If I were a poor black kid...

Check out this article titled "If I Were a Poor Black Kid" then respond.  What do you think of the ideas expressed?  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Why?
Then check out one (or more) of the responses to the article linked here or here.  What  do you think now?  Do you agree with the responses or not?  Why?

Hidden Bias

Do you have any hidden biases? Even though we work to have a society based on the concepts of justice and fairness, are there parts of our unconscious that prevent that from happening? Today you will take a test to perhaps provide an insight to these answers.
1) Go to <a href="http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%22%3Ehttp://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%3C/a>
2) Read intro.
3) Click on Project Implicit’s website.
4) Click on Demonstration
5) Click on “Go to the Demonstration Tests”
6) Read the Preliminary Information and the Important disclaimer.
7) Click on the “general information about the IAT”
8) Read Measuring Implicit Associations
9) Read the “I am aware…” sentence and click on “I wish to proceed” (if you choose to)
10) Click on Take the Race IAT and read and follow all of the instructions to take the test.  You do not need to answer all of the survey questions.
11) Read the results of your test. Consider: did the results show that you have some hidden bias? Were you surprised by the results? What do you think might be some of the reasons behind your test results? What questions do you have about the results?
12) Click on the “frequently asked questions” and skim the questions and answers.
13) Click on the tab at the top of the page labeled “Understanding IAT Results” and read information.
14) Return to <a href="http://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%22%3Ehttp://www.tolerance.org/hidden_bias/index.html%3C/a>. Read the entire page. How does this information enhance or change your understanding of your result? What conclusions can you make about stereotypes? Prejudice? Biases? How might hidden biases influence you (or not)?
15) Do a blog post about this information and your results.  What do you think?

What's Going On?

For the next two weeks, I am turning over the direction of Issues class to YOU!  What we talk about, what we read or look at, will be entirely up to you.  Each of you will need to come to class prepared to lead a short (10-15 minute) discussion on a topic of your choosing.  Any topic (as long as it is Issues related) is fair game.  You may bring a short article to have the class read or use a short film clip to prime the class for your discussion.  After that, it will be your responsiblity to lead the class through a discussion of the topics and ideas that stem from the issue.  You should think about this as an opportunity to share ideas about topics that we don't know much or haven't heard much about to this point.
Places to go to find articles or clips to use include newspapers (nytimes.com-check out the times topics section) magazines (time/newsweek), magazines with specific points of view (the Nation, the Atlantic), Frontline.org (which has documentaries online similar to those we use in class) or 60 minutes.
Everyone should be prepared to present an issue beginning on Wednesday, 1/4.