FAQ

What About?

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How much?

The Case for Ethnic Studies...

students of color are...

More likely to live in poverty
At schools that likely receive less $23 billion less than schools with mostly white students
Less likely to have Internet access & /or home computers
More likely to be targeted for dress code
Less likely to see themselves centered in curriculum
More likely to be at a school without counselors but with school police
Less likely to have their intersectional needs met (gender diversity, sexual identity, disability, etc).

Black male students are...

Less likely than white peers to have a teacher who looks like them, are less likely to have access to AP & college-ready courses (only 57% do), and see less positive representation of themselves in curriculum
MORE likely than white peers to face implicit bias from staff, 3.8x times more likely to be suspended, 2.3x more likely to be referred to or arrested by a school police officer and 5x more likely to be detained by or sent to juvenile detention centers.

Studies of ethnic studies prove...

When kids study other cultures, their empathy & acceptance increases; for example, studies of Islam have proven to reduce Islamophobia (Pew Research Center)
Students who "struggle" and are at higher risk of dropping out were proven to increase in attendance & GPA as a result of taking Ethnic Studies; this especially benefitted Latino males (study by Stanford Grad School)
Black students do better in school when given access to Black role models, in and beyond curriculum
Students of color increase in self-esteem & critical thinking skills when allowed to take an Ethnic Studies course
White students benefit from overall diversity in their schooling experience, including within their studied content
Ethnic Studies courses can help to "dispel myths and build connections amongst students as opposed to divisions," especially because all students have been “miseducated about the roles of both Whites and people of color throughout history” (Professor Brooks, Cal State Fullerton)

My best evidence that middle schoolers need ethnic studies come from my own ethnic studies students...

I just want to say thank you for bringing me hope every day you make me excited to go to school. Every time I come in to your class I feel welcomed. I love learning about stuff in your class. Not only do I learn ethnic studies I learn new things about people in our class every day. I chose ethnic studies because I want to be an immigration lawyer and help make a change and you have helped me learn how. When I become an immigration lawyer and make a change just know you were a big part of that. I have learned more things about history than I have in history class because you tell the stories of the unheard. I am slowly helping to make change I convinced my mom to vote and she voted for the first time I also brought up the lGTbQ community in history thanks to you and I have spoken up. I always thought I had to protest in order to get equality you have taught me that there is many other ways to do it and that by just words I can help make a change. I love coming to our class because I can relate to a lot of people but at the same time we are all so different so I learn something new.
Ethnic studies was an amazing class, it educated me about cultures, BLM, racism, homophobia, etc. Before I took ethnic studies I had no care or education about racism, white supremacy, homophobia, etc, that class genuinely helped me become a better person, it helped me realize that people of color don’t have the same rights as white people, ethnic studies really helped me a lot and educated me a lot. That class also helped me create a good relationship with my teacher, showing me that I can trust her no matter what!❤️
I juss wanna say I appreciate you for everything- you uplifted me and boosted my confidence- taught me to be a stronger young woman and to use my voice- to be loud and proud and stand firm in my beliefs and to speak on how I feel and when I feel- I appreciate you so much... you've helped me overcome so many things- ESPECIALLY with body positivity-