Multicultural Education- Power Struggles Beyond Appreciating Diversity

In class we spent a lot of discussion time delving through the different definitions of what multicultural education means to us. Although the conversation was very insightful, I feel we may have neglected a main part of the story on multicultural education. We spoke much on the curricula aspect, which is important, but I wonder if there is something bigger than changes in a few textbooks or having teachers adopt new teaching techniques which intend to "appreciate diversity". In fact I am saying that the issue is so much bigger than the methods stated. The Name article provides a more accurate description for where I stand on Multicultural Education. It states "Multicultural education is a process that permeates all aspects of school practices, policies and organization as a means to ensure the highest levels of academic achievement for all students... It prepares all students to work actively toward structural equality in organizations and institutions by providing the knowledge, dispositions, and skills for the redistribution of power and income among diverse groups." 

In all I feel the most powerful piece of that statement addresses a history of oppression and disenfranchisement faced by people of color in the US when it says that multicultural education should supply students with the skills for the REDISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND INCOME among diverse groups. Schooling and education now make it very clear who is in power. With the creation of multicultural education and the deconstruction of our current education system comes the responsibility of granting "all men" the rights granted by the ideals of freedom and equality that the US stands on. Understanding that multicultural education is about the redistribution of power allows us to begin to tackle issues of racism which are at the basis of current inequalities. 

In the interview done with Sleeter in the Anderson reading, she addresses the issue of racism and why multuculturalism,  at it's core, is a struggle against racism, and must go beyond an appreciation of diversity. She speaks on the issue of white privelege which is also a topic we didnt didn't address. So it is the fact that from the conception of this nation that power was created and meant for one set of people. Aurdre Lorde calls this set of people the mythical norm and describes it like this- “In America, this norm is usually defined as white, thin, male, young, heterosexual, Christian, and financially secure. It is with this mythical norm that the trappings of power reside within society". With time, this population has grown to include white women to an extent and people of color remain disenfranchised. When we are thinking about the creation of a multicultural education it is important for those of power within our school systems, such as white teachers and administrators, to begin to question and deconstruct this system of inequality. One of the first steps is a self-evaluation that questions ones place in society and the privileges granted based on ones color. This is the only way to get to the heart of the issue. Sleeter stated it, saying "The primary issue was one of access to a quality education. If we're not dealing with questions of why access is continually important, and if we're not dealing with issues like why we have so much poverty amid so much wealth, we're not dealing with the core issues of multiculturalism."  I'm challenging White folks to begin to unpack their knapsack like Peggy McIntosh. I posted her writing so you know what I'm talking about




www.case.edu/president/aaction/UnpackingTheKnapsack.pdf- A quick read by Peggy McIntosh as she "unpacks" the issue of white privilege as a white educator. She literally lists things she experiences daily that are related to her privilege as a white woman in America.