Why We Need Ethnic Studies in High School | Hannah Gedion | TEDxManhattanBeach

Summary

A high school senior reflects on a pivotal moment during quarantine when her school district approved a more diverse English curriculum. She emphasizes the importance of including multiple perspectives in education to avoid the dangers of a 'single story.' Drawing inspiration from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk, she advocates for the adoption of ethnic studies, which highlight underrepresented voices in U.S. history. She envisions an academic environment where students are encouraged to explore diverse viewpoints, fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker reflects on a significant day, May 5th, 2021, when the Manhattan Beach School Board approved five new books for the required English curriculum, all written by authors of color.
• 💪 The speaker is co-president of 'Diversify Our Narrative MBUSD,' a group that supported teachers in advocating for more diverse literature in the curriculum.
• 👩‍🎓 The speaker, a senior at Mira Costa High School, noticed a lack of cultural representation in the school’s required reading before 2020, with most authors being white.
• 📖 The speaker references Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk on the dangers of a 'single story' in literature, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives.
• 🔍 The speaker discovered 'ethnic studies,' which include African American, Native American, Chicano/Latinx, and Asian American studies, and believes these subjects provide multiple perspectives on U.S. history.
• 🌸 The speaker uses local examples, such as the history of the Uyematsu family's internment during WWII and Bruce's Beach, to illustrate the importance of teaching diverse perspectives.
• 🎓 The speaker's vision is for an academic environment where students become 'perspective seekers,' using ethnic studies to foster critical thinking and broaden their understanding of history and current events.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's family encourages open discussion and respectful disagreement on various topics, which has fueled their passion for diversifying the school curriculum.
• 🏫 The speaker highlights that California became the first state to require ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement in 2021, marking a significant step toward educational reform.
• 🌍 The speaker concludes by advocating for the importance of understanding and valuing different perspectives, arguing that this approach will help students thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.

Q & A

What was the significant event that took place on May 5th, 2021, for the speaker?

On May 5th, 2021, the Manhattan Beach school board approved five new books for the 2021-2022 required English curriculum, all of which were written by people of color.

What role did the speaker play in the school board meeting's outcome?

The speaker was the co-president of 'Diversify Our Narrative MBUSD,' a group that provided student support for the teachers presenting the curriculum changes to the school board.

Why does the speaker believe diversifying the curriculum is important?

The speaker believes that a diverse curriculum is important because it helps avoid the 'single story' narrative, allowing students to see themselves and others in a more complete and accurate light, fostering a better understanding of different cultures and perspectives.

Who is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and why does the speaker reference her?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author who delivered a TED Talk in 2013 about the dangers of a 'single story.' The speaker references her to highlight the importance of diverse narratives in literature and other fields.

What is 'ethnic studies,' and why is it significant to the speaker?

Ethnic studies is an academic field that includes the study of African American, Native American, Chicano/Latinx, and Asian American experiences. It is significant to the speaker because it provides multiple perspectives on historical events, helping students avoid the 'single story' narrative and fostering a more inclusive educational environment.

What historical event does the speaker use to illustrate the importance of multiple perspectives?

The speaker uses the example of the Uyematsu family, Japanese immigrants who owned nurseries in Manhattan Beach and were forced to sell their land during World War II due to internment. This illustrates how different perspectives on a historical event can provide a more nuanced understanding of its impact.

How does the speaker envision the impact of teaching ethnic studies on students?

The speaker envisions that teaching ethnic studies will help students become perspective seekers, encouraging them to challenge themselves by considering multiple viewpoints and fostering open, productive discussions about complex topics.

What role does the speaker’s family play in their passion for diversifying the curriculum?

The speaker's family, with its diverse opinions and discussions at the dinner table, has been influential in shaping the speaker's passion for a diverse curriculum. This environment has taught the speaker to respectfully disagree and to seek new perspectives.

What was the outcome of the 2020 district-wide survey conducted by the Manhattan Beach Panel for Equity?

The survey revealed that less than half of the teachers felt they had the language and training to address discrimination or discussions of inequality on campus. Additionally, 100% of teachers stated that further training and resources for inclusive and equitable education would be helpful.

What is the speaker’s ultimate vision for the academic environment in their school district?

The speaker's ultimate vision is to create an academic environment where students can engage in open discussions, challenge their perspectives, and learn from a curriculum that reflects the diversity of cultures and experiences in the United States.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Diversifying the Curriculum: A Personal Triumph

The speaker recounts their experience during quarantine, highlighting May 5th, 2021, as a significant day when the Manhattan Beach School Board approved five new books for the English curriculum, all written by authors of color. The speaker, as co-president of 'Diversify Our Narrative MBUSD,' supported teachers in this initiative. They emphasize the importance of representation in literature, citing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk on the dangers of the 'single story' in literature. The speaker's quest to find new perspectives led them to ethnic studies, an academic field that includes various disciplines focusing on underrepresented groups in U.S. history. The approval of the five books is seen as a step towards creating a more inclusive academic environment and encouraging students to seek multiple perspectives.

05:01

🌐 Expanding Perspectives: The Power of Ethnic Studies

The speaker discusses the impact of ethnic studies on students' understanding of history and current events, using the example of Bruce's Beach and the internment of the Uyamatsu family during WWII. They argue that by teaching from multiple perspectives, students can draw connections between the past and present, fostering open and respectful discussions. The speaker's family's diverse opinions and debates at the dinner table have shaped their passion for a diversified curriculum. They highlight the efforts of students, parents, and teachers across the country advocating for diverse curricula, noting the California Senate's passage of a model ethnic studies curriculum and the state's requirement for high school graduation. A survey conducted by the Manhattan Beach Panel for Equity revealed the need for further training and resources for teachers to address discrimination and inequality, indicating a clear opportunity for educational improvement.

10:02

🌈 Embracing Our Differences: The Richness of Multiple Perspectives

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the beauty of our differences and the importance of acknowledging and understanding various perspectives. They advocate for an academic environment where students are encouraged to expand their minds and recognize the value in every story. The speaker believes that by doing so, students can thrive in a world full of vibrant colors and perspectives, ultimately eliminating the stigma associated with being different. They end with a call to action to challenge ourselves to see the value in every narrative, as these stories are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the world.

Keywords

💡Quarantine

Quarantine refers to the period of isolation and restriction of movement imposed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In the context of the video, it represents the monotonous and repetitive experience that many people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is contrasted with the significance of May 5th, 2021.

💡Grassroots Organizing

Grassroots organizing is the practice of engaging local communities in the process of political or social advocacy. The video highlights the success of a year's worth of grassroots efforts that led to the approval of new books in the school curriculum, emphasizing the power of community involvement in educational reform.

💡Diversify Our Narrative

Diversify Our Narrative is the name of the group mentioned in the video, which aims to bring diversity to the narratives presented in educational materials. It represents the broader theme of the video, which is about the importance of including a variety of voices and experiences in the curriculum to reflect the multicultural reality of the United States.

💡Single Story

The term 'single story' is borrowed from the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk, referring to the limited or incomplete narrative that can lead to stereotypes and misunderstandings. The video uses this concept to argue for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in literature and education to foster a more comprehensive understanding of humanity.

💡Ethnic Studies

Ethnic Studies is an academic discipline that encompasses the study of various ethnic groups' histories, cultures, and experiences. The video discusses the importance of Ethnic Studies in providing multiple perspectives on historical events and promoting a more inclusive and representative curriculum.

💡Underrepresented

Underrepresented refers to groups or individuals whose perspectives, experiences, or contributions are not adequately reflected in mainstream narratives or institutions. The video emphasizes the need to include the stories of underrepresented groups in the curriculum to create a more balanced and fair educational environment.

💡Perspective Seekers

Perspective seekers are individuals who actively look for and consider multiple viewpoints on an issue or event. The video encourages students to become perspective seekers, which aligns with the goal of teaching Ethnic Studies to foster a deeper understanding of diverse experiences and histories.

💡Controversy

Controversy in the video is portrayed as a positive aspect of discussion and debate, where differing opinions can be expressed and considered. It is used to illustrate the value of engaging in open dialogue, as experienced in the speaker's family dinners, and the importance of this in fostering a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

💡California Senate

The California Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, which in the context of the video, has passed a model curriculum for an Ethnic Studies course. This action signifies a significant step towards making Ethnic Studies a standard part of high school education in California.

💡Inclusive Education

Inclusive education refers to educational practices that aim to provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their backgrounds or identities. The video discusses the need for inclusive and equitable education reform, as evidenced by the survey results indicating the desire for further training and resources among teachers.

💡Cultural Contributions

Cultural contributions refer to the unique and valuable inputs that different cultural groups make to society. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing and incorporating the cultural contributions of various groups in the United States into the educational curriculum to reflect the nation's diverse heritage.

Highlights

The speaker doesn't remember much about quarantine, except for the significant day of May 5th, 2021.

On May 5th, 2021, the Manhattan Beach School Board approved five new books for the English curriculum, all written by people of color.

The speaker is the co-president of 'Diversify Our Narrative MBUSD', supporting teachers in presenting these changes.

The curriculum before 2020 was not representative of the many cultures in the United States.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk on the danger of a single story in literature is referenced.

The incompleteness of a single story or stereotype can hinder the recognition of equal humanity.

Ethnic Studies is introduced as an area of study that includes various disciplines focusing on underrepresented groups.

Ethnic Studies helps avoid a single story by teaching multiple perspectives of historical events.

The approval of five books is seen as a step towards a more inclusive academic environment.

The speaker envisions an academic environment where students are encouraged to seek multiple perspectives.

Case studies are suggested as a method to reveal the importance of multiple perspectives on events.

Students would learn about the internment of the Uyamatsu family and its impact on land ownership in Manhattan Beach.

Bruce's Beach is mentioned as a potential topic for students to understand historical events from multiple viewpoints.

The importance of connecting past and current events in the classroom is emphasized.

The speaker's family encourages open discussion and respectful disagreement, influencing their passion for curriculum diversity.

California Senate has passed a model curriculum for an ethnic studies course, and it's becoming a graduation requirement.

There is a growing number of certifications and grants for schools promoting diversity.

A survey reveals the need for further training and resources for teachers to address discrimination and inequality.

Students also recognize the need for a more inclusive and diverse curriculum in various subjects.

The speaker calls for an environment where students can expand their perspectives and understand the value in every story.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the beauty of differences and the importance of acknowledging various perspectives.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

if i'm honest

i don't remember much about quarantine

like most people i felt like i was

reliving the same day over and over

again

but one day manages to stand out in all

that monotony

may 5th

2021

i remember being in my living room and

doing a little dance in my chair my

smile illuminated by my flickering

computer

screen not many high schoolers get

excited about school board meetings and

ordinarily i wouldn't either

but this one was special

it marked the culmination of a year's

worth of grassroots

organizing

at this meeting the manhattan beach

school board approved five new books for

the

2021-2022 required english curriculum

and every single one of them was written

by a person of color

i am co-president of a group called

diversify our narrative mbusd

that acted as student support for the

teachers who presented these changes

and as the unanimous vote came in

supporting these books

i felt encouraged to believe i could

continue to be a positive force for

change in my community

as a miracosta high school student a

senior yay

i had noticed that a lot of the

curriculum was not representative of the

many cultures that exist in the united

states

for example before 2020 this is what the

authors of our required reading look

like for

9th grade

10th grade

and 11th grade

to explain why this is dangerous

i'm turning to another ted talk from

2013.

chimamanda ngozi adichie is a nigerian

author who gave my favorite ted talk

ever

in her talk she explains why the single

story is detrimental in literature

in her words it makes our recognition of

our equal humanity difficult

the problem is not that the single story

or stereotype is wrong

but that it's incomplete

if we see groups of people playing a

specific role

we relegate or elevate ourselves to a

group and play our part

listening to her speech again

i realized that this philosophy applied

not only to literature but to any

subject in which a limited point of view

is shown

so i began my quest to find new

perspectives

and about an hour of google searches

later i found

ethnic studies

ethnic studies is the overarching area

of study that includes african american

studies

native american studies chiconics and

latinx studies and asian american

studies

these disciplines highlight the

experiences of the underrepresented

protagonists of u.s history

ethnic studies help students avoid a

single story by teaching multiple

perspectives of historical events and

periods

considering the united states continues

to flourish thanks to the cultural and

intellectual contributions of each and

every one of us

leaving out stories is like

trying to paint a portrait using only

one color

so for me my school district's approval

of these five books is fantastic

but it's just the beginning

my true vision is an academic

environment where students challenge

themselves to be perspective seekers

that is what teaching ethnic studies

will help us accomplish

an introductory lesson would use case

studies that reveal the importance of

looking at an event or topic from as

many perspectives as possible

and the examples

are closer than you might think

take this auditorium the ground you're

sitting on right now

80 years ago

this space was covered with cherry

blossom and camellia trees

it was part of a beautiful group of

nurseries spanning 120 acres owned by

japanese immigrants francis and kuni

uyamatsu

students would learn how the uyamatsu

family's internment during world war ii

led to the city of manhattan beach

acquiring this land after the family was

forced to sell it to maintain their

financial stabilities

this monument is in the quad outside at

the expo for if you'd like to see it

closer than you might think right

just a few miles away is bruce's beach

another potential topic

students would have access to materials

that would help them understand the

historical case from the eyes of the

bruce family and other manhattan beach

residents at the time

they would also discuss how a hundred

years later

bruce's beach is in the news once more

as city state and national figures

reassess the events

exercises like these inspire students to

draw connections between past and

current events

and by shifting students frames of

reference like this

we open up classroom discussions to

healthy and productive controversies

my family is a melting pot of dissenting

opinions and outlooks on life

and let me tell you

all of them come out at the dinner table

what starts as a conversation about our

day quickly becomes a full-on debate

about the news ethics

race sexual orientation or politics

it gets tricky at times but the beauty

of having these talks

is the controversy

it's where i learn how to respectfully

disagree

as a family we shamelessly express our

opinions and encourage each other to ask

thoughtful questions and never take

things at face value

this has played a significant role in my

passion for diversifying curriculum

because the space we've created allows

me to learn new information about a

topic that changes my mind

or reaffirms my stance even more in a

productive

setting

this is the opportunity i wish for every

high school student

and i'm excited to see the necessary

pieces beginning to fall into place

students parents and teachers are

tirelessly campaigning for a diverse

curriculum in their communities across

the country

as a result the california senate has

successfully passed a model curriculum

for an ethnic studies course

yay and

go ahead

it gets better

as of october 8th 2021 california became

the first state to make ethnic studies a

high school graduation requirement

there are also a growing number of

special certifications and grants

offered to schools that promote and

demonstrate efforts toward diversity in

both their student body and their

curriculum

in 2020 a district-wide survey was given

by the manhattan beach panel for equity

a community organization of over 600

alumni parents and teachers that we

worked with at the beginning of our

journey

it asked teachers if they felt they had

the language and training to address

discrimination or discussions of

inequality on campus

less than half of them gave a definitive

yes answer

a hundred percent of teachers surveyed

stated that it would be helpful if the

district provided further training and

resources dedicated to inclusive and

equitable education reform

we then polled the students

asking if some school subjects displayed

certain groups in a discriminatory a

problematic nature

percent of students listed history

around twenty percent said english

and model united nations sports and the

arts tied for third at around ten

percent each

this data shows an opportunity to

improve our education system

and our district has always prided

itself on being innovative in preparing

students for the next level

let's rise to this new challenge of

creating a more inclusive environment

one step at a time

we're a beach town we should ride the

wave of progress

not that it hasn't arrived already

a faculty member nominated me for this

opportunity

and our new superintendent's former

district is actively exploring ethnic

studies as an option for its students

if every student could have their own

version of my dining room table a place

to listen to new perspectives share

ideas respect differences and always be

looking to expand their single stories

into an entire book of perspectives

we could eliminate the stigma that comes

with being other in this country

so when the student in me listens to

chimamanda's call for us to recognize

our inherent similarities

i find myself wanting to add that our

differences are what make this world so

beautiful

we should challenge ourselves to

acknowledge and understand the various

perspectives we encounter

but i want us to go deeper

expanding our minds to be able to see

the value in every story

because those stories are the key

to helping our students thrive in a

world with a thousand

vibrant wonderful colors and

perspectives in it

thank you