Constructive vs Liberated Ethnic Studies at a Glance
Ethnic Studies should build bridges of understanding, confront racism, celebrate ethnic accomplishments, and expose students to multiple perspectives. It should NOT place students into boxes and pit them against each other, nor dictate a narrow, politicized ideology that elevates Marxism and violent movements.
CONSTRUCTIVE (INCLUSIVE) ETHNIC STUDIES
- Empowers students to dream big, overcome challenges, and be motivated engaged community members
- Builds mutual respect, self-confidence, awareness, intergroup understanding and empathy
- Elevates marginalized or targeted ethnic groups, their backgrounds, and contributions without denigrating others
- Openly and honestly addresses racism and discriminatory treatment historically and today
- Presents a range of political perspectives and approaches to bringing about change, including strengths and weaknesses of each
- Teaches students how to think, not what to think
LIBERATED (CRITICAL) ETHNIC STUDIES
- Defines and judges students based on skin color, not character or behavior
- Divides students into victims and oppressors, pitting them against each other
- Equates capitalism with racism
- Glorifies Marxist and Maoist governments, ignoring their oppression
- Romanticizes violent role models, dismissing civil rights leaders, such as MLK, as “passive” and “docile”
- Includes Antisemitic language and concepts
- Encourages educators to “fly under the radar” to teach controversial material
- Trains teachers that they “must be rooted in the right politics” in order to educate
- Teaches students what to think, not how to think