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[POLL] College Math Instructor Accused of Racially Insensitive Test Question

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I like watermelon. Hell I eat watermelon all day if you let me.

Is there something wrong WITH black people eating watermelon?

tell ME now
 
Originally posted by: timur
I like watermelon. Hell I eat watermelon all day if you let me.

Is there something wrong WITH black people eating watermelon?

tell ME now

/me shrugs

Next thing you know, you'll get in trouble if you say that the Irish like potatoes, Mexicans like burritos and quesadillas, and white people like ... *thinks* ... macaroni and cheese and Spam? 😀

- M4H
 
As I think about it, it seems that the stereotype references of fried chicken and watermellon being applied to blacks is used less and less... But, when I was a kid, it was a major stereotype. There were many many racist remarks being made that involved watermellon and/or fried chicken.

For the younger generation - many of the members here - you probably don't realize how widespread such remarks once were. But, that teacher is older and should have known better. It was poor judgement in his case, to write such a question. Anyone his age with any degree of common sense would know what outcome to expect.

Still, I agree with the discipline he received - slap on the wrist and "you should know better, shame on you!" It wasn't that bad of a joke.

And, as far as writing questions like that for tests goes, they're great questions because you can use them as markers to know how your students are progressing (watch for the smiles or the subtle giggles), plus it helps relieve a little of the stress some of the students are going through as they take a final exam. If you write a relatively simple problem into a humorous word problem, you can watch the reactions of students as they reach that problem. Many of the students seem more relaxed for the remainder of the test as well. And, while the guy was a math professor, you haven't taken a physics class until you've done video analysis of a watermellon dropped from the 10th floor of a building in order to calculate g. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: J Heartless Slick
Originally posted by: Vinfinite
Everything is racial insensitivity nowadays, you got my vote to ban all test questions, forever.

oh and I voted No

Is the fact that most ATOT members are white or asian the explanation for their tolerance of racism and racist based behavior?


isn't it racist assuming that blacks don't visit a technical forum?
 
Originally posted by: Pepsei
Originally posted by: J Heartless Slick
Originally posted by: Vinfinite
Everything is racial insensitivity nowadays, you got my vote to ban all test questions, forever.

oh and I voted No

Is the fact that most ATOT members are white or asian the explanation for their tolerance of racism and racist based behavior?


isn't it racist assuming that blacks don't visit a technical forum?

I don't think he assumed blacks don't visit technical forums. He stated a simple fact: the majority here are white or asian.
Would you have considered it sexist to say that the vast majority here are males?? (I think the last official count was in the 60')
 
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