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Trouble With Diversity

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Does our common reader assigned to the class this semester adhere to the accustomed material when it comes to examining cultural diversity in the class? My conclusion is that our common reader The Trouble with Diversity by Walter Benn Michaels touches upon the social, socio-economic, health, and educational aspect of diversity. Observing how an individual’s status and race makes an impact on how they do in society as well as how they’re treated.

Upon starting class back in January I speculated as to what the main focal point would be as well as the types of subjects we may discuss among ourselves. After all this course focuses on diversity in urban America so it’s easy for one to come to the conclusion before reading any sort of textbook …show more content…

Reading the first chapter of the Michaels book, right away I could tell that it would closely relate to our class discussions and focus on one of the complex subjects that many if not all of us face on a daily basis, race. Beginning in chapter one Michaels talks about the Plessy v. Ferguson case and how a man named Homer Plessy was thrown from a train for being one-eighth black. Plessy was quickly identified as being colored and told to leave the ‘whites only’ train compartment to which he refused. The story goes on to tell of the case going all the way to the U.S Supreme Court where he loses the case. During the hearing the judges proceed to explain that there is a discernible difference between whites and blacks so therefore the segregation of races is permissible. Next the book goes on to target another story, this one has a slightly different outcome. Susie Guillory Phipps who her whole life has identified as a white woman goes to the Bureau of Vital Records for a copy of her birth certificate in order to obtain a passport. To her surprise she learns that she is actually part black and just like Plessy her case goes on to court where it is to be decided …show more content…

Educational Researcher by Gloria Ladson-Billings looked into the ratio between education and achievement and what the gap was between them and how to fix it. According to an interview with strict economist Professor Emeritus Robert Haveman of the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Economics he makes it clear by stating that “ In order to reduce the debt or gap in one being achievement you must then close the gap of the other being education” Ladson-Billings also goes on to recognize the parallel between not only your economic status when it comes to education but how well your parents did before you among many other things including your health along with your overall well being playing a factor into your education ( Ladson-Billings, Oct 2006, P 5). Additionally the first teachers of a student are their parents whom in the home are responsible for teaching their children the basic fundamentals they must adhere to within society in order to navigate throughout life.Thus giving them many opportunities to experience cultural and life development (Wilburn, Smith & Hill-Carter, 2013, P 242). This research ties into chapter three of our book where education is discussed and one such topic that Michael’s remarks upon would be annual family incomes and how depending on what is made shows what the students of the

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