!!!!
S. Ramos,