Today I was in a drama class and the teacher said something that made me rather uncomfortable.

We were doing an activity where we were in a circle and we had the strike a pose. We went around the circle and asked everyone to say one line that they imagined their character saying.

Eventually we got to one girl who had this attitude all over her face. Her line was, "oh helllll no."

The teacher, who was talking to her about how say it better (basically clearer, the girl was trying to sound "ghetto"), then said, "What are you trying to be, a character from The Help?"

And my face went:

Being the only black person in the room, I felt very uncomfortable. What made it worse is when several girls laughed and shouted, "Oh, the black people movie!"

I left the room appalled. Tomorrow, I'm going to have a talk with the teacher, but I'm seeking advice. Was I overreacting and taking it too seriously? What do you guys think?

No, I don't think so.

First of all, "The Help" wasn't the type of movie to use as an example, so the teacher was very out of line for associating "ghetto-acting" with it.

Second, did the girl say that she was trying to "act ghetto"?

Why was that phrase associated with the ghetto, as if no one else says, "Oh Hell No!"

Getting caught off-guard in these situations is very uncomfortable.

I'm sorry you were put in that position.

chocolate1 said:

No, I don't think so.

First of all, "The Help" wasn't the type of movie to use as an example, so the teacher was very out of line for associating "ghetto-acting" with it.

Second, did the girl say that she was trying to "act ghetto"?

Why was that phrase associated with the ghetto, as if no one else says, "Oh Hell No!"

Getting caught off-guard in these situations is very uncomfortable.

I'm sorry you were put in that position.

Thanks for the support. It is very hard to be in that position.

No, she didn't say she was trying to act "ghetto", but I could tell with her mannerisms and expressions that it was the type of thnig she was going for.

And I wouldn't mind if she said something like Madea, but The Help? Really.

you have a right to be offended, no matter the case.

you didn't 'over react' because you'll talk to the instructor

when you go back to class. over reactin is imeadiately

sayin "wut, you crackahs think that's funny???"

then they can say you were bein racially insensitive.

in a country were racism is non-existant

you can prepare yourself to here the

"get over it speach" or better yet, the appology

and then stood up in class (singled out) and

having it said the you are sensitive and "please

don't rile the darkie" in so many words.

but you will now hear from those who say

excuse them, you're bein touchy, they were

just playin and you're too serious.

that's why we'll always have these threads

have the talk, for the rest of us...

KingBAD said:

you have a right to be offended, no matter the case.

you didn't 'over react' because you'll talk to the instructor

when you go back to class. over reactin is imeadiately

sayin "wut, you crackahs think that's funny???"

then they can say you were bein racially insensitive.

in a country were racism is non-existant

you can prepare yourself to here the

"get over it speach" or better yet, the appology

and then stood up in class (singled out) and

having it said the you are sensitive and "please

don't rile the darkie" in so many words.

but you will now hear from those who say

excuse them, you're bein touchy, they were

just playin and you're too serious.

that's why we'll always have these threads

have the talk, for the rest of us...

You have made some really good points.

Thanks for the advice.

Back in the day, I was the only Black in a Literacy class. The professor went on about how parents "in tha hood" don't read to their children... THEN she said, "Right, Lynn?"

We were sitting in a circle, so I looked around at my classmates and said, "How would I know? I grew up in suburbia with 2.2 kids and a dog."

EVERYONE was uncomfortable.

Afterward, I asked the prof why she assumed I was from the hood... No answer.

chocolate1 said:

Back in the day, I was the only Black in a Literacy class. The professor went on about how parents "in tha hood" don't read to their children... THEN she said, "Right, Lynn?"

We were sitting in a circle, so I looked around at my classmates and said, "How would I know? I grew up in suburbia with 2.2 kids and a dog."

EVERYONE was uncomfortable.

Afterward, I asked the prof why she assumed I was from the hood... No answer.

WOW. WOW.

Now I don't feel so bad.

smoothcriminal12 said:

chocolate1 said:

Back in the day, I was the only Black in a Literacy class. The professor went on about how parents "in tha hood" don't read to their children... THEN she said, "Right, Lynn?"

We were sitting in a circle, so I looked around at my classmates and said, "How would I know? I grew up in suburbia with 2.2 kids and a dog."

EVERYONE was uncomfortable.

Afterward, I asked the prof why she assumed I was from the hood... No answer.

WOW. WOW.

Now I don't feel so bad.

Just knock on the Prof's door and say something like:

"May I speak with you for a moment? I was uncomfortable yesterday when you referred to 'The Help' when ___ gave her pose. I'm unclear as to why you chose that movie in that situation. I have to be honest... (tell him/her how you felt). I wanted to come to you because I didn't want the discomfort to change how I feel about this class."

Good luck!

chocolate1 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

WOW. WOW.

Now I don't feel so bad.

Just knock on the Prof's door and say something like:

"May I speak with you for a moment? I was uncomfortable yesterday when you referred to 'The Help' when ___ gave her pose. I'm unclear as to why you chose that movie in that situation. I have to be honest... (tell him/her how you felt). I wanted to come to you because I didn't want the discomfort to change how I feel about this class."

Good luck!

Thank you! I'm hoping it all goes smoothly.

Genesia said:

That sounds like one lame acting class. I've taken acting classes since I was 9 - and I've never heard of a "strike a pose and say a line" exercise.

Oh shit, I love this kinda ish! My crazy self would said something so anti-white I probably woulda got kicked out of class.

It's sad, but as black people we have to be ready for this type of ignorance. We are always going to be looked at as the "ghetto" and inferior people. My father always told me growing up that as a black man, it's going to be 10x harder for me. Realest shit I've ever been told. And even being in a big ass college where people are supposed to be more open-minded and liberal, there have been some instances.

Smooth, you are not overreacting at all. My only advice to you is don't be ignorant like me when you talk to your teacher . You don't fight ignorance with ignorance (no matter how good it might sound lol). You have to show them that you're not ignorant, which will surprise them.

Good luck!

Terrib3Towel said:

Oh shit, I love this kinda ish! My crazy self would said something so anti-white I probably woulda got kicked out of class.

It's sad, but as black people we have to be ready for this type of ignorance. We are always going to be looked at as the "ghetto" and inferior people. My father always told me growing up that as a black man, it's going to be 10x harder for me. Realest shit I've ever been told. And even being in a big ass college where people are supposed to be more open-minded and liberal, there have been some instances.

Smooth, you are not overreacting at all. My only advice to you is don't be ignorant like me when you talk to your teacher . You don't fight ignorance with ignorance (no matter how good it might sound lol). You have to show them that you're not ignorant, which will surprise them.

Good luck!

yeah, no matter how you say it

it would have been wrong, nevermind

whut the reason was...

SUE THEY CRACKAH ASSES!!!

i'm jokin,

most of my best friends are white

i live in a house full of 'em (2)

so you know i have them here for dinner all the time.

most of them can beat me at basketball

and dancin. so NO

i haven't a racist bone in my body

Genesia said:

That sounds like one lame acting class. I've taken acting classes since I was 9 - and I've never heard of a "strike a pose and say a line" exercise.

I love u bitch.

wow. that sounds kinda mental. i probably could have let the "The Help" comment slide but the other comment about "oh the black people movie", yeah that's not on.

Did they realize you were even in the class?

Your teacher sounds really ignorant, and I hope you do address your discomfort with her soon.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Today I was in a drama class and the teacher said something that made me rather uncomfortable.

We were doing an activity where we were in a circle and we had the strike a pose. We went around the circle and asked everyone to say one line that they imagined their character saying.

Eventually we got to one girl who had this attitude all over her face. Her line was, "oh helllll no."

The teacher, who was talking to her about how say it better (basically clearer, the girl was trying to sound "ghetto"), then said, "What are you trying to be, a character from The Help?"

And my face went:

Being the only black person in the room, I felt very uncomfortable. What made it worse is when several girls laughed and shouted, "Oh, the black people movie!"

I left the room appalled. Tomorrow, I'm going to have a talk with the teacher, but I'm seeking advice. Was I overreacting and taking it too seriously? What do you guys think?

Unless TV shows are referenced often in the class, the teacher was out of line and so were the girls. I would have reacted the same way in a similar situation, I'm glad you're going to have a private talk with the teacher.

Unfortunately this sort of thing goes on all the time, such as Italians being called "Jersey Shore" and Asians being labeled as "Jackie Chans". Hopefully the day will come when there is no more stereotyping.

full range of emotions on this one. no you are not overreacting.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Tomorrow, I'm going to have a talk with the teacher, but I'm seeking advice. Was I overreacting and taking it too seriously? What do you guys think?

I think there is a reason why you ask yourself that question.

PANDURITO said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Tomorrow, I'm going to have a talk with the teacher, but I'm seeking advice. Was I overreacting and taking it too seriously? What do you guys think?

I think there is a reason why you ask yourself that question.

Please elaborate...

smoothcriminal12 said:

Today I was in a drama class and the teacher said something that made me rather uncomfortable.

We were doing an activity where we were in a circle and we had the strike a pose. We went around the circle and asked everyone to say one line that they imagined their character saying.

Eventually we got to one girl who had this attitude all over her face. Her line was, "oh helllll no."

The teacher, who was talking to her about how say it better (basically clearer, the girl was trying to sound "ghetto"), then said, "What are you trying to be, a character from The Help?"

And my face went:

Being the only black person in the room, I felt very uncomfortable. What made it worse is when several girls laughed and shouted, "Oh, the black people movie!"

I left the room appalled. Tomorrow, I'm going to have a talk with the teacher, but I'm seeking advice. Was I overreacting and taking it too seriously? What do you guys think?

By leaving the room, I hope it was after the class was over and not directly after the statements were made. Leaving directly makes it look like you're weak and can't take the heat. You have as much right to be there as anyone else so never leave when things look rough. Address it, stand your ground, but don't make a ghetto scene because that's what they want and that's what they expect. Never give them what they want. Address it but also show them that you're not as ignorant as they are.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Today I was in a drama class and the teacher said something that made me rather uncomfortable.

We were doing an activity where we were in a circle and we had the strike a pose. We went around the circle and asked everyone to say one line that they imagined their character saying.

Eventually we got to one girl who had this attitude all over her face. Her line was, "oh helllll no."

The teacher, who was talking to her about how say it better (basically clearer, the girl was trying to sound "ghetto"), then said, "What are you trying to be, a character from The Help?"

And my face went:

Being the only black person in the room, I felt very uncomfortable. What made it worse is when several girls laughed and shouted, "Oh, the black people movie!"

I left the room appalled. Tomorrow, I'm going to have a talk with the teacher, but I'm seeking advice. Was I overreacting and taking it too seriously? What do you guys think?

You had a right to be upset and disturbed by the comments and no I don't think you over-reacted because you said you left (I don't know if it was during the class or after) and want to speak to the teacher about it one on one. Besides that, is there a better drama class you can look up and attend? Sounds like this teacher is not culturally experienced at all to even be teaching a drama class.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I will say that I did not walk out early. I waited until it was over. And I might see what I can do about attending a new class. I'm willing to give her another chance though.

Did they realize you were even in the class?

They sure made it seem like they didn't.

It's early in the semester right? You can still change the class it if she doesn't apologize, cause chances are, she'll continue acting like that while being oblivious to it, and you don't need that.

alphastreet said:

It's early in the semester right? You can still change the class it if she doesn't apologize, cause chances are, she'll continue acting like that while being oblivious to it, and you don't need that.

I should mention that this is a teacher who's known to call other students sluts "jokingly" and talk on and on about her sex life. All I want is an apology and for her to be mindful of what she did.

smoothcriminal12 said:

alphastreet said:

It's early in the semester right? You can still change the class it if she doesn't apologize, cause chances are, she'll continue acting like that while being oblivious to it, and you don't need that.

I should mention that this is a teacher who's known to call other students sluts "jokingly" and talk on and on about her sex life. All I want is an apology and for her to be mindful of what she did.

Okay. Well I hope that she most certainly apologizes...sounds like from the way you are describing her that she would most likely comply with giving you an apology. As far as continuing with the class, just do what makes you feel comfortable.

smoothcriminal12 said:

alphastreet said:

It's early in the semester right? You can still change the class it if she doesn't apologize, cause chances are, she'll continue acting like that while being oblivious to it, and you don't need that.

I should mention that this is a teacher who's known to call other students sluts "jokingly" and talk on and on about her sex life. All I want is an apology and for her to be mindful of what she did.

WOW... she is so unprofessional it isnt even funny...

missfee said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I should mention that this is a teacher who's known to call other students sluts "jokingly" and talk on and on about her sex life. All I want is an apology and for her to be mindful of what she did.

Okay. Well I hope that she most certainly apologizes...sounds like from the way you are describing her that she would most likely comply with giving you an apology. As far as continuing with the class, just do what makes you feel comfortable.

Hopefully, but you never know. People get crazy when racism is brought up.

smoothcriminal12 said:

missfee said:

Okay. Well I hope that she most certainly apologizes...sounds like from the way you are describing her that she would most likely comply with giving you an apology. As far as continuing with the class, just do what makes you feel comfortable.

Hopefully, but you never know. People get crazy when racism is brought up.

True but if she does get crazy then you know what to do.

chocolate1 said:

Back in the day, I was the only Black in a Literacy class. The professor went on about how parents "in tha hood" don't read to their children... THEN she said, "Right, Lynn?"

We were sitting in a circle, so I looked around at my classmates and said, "How would I know? I grew up in suburbia with 2.2 kids and a dog."

EVERYONE was uncomfortable.

Afterward, I asked the prof why she assumed I was from the hood... No answer.

I've heard dumbass comments like that from several teachers/professors over the years attending public school and college. It's ignorance, and what the teacher said to that student in 'smoothcriminal's' class was out of line as well. It wasn't necessary. Best thing to do is make a written complaint to their supervisors and make sure it is a written one. My fellow students and I reported our college professor for making 'many' comments like that directed at African-American students. It's pathetic that as educators that they feel they have to stoop that low to insult students they're supposed to be 'educating'.