Subject: Narrative Essays/H.L. Gates' "What's in a Name?"
Learning Objective(s): Students will: discuss their response questions to generate greater understanding of Gates' essay.
Notes on class: We had a long discussion today and I hope you all learned as much as I did. Again, like on Friday, you all had some terrific insights and seemed comfortable sharing them.
Among the more important and interesting insights: as one of you mentioned in class, Gates does a terrific job of showing how we "internalize" the problem of racism, whether we are the perpetrator of a racist act or its victim. Whereas the perpetrator will use even very subtle and "more socially acceptable" means, as in Mr. Wilson calling Gates' father "George," the victim of racism will also internalize his or her victimization of racism by "forgetting" a racist event occurred. Gates makes it clear that this is what he does, thereby helping to continue the problem of racism. This is a delicate, complicated matter indeed.
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