Multicultural Education and Cultural Identity

Running head: WEEK ASSIGNMENTS 1

WEEK 7 ASSIGNMENTS 4

Week 7 Assignments

Part 1: Knowledge and Power in Shaping Racial and Class Stratification in Society

The stratification of class and race is typical in most communities. Koput & Gutek (2010) explain the assumption that there are people in the society who have sufficient human capital and have a higher propensity to accomplish higher-level tasks. However, they also affirm that this form of stratification only occurs when dealing with certain aspects such as education or experience. Racial stratification is a common problem in the society due to the associated impacts. Jackson (2007) addresses the famous works of Paulo Freire in which he reveals the truth about racial oppression in the community. Race stratification involves the ranking of ethnic groups based on their perceived superiority. However, this superiority is only achieved through the oppression of the less powerful ethnic groups. Class stratification mainly arises due to the categorization of people in the society regarding their economic or political influence (Koput & Gutek, 2010). Eventually, class stratification is related to race stratification in different ways. The stratification of the class is mostly assessed based on racial superiority in the community. For instance, most rich and influential people in the society emerge from the superior racial groups. Racial and social stratification affect other sectors of the society such as education.

In a research about the ‘Impact of Politics and Race on the Arab American Youth,’ Renda and El - Haj (2006) ascertained that racial oppression experienced by these individuals is likely to affect their curricula and educational practices. Oppression creates a stigmatic environment for these students from the lower ethnic groups. It makes them feel unwanted in the society. This derails their efforts to concentrate on academic studies. Feeling powerless in a social system makes it difficult to collaborate with other people (Jackson, 2006). However, Jackson (2007) discovered that maltreated individuals are likely to be engaged in the fight for liberation when they reflect back on the nature of their oppression and its causes. Therefore, oppression based on ethnic backgrounds can be cleared from the society if appropriate measures are adopted.

Knowledge is one of the critical factors that can make it possible to win the war against oppression. Knowledge is essential for both the oppressors and the oppressed groups. Renda and El-Haj (2006) affirmed that the people who are on the front line in the fight against oppression must focus on how different schools teach about culture and how they support the teachers and the students to learn about patriotism. They insisted that the fight for social justice is ingrained in the ability of the people to be informed about social injustices, and understand that no one has the right to be subjected to social injustices. Gay (2004) also insisted that the use of multicultural education is essential in the fight against ethical profiling. Children are not born with notions of racial segregation. However, the lack of enough knowledge about the dangers of racial discrimination enables them to learn this behavior from the other senior members of the society. Al-Hazza and Bucher also conducted research in which they discovered that literature allows children to advance perceptions about cultural identity. Therefore, having enough knowledge could enable them to realize the importance of cultural diversity and evading oppression.

Paulo Freire’s theories reflect on both the traditional and contemporary aspects of oppression (Jackson, 2007). He implies that most victims of oppression gain strength from their experiences. Al – Hazza & Bucher also refer to the importance of literature in overcoming oppression and racial segregation. These Reconstructionist approaches can be used to determine the social transformations that shaped the current perspectives on racial stratification.

Part 2: Response

The text provides a clear assessment of the works of various scholars regarding oppression and racial stratification. The author of the text addresses the similarities and differences of different studies conducted about the topic. This enables the text to provide a comprehensive review of the oppression and perceived remedies. The use of multiple studies in the text indicates that many scholars have shown interest in the topic. It, therefore, tries to show the magnitude of racial oppression in the society. In the text, the author does not focus on the case of Arab and American Arab students only. The text also reflects all the other ethnic groups whose members undergo this form of oppression. This neutrality indicates that the author was not biased, but rather interested in the factors that surround the adamant racial discrimination in most communities. It is commendable that the text addresses the role of the entire community in addressing the issue of racial segregation. Evidently, oppression based on racial backgrounds can affect a community.