But I know racial and ethnic stereotypes still exist: I am an African-American woman from a working-class background at a small, private liberal arts school, where the most well-meaning students unmask their ingrained stereotypes only when they let their guard down. Some of my students, for example, are surprised to find out I was raised in a two-parent household (married parents, at that).
From an educator's point of view, it's tragic to see college students intimidated into thinking it's taboo to speak certain words or ideas associated with racial and ethnic groups. The thoughts and words are there, but students aren't comfortable expressing them.
Cynthia Merriwether-deVries usatoday 02/28/03
