Thanks, M.Ted, for that illuminating perspective. Your post shows how important ones perspective is, and, as a corollary, how important it is to understand others' perspectives.

That's one reason I appreciate your forthright contributions, Azizi. Even I, as a European-American, am embarrassed by step 'n fetchit scenes in some of the movies I've seen (and some of the people I've met). I'm sure that white guilt plays a part in those feelings. But I'd also like to point out that I feel just as embarrassed, or maybe disgusted, when whites engage in the same subservient sorts of behavior. Of course, it's not entirely the same. We must remember we are dealing with a whole group of people who have had to struggle against oppression and racism and that backdrop must be considered when dealing with problems like this.

That brings me back to the point I made above: broadly, that education is much better when it is inclusive rather that exclusive. Including the various perspectives of different communities or groups, whether cultural, racial, or economic, will make for a richer and more personally relevant education.

David