Ethnic Identity and Power
Cultural Contexts of Political Action in School and Society
Published on 9. April 1998
Book
Hardback
472 pages
978-0-7914-3753-7 (ISBN)
Description
A stimulating comparative examination of the educational ramifications of cultural identity, with implications for public policy.
The relationship between ethnic identity and power has important consequences in a modern world that is changing rapidly through global immigration trends. Studies of ethnic/racial conflict of ethnic identity and power become necessarily studies of political power, social status, school achievement, and allocation of resources. The recognition of power by an ethnic group, however, creates a competition for control and a rivalry for power over public arenas, such as schools.
In this context this book provides interesting and important insights into the dilemmas faced by immigrants and members of ethnic groups, by school personnel, and by policy makers. The first part of the book consists of comparative studies of ethnic identity. The second part focuses directly on some of the lessons learned from social science research on ethnic identification and the critical study of equity, with its implications for pedagogy. An interdisciplinary group of scholars offers profoundly honest and stimulating accounts of their struggles to decipher self-identification processes in various political contexts, as well as their personal reflections on the study of ethnicity.
A powerful message emerges that invites reflection about self-identification processes, and that allows a deeper understanding of the empowering consequences of a clear and strong personal, cultural, ethnic, and social identity. These pages offer a keen grasp of the undeniable political contexts of education.
The relationship between ethnic identity and power has important consequences in a modern world that is changing rapidly through global immigration trends. Studies of ethnic/racial conflict of ethnic identity and power become necessarily studies of political power, social status, school achievement, and allocation of resources. The recognition of power by an ethnic group, however, creates a competition for control and a rivalry for power over public arenas, such as schools.
In this context this book provides interesting and important insights into the dilemmas faced by immigrants and members of ethnic groups, by school personnel, and by policy makers. The first part of the book consists of comparative studies of ethnic identity. The second part focuses directly on some of the lessons learned from social science research on ethnic identification and the critical study of equity, with its implications for pedagogy. An interdisciplinary group of scholars offers profoundly honest and stimulating accounts of their struggles to decipher self-identification processes in various political contexts, as well as their personal reflections on the study of ethnicity.
A powerful message emerges that invites reflection about self-identification processes, and that allows a deeper understanding of the empowering consequences of a clear and strong personal, cultural, ethnic, and social identity. These pages offer a keen grasp of the undeniable political contexts of education.
Reviews / Votes
"I was captured by the 'guts' of this book. It's a courageous and much needed volume which tackles, head-on and quite candidly, current world crises of power and dominance and struggles with persistent and pernicious racism. A fine balance of academic and 'real world' knowledge. An excellent contribution to discussions of education in broad cultural context. An amazing collection of scholars, activists and talented writers!" - Perry Gilmore, University of Alaska, Fairbanks"This is a fascinating book on the role of cultural identity for political action as well as the educational implications of cultural identity. The authors weave the notion of ethnic identity and power throughout each article, thereby providing the reader with compelling evidence that these notions have serious implications for pedagogical praxis." - Gilda Maria Bloom, San Francisco State University
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Albany, NY
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Weight
789 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7914-3753-7 (9780791437537)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Yali Zou is Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Cultural Studies and Director of the Asian American Studies Center at the University of Houston. Enrique T. Trueba is Professor and Executive Co-Director of the Institute for Urban Education at the University of Houston.
Content
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Enrique (Henry) T. Trueba and Yali Zou
1. Cultural Politics of the White Ethniclass in the Mid-Nineties
George and Louise Spindler
2. Leadership, Education, and Political Action: The Emergence of New Latino Ethnic Identities
Cirenio Rodriguez and Enrique (Henry) T. Trueba
3. Power and Learning in a Multi-Ethnic High School: Dilemmas of Policy and Practice
Jon Wagner
4. Teaching Against the Grain in Bilingual Education: Resistance in the Classroom Underlife
Rebecca Constantino and Christian Faltis
5. Affirmative Action in Engineering Education: A Case Study
James F. Shackelford, Penelope L. Shackelford, and Enrique (Henry) T. Trueba
6. The Policy of Modernization of Education: A Challenge to Democracy in Mexico
Beatriz Calvo
7. Indigenous Images and Identity in Pluricultural Mexico: Media as Official Apologist and Catalyst for Democratic Action
Robert DeVillar
8. The Role of Media in Armed and Peaceful Struggles for Identity: Indigenous Self-Expression in Mexico
Robert DeVillar and Victor Franco
9. Mixed Messages: Moroccan Children in the Netherlands Living in Two Worlds
Lotty Eldering
10. State Terrors: Immigrants and Refugees in the Post-National Space
Marcelo M. Suarez-Orozco
11. Identity, Cultural Diversity, and Education: Notes Toward a Pedagogy of the Excluded
Elvira S. Lima and Marcelo G. Lima
12. Dancing with Bigotry: The Poisoning of Racial and Ethnic Identities
Donaldo Macedo and Lilia I. Bartolome
13. Aspects of the Cultural Politics of Alaskan Education
David M. Smith
14. Dilemmas Faced by Critical Ethnographers in China
Yali Zou
15. Afterword: !Ya Basta!
Peter McLaren
Contributors
Index
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Enrique (Henry) T. Trueba and Yali Zou
1. Cultural Politics of the White Ethniclass in the Mid-Nineties
George and Louise Spindler
2. Leadership, Education, and Political Action: The Emergence of New Latino Ethnic Identities
Cirenio Rodriguez and Enrique (Henry) T. Trueba
3. Power and Learning in a Multi-Ethnic High School: Dilemmas of Policy and Practice
Jon Wagner
4. Teaching Against the Grain in Bilingual Education: Resistance in the Classroom Underlife
Rebecca Constantino and Christian Faltis
5. Affirmative Action in Engineering Education: A Case Study
James F. Shackelford, Penelope L. Shackelford, and Enrique (Henry) T. Trueba
6. The Policy of Modernization of Education: A Challenge to Democracy in Mexico
Beatriz Calvo
7. Indigenous Images and Identity in Pluricultural Mexico: Media as Official Apologist and Catalyst for Democratic Action
Robert DeVillar
8. The Role of Media in Armed and Peaceful Struggles for Identity: Indigenous Self-Expression in Mexico
Robert DeVillar and Victor Franco
9. Mixed Messages: Moroccan Children in the Netherlands Living in Two Worlds
Lotty Eldering
10. State Terrors: Immigrants and Refugees in the Post-National Space
Marcelo M. Suarez-Orozco
11. Identity, Cultural Diversity, and Education: Notes Toward a Pedagogy of the Excluded
Elvira S. Lima and Marcelo G. Lima
12. Dancing with Bigotry: The Poisoning of Racial and Ethnic Identities
Donaldo Macedo and Lilia I. Bartolome
13. Aspects of the Cultural Politics of Alaskan Education
David M. Smith
14. Dilemmas Faced by Critical Ethnographers in China
Yali Zou
15. Afterword: !Ya Basta!
Peter McLaren
Contributors
Index