I’ve taught at a fairly diverse school in the deep South for a long time. I’ve dealt with racist students in the past, but this year has been the most contentious.
It is likely a combination of three factors: kids are less interested in critical thought, social media creates less empathy and “hot takes,” and the social climate created by current politics.
I’ve always worked hard to create a welcoming and comfortable environment in my classroom. I want students to be able to speak freely and truly engage with the material.
Maintaining this environment has never been more difficult. Although the phrase “race war” may be slight hyperbole, in some of these cases, it isn’t far from the truth.
The N-Word Still Exists
One of my classes is almost a perfect split of Black and Hispanic students who do not identify as Black. The divide is obvious when observing where the students chose to sit.
This was also a class full of students from DJJ and alternative school. Many of them have big mouths and short fuses.
One Hispanic student, we will call Ex, made a few red flag comments early in the year. For example, one day he called me to his desk and said, “Ay, Mr. Ware, you like my picture?”
It was a poorly drawn picture of a monkey.
“I like monkeys,” he giggled to his friends while tapping the picture with pride.
Now, for those not in the know, calling Black people monkeys is a go-to for racists.
I responded by asking him if I need to watch him. “You are a sneaky one, aren’t you?”
He laughed it off. “I don’t know what you talking bout.”
I knew Ex would be a challenge. On the other side of the coin, I also taught a Black student we will call Ax. He was almost 18 in a ninth-grade class and rarely made it to school. When he did show up, he was usually late.
On the day Ax actually arrived on time, I could sense a negative energy in the room. Ax and some of his peers were staring daggers at Ex. As I tried to assess the situation, Ex whispered something to his peers and pointed at Ax.
The explosion was set off before I could diffuse it.
“We can throw hands right now,” Ax declared, getting to his feet.
Ex smacked his lips and waved him off, ensuring Ax didn’t know what Ex was really about.
I moved quickly to get Ax out the room. He left without too much trouble while Ex continued to talk. Ax told me when he was in the bathroom, he heard Ex use the n-word. “I tried to fight him then, but he was scared. Now he is in there trying to talk.”
I told Ax I understood his frustration, but I also reminded him of the consequences. He was already on a behavior contract, and any mishaps would send him away again.
He was calm when he returned to the room, and I called Ex to the hallway. I didn’t want him to continue talking and undo the conversation with Ax. Ex immediately went into a tirade of expletives. I imagine he assumed I would take Ax’s side in the situation.
I told him I just wanted to speak to him. Once he was in the hallway, he was calmer. A lot of his bravado comes from creating an image for his friends. He confirmed Ax’s story about the n-word. He said it was just a word to him.
I couldn’t convince him to stop saying the word, but he did say he was cool to return to the room.
The boys didn’t have any other interactions in my classroom. They were both eventually kicked out of school for other reasons. Nevertheless, some of the racial tension still arises.
Hispanic students make jokes about monkeys or slaves, and Black students make jokes about deportation, especially post-election. Even after several referrals, some of this language seems so ingrained in them that it is just habit. They don’t even consider the consequences when they say it.
In the current climate, one would imagine Black and Hispanic students coming together. Instead, both compete for “the white man’s” favor. My Black students feel like they are more favored because they’ve heard about deportation. My lighter-skinned Hispanic students feel they are more favored because at least they aren’t Black.
At such a young age, they’ve already been strung up and taught the dance that will only lead to more personal pain for each of them.
Racist versus the world
We will call our final student Don. Don is in a more diverse class. All the students intermingle, and there is less animosity…well, except for Don.
Don is a big, white kid. He is tall and probably has at least a hundred pounds on me. It isn’t muscle, but his size can be imposing to some of his smaller peers.
Don is respectful and cares about his grade. There were no signs of hatred in Don’s heart early in the year.
The first hint arrived when I gave the class assigned seats. One of the girls, apparently Don’s ex-girlfriend, said she couldn’t sit near him. When they broke up, he stalked her. He would still stare at her whenever given the opportunity, and he still tried to send her messages even though he was blocked.
There was a side of Don I didn’t know, but I still didn’t see it often in the classroom. Occasionally, I would catch him talking with his friends about some weird racial stuff. The one I remember most clearly was about him being both Black and Native American. Sure, I raised an eyebrow as I looked at his blonde hair and blue eyes, but who am I to judge his racial claims?
Then the election happened, and after Christmas break, Don’s mask began to slip.
I had two different students tell me Don said he hated Black people. This happened on his school bus, a bus full of mostly Black people, and in my classroom. I didn’t hear it, but after the accusation in my class, I knew to keep an eye on him.
If nothing else, he had some hidden anger. I heard more stories about Don being aggressive to Black girls outside of class, but still, nothing in my room. Nevertheless, the class started turning against Don.
For example, after Don’s group presentation, the class applauded his group, but one girl congratulated everyone in the group individually, except for Don.
I finally heard some of Don’s racism in class a few days ago. While discussing propaganda, Don decided to share his love for the current political landscape. I reprimanded Don about four times that day, but every time I returned to his group, he was saying something inappropriate. Here are for a few examples:
“Women don’t need rights.”
“We need to get rid of the Hispanics. Trump is doing it for us.”
“Asians don’t know how to talk.”
“Black people only want free stuff.”
“They only wanted Kamala because she promised Black people stuff like more rights.”
Although I didn’t hear it, one student later told me Don called him a porch monkey that day.
So, I have no choice but to give Don a referral. I asked him multiple times to drop the racial stuff, but a student who is usually respectful felt so compelled, so passionate, he continued down that path.
However, when I sat down to write the referral, I hesitated. Angry parents, principal meetings, and news stations flashed before my eyes. They are coming after teachers, and I’d rather not put a target on my back for something like this.
Sadly, we are in a place where these decisions need to be made. I want as little spotlight on me as possible right now, so I can continue to teach.
I will continue to monitor the Don situation, and with only a month left of school, I hope any animosity fades away. I also hope to teach Don a bit more empathy in the remaining weeks.
Do you know my favorite thing about reading? I think it teaches empathy in a way that no form of media can. Kids don’t read anymore. Unfortunately, most people don’t read anymore, and it shows.
When I was in the 9th grade, I’d already ridden in the minds of twelve-year-olds fighting goop from a can, a hobbit with a tempting ring, and a little girl hiding in a secret annex.
I understood everyone had a different situation, but I also understood everyone was human. What story did they have to tell?
Luckily, I’ve been able to quell any wars in my class thus far, but I don’t want to jinx it. Animosity is growing and the modern lifestyle isn’t helping.
I say put down the hatred and the social media and pick up a book. Let’s start knowing each other again, flaws and all, without the wall of internet propaganda between us.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of LG Ware's work on Medium.