Regents exam's colonialism questions anger black students

[Mekeda7]

Regents exam's colonialism questions anger black students
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/loca...p-352958c.html
By ERIN EINHORN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Black students and educators are denouncing a series of questions on the most recent global history Regents exam that they charge were racially biased and insensitive.

At least one student - Chantelle Jones, a junior at Bushwick Community High School in Brooklyn - said she was so outraged by the questions on the January test, she complained to the exam proctor.

She then ran out of time on the test's final essay, never finished it, and failed. She'll have to take the required test again in June.

"It makes me so upset," said Jones, 18. "It's disrespectful to me and my people."

The questions - which asked students to describe how Africa benefited from imperialism - were on a section of the exam that gave students historical passages to read, then asked them to describe the arguments made by the author.

The first was based on an 1893 passage from "The Rise of Our East African Empire," by Frederick Lugard, who, while working for the Imperial British East Africa Co. in the 19th century, helped colonize Uganda and other African countries.

On the exam, students were asked to read Lugard's account of British projects in Africa like digging wells and building irrigation systems, then to "state two ways British imperialism would benefit Africans."

Next up was a passage from Lugard's "The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa," from 1922. It described British efforts to end the slave trade and reduce famine and disease.

"We are endeavoring ... to teach the native races to conduct their own affairs with justice and humanity, and to educate them alike in letters and in industry," Lugard wrote.

Students were asked to name "two ways the British improved the lives of Africans."

"This is just beyond the pale," said Esmeralda Simmons, the executive director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College.

"It's basically asking students of African descent, and all students, to justify European or British imperialism as if Africans were either culturally or genetically inferior," added Simmons, who sent a formal letter of protest to the Regents.

Tom Dunn, a spokesman for the state Education Department, noted that the test was put together by educators of "diverse backgrounds."

But he added the Lugard portion of the exam "should have been worded in a way that clearly instructed students to respond based on the perspective of the author."

Still, he said, "In order to teach history, we have to use passages that reflect history's reality. ... Kids have to learn the skills of historical analysis, which includes the ability to investigate different and competing interpretations of the theories of history."

But that argument doesn't fly with Brian Favors, who teaches a course on slavery and counts Jones among his students.

He called the questions, "very racist," adding: "It's the equivalent of asking a Jewish child to state two ways the Holocaust benefited Jews."

Favors is a member of Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence, which is sponsoring a rally to "end institutional racism" on Wednesday - the 52nd anniversary of the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The rally will be at the city Education Department.

Simmons said she wants to see the Regents void students' answers on the controversial questions.

That wouldn't help Jones, though - she said she answered those questions correctly.

"I picked something out of all those lies and put it down," she said. "I was kind of sarcastic with my answer. I let it be known to whoever was grading the exam that I was upset, but I had to pass the exam."

[Im The Truth]

How Africa Benefited for imperialism? WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[josteele]

Originally Posted by Mekeda7

Regents exam's colonialism questions anger black students
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/loca...p-352958c.html
By ERIN EINHORN
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Black students and educators are denouncing a series of questions on the most recent global history Regents exam that they charge were racially biased and insensitive.

At least one student - Chantelle Jones, a junior at Bushwick Community High School in Brooklyn - said she was so outraged by the questions on the January test, she complained to the exam proctor.

She then ran out of time on the test's final essay, never finished it, and failed. She'll have to take the required test again in June.

"It makes me so upset," said Jones, 18. "It's disrespectful to me and my people."

The questions - which asked students to describe how Africa benefited from imperialism - were on a section of the exam that gave students historical passages to read, then asked them to describe the arguments made by the author.

The first was based on an 1893 passage from "The Rise of Our East African Empire," by Frederick Lugard, who, while working for the Imperial British East Africa Co. in the 19th century, helped colonize Uganda and other African countries.

On the exam, students were asked to read Lugard's account of British projects in Africa like digging wells and building irrigation systems, then to "state two ways British imperialism would benefit Africans."

Next up was a passage from Lugard's "The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa," from 1922. It described British efforts to end the slave trade and reduce famine and disease.

"We are endeavoring ... to teach the native races to conduct their own affairs with justice and humanity, and to educate them alike in letters and in industry," Lugard wrote.

Students were asked to name "two ways the British improved the lives of Africans."

"This is just beyond the pale," said Esmeralda Simmons, the executive director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College.

"It's basically asking students of African descent, and all students, to justify European or British imperialism as if Africans were either culturally or genetically inferior," added Simmons, who sent a formal letter of protest to the Regents.

Tom Dunn, a spokesman for the state Education Department, noted that the test was put together by educators of "diverse backgrounds."

But he added the Lugard portion of the exam "should have been worded in a way that clearly instructed students to respond based on the perspective of the author."

Still, he said, "In order to teach history, we have to use passages that reflect history's reality. ... Kids have to learn the skills of historical analysis, which includes the ability to investigate different and competing interpretations of the theories of history."

But that argument doesn't fly with Brian Favors, who teaches a course on slavery and counts Jones among his students.

He called the questions, "very racist," adding: "It's the equivalent of asking a Jewish child to state two ways the Holocaust benefited Jews."

Favors is a member of Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence, which is sponsoring a rally to "end institutional racism" on Wednesday - the 52nd anniversary of the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The rally will be at the city Education Department.

Simmons said she wants to see the Regents void students' answers on the controversial questions.

That wouldn't help Jones, though - she said she answered those questions correctly.

"I picked something out of all those lies and put it down," she said. "I was kind of sarcastic with my answer. I let it be known to whoever was grading the exam that I was upset, but I had to pass the exam."

they just wanted to see how much of this s*** will we accept. They feel like they gave us 'equal rights' they let us 'make money' we should feel 'free' right...

...So they test you; if you 'smart' you answer these questions 'right' and forget about what they people have done to ours in the past; just set your self up to get a GOOD JOB then you can ENJOY LIFE. We proved to them again THAT AINT WHAT WE WANT...

I give props to dem folks......

[Draptomania]

Out of curiosity, I'd LOVE to see the responses on this test. This brings to mind a test about Condi Rice and a watermelon...(click link)

Asante for the post Sis Mekeda

[Mekeda7]

Originally Posted by Draptomania

Out of curiosity, I'd LOVE to see the responses on this test. This brings to mind a test about Condi Rice and a watermelon...(click link)

Asante for the post Sis Mekeda

One thing I got to say... Rice and Watermelons don't mix...lol (that's my I don't care too much for CR comment)

And on the serious note, yeah this is some bs!

It is necessary that we voice our outrage at such nonesense!
And, we need a long term goal of creating our own institutions
where we are the ones responsible for the proper education of
our youth.

This is a prime (and yet over stated) example of the fact that
it makes no sense for those who hate us to be teaching us or
our children. This yt gets a slap on the wrist for its racism, yet
this yt gets to keep teaching, and its name is kept confidential...
so that it can continue to mentally assault us!

We should not be surprised at these incidences, these yt's and
their exams are not just random acts, they are a part of a long
running system that started when yt came to Afrika with a bible
in one hand and guns in the other.

Medase pa (thanx much) for sharing this with us, sis!

[Mekeda7]

Originally Posted by josteele

they just wanted to see how much of this s*** will we accept. They feel like they gave us 'equal rights' they let us 'make money' we should feel 'free' right...

...So they test you; if you 'smart' you answer these questions 'right' and forget about what they people have done to ours in the past; just set your self up to get a GOOD JOB then you can ENJOY LIFE. We proved to them again THAT AINT WHAT WE WANT...

I give props to dem folks......

Good Point josteel, it is the wise and courageous one who will answer with truth when yt plans to reward those willing to tell lies. Ase to the Afrikan warrior students (and teachers, etc) who were willing to stand for their ancestors in the face of yt academia!

[Mekeda7]

Originally Posted by Im The Truth

How Africa Benefited for imperialism? WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You took those very eloquant words right out my mouth! lol

How did europe benefit from Afrika? How about that for a regents question!?