Class Discussion,
Room #1
Date 1/28/98
Start log: Wednesday, January 28, 1998
3:19:12 pm Virtual Park Hall time --
WendyFr has arrived.
JoeSa has arrived.
MaggieCa has arrived.
JoeSa says, "Hello partners"
WendyFr says, "hey, Joe"
MaggieCa says, "hello"
WendyFr says, "what's the assignment?"
JoeSa says, "type read 6 on note"
WendyFr says, "cool"
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] ShannonMc leaves for the Three.
WendyFr says, "alrighty then"
MaggieCa says, "any ideas guys?"
JoeSa says, "I thought Shelby was a girl at first"
WendyFr says, "me too"
Mr.Cole has arrived.
Mr.Cole says, "Hey, guys. I thought I would spend today with y'all."
WendyFr says, "cool"
MaggieCa says, "okay"
JoeSa says, "great"
Mr.Cole says, "So, what do you think of Steele's analysis of racial tension?"
MaggieCa says, "I don't really know"
JoeSa says, "I think that some of his ideas point out what some of us dont feel"
MaggieCa says, "I have kind of experienced racial tension before, but I'm not sure of the cause"
WendyFr says, "what do you mean, Joe?"
Mr.Cole says, "Perhaps a better first question is, do you think there is a problem with racial tension in colleges, or at UGA in particular?"
WendyFr says, "I don't think so"
WendyFr says, "not that I can see anyway"
JoeSa says, "Not that I notice"
MaggieCa says, "I guess i shoul say witnessed instead of experienced. no "
WendyFr says, "I'm sure there is some, but I have never encountered any conflicts"
Mr.Cole says, "What have you witnessed, Maggie?"
WendyFr says, "Maggie?"
JoeSa says, "though there are still groups of blacks or whites, I think it is there own choice, not a coersion of integration"
WendyFr says, "I agree"
WendyFr says, "what happened, Maggie?"
MaggieCa says, "well in my high school there was about 10% black pop. and a lot of the girls got very deffensive because we had no black teachers and they felt that all of us (white girls) were predjudice."
Mr.Cole says, "as for Joe's point, I think Steele might point to the _lack_ of integration as one of the problems on campus. What do you think?"
WendyFr says, "what did they say to y'all?"
MaggieCa says, "it wasn't the black girls that were comfortable with themselves though."
Mr.Cole says, "Um, I have to step out for a minute. Be back soon."
Mr.Cole goes out.
WendyFr says, "that happens in our town. It's very small."
MaggieCa says, "they didn't really say anything to us, but they weren't very comfortable around us"
JoeSa says, "We had a larger black population than white in our school"
WendyFr says, "I went to a private school and alot of the blacks from the public school called us snobs. But we weren't. They just said that because we went to a private school. It was more them than us."
MaggieCa says, "they always thought that we were looking down on them kind of like what steele said, but that wasn't the case at all"
JoeSa says, "It was kinda weird because you couldnt say anything to them or else theyd get all their brothers and sisters on ya!"
MaggieCa says, "be careful Joe"
JoeSa says, "Oh ... sorry"
WendyFr says, "I had no problem with the other school. A bunch of my friends went to that school."
MaggieCa says, "it's ok i don't care "
JoeSa says, "I didnt mean that in a derogatory way"
WendyFr says, "me either"
JoeSa says, "Its just that you couldnt confront them without a big standoff going on"
MaggieCa says, "that's the thing they are always very defensive "
WendyFr says, "so are we going to say anything about Steele?"
JoeSa says, "Back to Steele, I dont think that we should implement more black teachers in a "white" school....."
WendyFr says, "what did y'all think of the selection?"
MaggieCa says, "they felt at my school that if anything went wrong and they got in trouble, that it was because they are black. I just don't understand why the whole skin color thing matters and why it got started"
JoeSa says, "I agree"
WendyFr says, "I can understand how it got started, but that is over now."
WendyFr says, "and segregation"
JoeSa says, "and plus, affirmative action policies are often unjust....."
WendyFr says, "true"
JoeSa says, "I dont think that an underqualified worker should get a job over an overqualified worker just because of their skin color"
MaggieCa says, "well it really shouldn't matter what their skin color is, if their credintials are of a high standard, then they should get the teacing job."
JoeSa says, "It's an equal opportunity world"
WendyFr says, "right on!"
MaggieCa says, "it should be"
JoeSa says, "Or it should be anyway"
JoeSa says, "I'd bet it was hard to be a black back in the time when Steele wrote this story"
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] MiMa says, "thanks!""
WendyFr says, "yea, but things have changed"
MiMa has arrived.
MiMa says, "hey guys""
WendyFr says, "Hey, Mi Anne"
JoeSa says, "The blacks now maybe are responding to the criticizm they felt in the old days"
JoeSa says, "Hey Mi Anne"
Mr.Cole has arrived.
WendyFr says, "very true, Joe"
MaggieCa says, "it is kind of like the whole women thing. In the past we didn't have as many opportunities as men, but now we do. And in the past blacks didn't have as many opportunities, but that is over too. It is up to them to do something a
bout it instead of dwelling in the past."
Mr.Cole says, "Hey, folks. How's the disc. going?"
WendyFr says, "I totally agree, Maggie. Times have changed."
JoeSa says, "If I had to undergo some of the things that the blacks were going through then I would probably be the same way"
WendyFr says, "great"
JoeSa says, "But still, different people are more apt to adapt"
Mr.Cole says, "Can you catch me up?"
MiMa says, "yeah, catch me up too""
MaggieCa says, "yes, but it is not the blacks that are alive and moving around that had to undergo such cruelty and it wasn't the white people who are alive that put them through such cruelty. So why can't we just move on?"
JoeSa says, "Yes sir, we were discussing our schools, the % of blacks and whites, what bl;acks were going then and what they are going through now now that times have changed"
AnandVy has arrived.
Mr.Cole says, "Hi Anand."
AnandVy says, "Hi, Mr.Cole"
MaggieCa says, "hello Anand"
JoeSa says, "Hey Anand"
AnandVy says, "Hello Maggie."
Mr.Cole says, "Is this (the statement that times have changed and we should move on) what steele argues, or your own judgment?"
WendyFr says, "Anand, what did you think about Steele's selection?"
MaggieCa says, "it's my own judgement"
JoeSa says, "That's our own conviction, but I think Steele has learned to change with the times"
JoeSa says, "...and he's black, too"
AnandVy says, "trouble wit keyboard"
MaggieCa says, "hello"
MaggieCa says, "????"
JoeSa says, "I'm still here"
WendyFr says, "me, too"
WendyFr says, "I'm waiting"
MiMa says, "me three""
Mr.Cole says, "Are we in danger of falling into what Steele calls the myth of "racial innocence" -- a denial of racial prejudice that bcomes racist itself?"
MiMa says, "sure""
JoeSa says, "maybe"
AnandVy says, "Definitely"
MaggieCa says, "i am not denying that i exists i just think it shouldn't"
Mr.Cole says, "Since you are so decisive, Anand, explain why."
MaggieCa says, "i mean it e"
AnandVy says, "it is not as dangerous for someone to be openly racist as it is for someone to be hiding thier racism"
MaggieCa says, "i think we all know it's out there"
JoeSa says, "If we deny it when we know it to be true then we are deceiving ourselves"
Mr.Cole says, "Good point, Anand."
AnandVy says, "The one who hides his or her racism can be likened to a snake"
AnandVy says, "You can't trust them"
MaggieCa says, "trust who?"
MiMa says, "we need to always be aware of what went on, but we shouldn't "we should always be aware of what went on back then, but we need to get on with it""
AnandVy says, "I least know where someone who's racist stands"
MaggieCa says, "very true Mi Anne"
MiMa says, "my computers messse"
JoeSa says, "I agree with Mi Anne; we should move on with America's history"
MaggieCa says, "that is exactly the way i feel"
Mr.Cole says, "I think Steele is talking not so much about secret racists (though he mentions them) as a general endency among young whites to refuse to talk about racism, to deny that it is there, and, thus, to tacitly accept the status quo,
racism and all."
JoeSa says, "in a positive respect, that is.."
AnandVy says, "I think it's the same thing he's talking about"
MaggieCa says, "how could we change things though"
WendyFr says, "I know it is out there but not nearly as much as it used to be."
WendyFr says, "people are finally waking up"
AnandVy says, "Some of these people really don't beleive they are really n they dont beleive there is a problem, there's a problem"
MiMa says, "m"alot of people hide it because racism is so negative nowdays and people won't put yup with it""
AnandVy says, "Sorry keyboard error"
WendyFr says, "I agree; some people hide it"
MiMa says, "if people are racist, they shouldn't hide it. We have the freedom to have our own beliefs, just don't act it out""
Mr.Cole says, "Well, let's take the next step. How do we "move on" from the current position? Think a bit about Rose's essay in that context."
AnandVy says, "Definitely "
JoeSa says, "Coming from Middle Georgia I know of some of the racists that exist out there"
MaggieCa says, "i don't know if we should accept "status quo" or if we should continue to do what we can to make things better"
WendyFr says, "me too, Nick. I'm from southern GA"
AnandVy says, "We need intelligent discourse "
AnandVy says, "To bring things out"
MiMa says, "we need to start with our own selves and maybe it will rub off on others""
JoeSa says, "Mr. Rose insists on the individual applying themself"
WendyFr says, "good point, Mi"
AnandVy says, "Very good Mi."
MiMa says, "that's right, the on;ly thing we can change is us""
JoeSa says, "Same here"
WendyFr says, "it's go to start with the individual"
AnandVy says, "And not maybe. It WILL rub off on others."
AnandVy says, "Humans are amazingly maleable"
MiMa says, "i know I vvcan be mean, and sometimes looking at nice people, it makes me want to change""
Mr.Cole says, "so it begins with the individual?"
AnandVy says, "It definitely begins with the individual"
WendyFr says, "definitely"
MiMa says, "definately""
MaggieCa says, "definitely"
Mr.Cole says, "Do universities have any role to play in such change?"
MiMa says, "oops""
JoeSa says, "Rose doesnt want the underprivileged individual to whine and complain, he wants that individual to better himself by all nessecary means...."
MaggieCa says, "not really"
WendyFr says, "I don't know"
AnandVy says, "Universitites are the place where such intelligent discourse should take place. Like right now"
MiMa says, "yes, universiteis is where you go to meet many, diverse people""
MaggieCa says, "the administrators should start w/ themselves "
AnandVy says, "What if there are no necessary means"
MiMa says, "i agree""
Mr.Cole says, "I guess I meant beyond being a meeting place. Should unis be DOING something?"
AnandVy says, "No. "
MiMa says, "what can they do?""
MaggieCa says, "there is really nothing else that they can do besides open their minds"
Mr.Cole says, "Hm. Interesting position. Perhaps you are right. "
AnandVy says, "The university gives us facts and teaches us. We are then left to sort out the facts for ourselves"
Mr.Cole says, "I want to try to get a bit large group time, so I'm going to leave and call the others. Bye."
Mr.Cole goes out.
JoeSa says, "Doing something doesnt involve sitting down, it involves getting up and spreading our position"
MiMa says, " right JOE""
WendyFr says, "do we go into the main classroom now?"
MaggieCa says, "i think so"
MiMa says, "I THINK PEOPLE CAN'T REALLY HATE,"
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] Mr.Cole says, "Hey everyone, come out here. I want to get a little large-group time in before we have to leave."
MiMa goes out.
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] MiMa has arrived.
MaggieCa goes out.
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] MaggieCa has arrived.
JoeSa goes out.
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] JoeSa has arrived.
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] JenniferCa has arrived.
[Mr.Cole's Classroom] ScottFr has arrived.
WendyFr goes out.
AnandVy goes out.
End log: Wednesday, January 28, 1998 4:17:18 pm Virtual Park Hall time --