Read this hypothetical story, offered by my colleague Richard Delgado at BlackProf.com,
and let me know what you think!

by Richard Delgado

Should I exclude whites from my review sessions?   

Heather F. McKinstry, IV, who is white, teaches an extremely technical and demanding law school class that many third-year students take to prepare for jobs in large law firms or the federal government.  Over the years, Heather has been dismayed to hand in her grades, after reading her examination bluebooks anonymously, only to learn that her black and Latino students have earned the lowest marks and that white students cluster toward the top.

This distresses her greatly.  She has tried altering her teaching methods, including giving open-book and untimed exams.  She offers individual tutoring in her office for any student who asks for it.  She supports the black student organization and shows up at their annual events and fundraisers.  One of her two research assistants is black (the other is Latino), and she has lived with a black man for the last five years.

She doubts that the problem lies in her teaching methods or attitudes, although she is genuinely open to change and suggestions.

This year, in an effort to break the cycle of black and Latino underachievement, she announced during the first week of class that, beginning the fourth week, she would offer optional review sessions for students with grade-point averages of B or lower.

The first two sessions went well.  At the third one, however, she noticed a preponderance of white faces (the participants at the first two meetings were mostly black and Latino), and in the following days she received a blizzard of email.  Several white students complained of her policy, saying that all students, including those with averages higher than B, could benefit from the sessions, and if they were covertly aimed at minorities alone, they were illegal and immoral.

A few other emails were from minority students who had not been attending the events but said they felt stigmatized because they sent the message that students of color were unable to succeed without extra help.

The associate dean has requested that Heather stop by his office to discuss her policy.

MOM SAYS that Heather should stick to her guns.  So long as any struggling student, white or nonwhite, is free to attend her sessions, nothing is wrong with them.  Of course, she could open them to every student, including the solid-A member of the law review who wants to sit in just to make sure he is not missing anything.  But doing so would destroy their character and make them less useful for those she really wants to help.  Minority students who feel insulted simply because some of their counterparts are attending her sessions have no grounds for complaint, either.  Because Heather has only so much time and energy, she has no obligation to offer additional sessions for A-minus students wishing to earn an A-plus.

Nor do white students have a legitimate gripe.  She doesn’t exclude them—they simply don’t fall (most of them, at any rate) within the range she has declared eligible for the sessions.

If the associate dean insists that she offer sessions to all, she should announce a second session, taught by one of her research assistants, open to those with top grades, and go ahead teaching her remedial sessions as she has been doing all along.  Sometimes educators have to make hard choices.  This is one.

America can’t shop its way to greatness, and this one-time, government-funded shopping spree won’t lead us to a sound economy.

Checks for $600 Won’t Fix Our Economy
By Jim Hightower

Washington was excited. The media establishment applauded. Wall Street smiled. Somewhere, a bluebird of happiness chirped.

In a celebrated display of bipartisanship, both parties joined hands last month to pass a whopper of a stimulus package. Cash, they crowed, would soon be flowing. “We’re sending a $600 check to you, and $300 to you, and $1,200 to couples, and…well, almost everyone will get money! It’s manna straight from heaven to get our big ol’ economy high-ballin’ down Prosperity Highway,” they exulted.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with our economy,” they quickly added. “No, no,” said the self-congratulatory stimulators. “Everything’s fine. Really fine. Really.”

In his State of the Union peroration, Bush insisted, “Americans can be confident about our economic growth.” Treasury Secretary Henry Paulsen chimed in, “The U.S. economy is fundamentally strong.” Buckshot Cheney came out of his bunker to assert that America has a “solid platform” for continued economic growth. And Condi Rice assured world leaders that our economy is “resilient, its structure sound, and its long-term economic fundamentals are healthy.”

Hmmm. If the basics of the economy are in such great shape, why would we need all this cheerleading by the wizards in charge? You don’t have to be in Who’s Who to know what’s what. They can whoop it up ’til they’re hoarse, but for most Americans, the kitchen-table fundamentals are nothing to cheer about. As a fellow in Missouri recently said to me, “If these are good times, why aren’t I having one?”

While it’s probably rude of me to look a gift stimulus in the mouth, this one seems seriously flawed. The feeble philosophy behind it is the same that shaped George W’s insulting comment after 9/11, when he declared that the highest civic role of the American people is to “go shopping.” Come on, George, America can’t shop its way to greatness, nor will this onetime, government-funded shopping spree lead us to a sound economy.

For the rest of the story, click here. 

90210 Being Remade

Nineties teen soap opera Beverly Hills 90210 is being remade with a whole new cast of characters. What do you think?

Allie Modell,
Systems Analyst
“A remake of 90210? They stole my idea!”

Austin Robinson,
Security Screener
“I heard they had to get all the information about the original 90210 from the last surviving cast member.”

Matt Heller,
Bouncer
“If today’s youth lacks anything, it’s cable TV shows that provide a window into the lives of overprivileged Beverly Hills trust-fund kids.”

After my appearance on the O’Reilly Factor last night, I’ve received a barrage of emails from people telling me that my “King Kong” comparison was ludicrous. Hope this helps…

Today’s video of the day is a classic from the best male group since the Jackson 5. Enjoy!!!!!!!