HAWKINS WEEK 1 DISCUSSION BOARD 1

Summary: A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America (Takaki, 1993) Chapters 1 – 4

To begin this book, we meet our author, Ronald Takaki, as he rides in a taxi. His
destination and merits are not brought up, but rather his race and nationality. He is looked
at as non-American because of his race, despite the fact that his family has been in the
county for over 100 years. Takaki discusses how these thoughts are influenced by this
false idea that being American means being white. Historically non-white Americans are
looked down upon even though many professionals stand behind the fact that immigrant
history is American history. Takaki studies both race and ethnicity and wants to examine
different groups together instead of singling out people by these categories. Throughout
American history, there is a constant presence of immigrants and discrimination and
violence taken out on those who are not white Americans.
Next, Takaki talks through history while contrasting the different beliefs held by white
immigrants and the indigenous people. He discusses the harmful effects of colonization
through an analysis of Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. The brutal colonization of the
Irish directly echoes the words and actions of those colonization Native Americans.
While the Natives were thriving, their destruction was crucial to the construction of the
United States for the colonists. The demonization of Natives not only served as an excuse
to take their lands but as a way to make the whites seem superior.
Much like Native Americans, Africans were greatly harmed by this idea of white
superiority. Blackness was equated with dirt and sin, while purity was associated with
whiteness. These ideas began to contribute to slavery and the build-up of the horrible
institution it became. Initially, racism saved Africans from the concept of slavery as
colonizers preferred white indentured servants, however, this shifted to racism becoming
the justification of slavery. Unrest built in the slaves, both black and white, and rebellions
began. Whites only began to push back harder by obtaining more African slaves,
implementing the one-drop rule, and spreading the myth that blacks were sexually
aggressive.
Takaki discusses how these views were not just the majority, but also held and affirmed
by nearly everyone in power. He argues that while many can affirm some of President
Jackson’s policies and attribute his negative aspects to “just how the times were”. We
need to realize that he was helping to push this discrimination further. Jackson forced
them off their lands after multiple attempts from the Natives to come to a peaceful
solution. Many Natives had their homes, lives, and families destroyed under the guise of
American progression.
What did you learn that was new to you or surprised you?
As a student, the subject of history was not my favorite, but I loved culture.
Unfortunately, I had taught them as separate entities and never got instructions in
connecting them until English class in high school or college. While I knew about nearly
all of the historical facts Takaki addressed, I never fully understand the cultural
significance and the great lengths people went to when creating and maintaining the
HAWKINS WEEK 1 DISCUSSION BOARD 2

façade that non-whites were lesser. I was surprised by the fact that there were white
indentured servants first due to racism. It is amazing to me that people who would hold
the horrible belief that enslaving someone was fair would still be racist about whom they
would enslave and then constantly change their racist attitudes to best suit them.
What either empowered you or did not empower you in this reading?
Unfortunately, most of this reading made me feel helpless and unempowered. I have
taken an African American history course that opened my eyes to the history and culture
of American society that is often pushed aside. It is not empowering to see history fail
again and again. To this day, we see this horrible inequality against those who are not
white. As someone who wants to educate those towards a more equal and diverse future,
it really hurts to see that we have not progressed as far as we should have since the time
of slavery. The only thing that does empower me is the fact that as an educator, I get to
make the active choice to include culture and accurate history in my classroom. I can
make sure to foster equality and kindness in my students instead of hiding history from
them or making them feel ashamed for their skin color.
How would you take the benefits of this reading and move it into action in your work or
educational environment?
I will be teaching culture in my classroom. As of right now, I am going to be a 3rd grade
math teacher, but I will still teach culture. It would not be appropriate to teach 3rd graders
about every historical fact that Takaki mentioned, however, I can still teach the
implications of it. This can be done even as simple as creating a community culture
where we respect everyone and give everyone a fair chance. I want to justify my actions
to my kids through these exercises and tell them that equality is so important because, for
a long time and even today, there are many people who do not receive that treatment. I
want to allow my students to be good people, not just good mathematicians. I may not be
able to teach this reading or the facts of this reading in my classroom, but that doesn’t
mean I am unable to teach the lessons behind it. I want my students to know that we need
to recognize that we all are different and that we do not deserve to be treated lesser
because of those differences.
How did the reading impact your view of culture in education?
The reading did not change my view of culture in education, but it did exemplify it. I
have always been a strong proponent on culture in education and have always planned to
incorporate it in my classroom as much as possible. This reading just made me even more
sure about my decision. It is easy to say that you love culture and want to create a
positive classroom culture but remembering the reasoning and the impacts behind it are
much more difficult to face. This reading made me come face to face with the
implications of cultural discrimination creates and assured my reasoning for
incorporating it into education with my students.
HAWKINS WEEK 1 DISCUSSION BOARD 3

References

Takaki, R. (1993). A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Boston, MA.: Little,
Brown and Company.