The History of Race- Please give feedback!

[Andrew Wheelock]

Special thanks to Sampson, Rocksie, Alex, and Marc Aronson, for such a great presentation last Sunday. I think this sim really represents a powerful way to take a piece of non-fiction beyond text!

Many of you told me about how much you enjoyed the presentation. Rocksie would really like some written feedback that she can share. If you have something to offer could you please write it below? Thanks so much.

Spiff

[Laura Adriance]

Thank you, Rocksie, for a thought-provoking tour and for creating a powerful sim. I can see how this might be very useful for an instructor to take a class through the exhibit and use discussion questions to help students deepen their understanding of what racism is and how it has been manifest over time.

I was wondering whether the exhibit will eventually include an audio tour or discussion questions placed along the way. Or, perhaps they are already there via notecards. I didn't have time to click on the signs.

I have not read the book and am definitely not an expert on the subject, but one thought I had was that it might be interesting to vary the heavy tone of the exhibits by including something about how racism can also manifest as a fascination with "the other" or an exploitation of the exotic. I guess I am thinking of things like individuals from certain ethnicities being used in circus sideshows many years ago. How does that relate to the more recent popularity of high fashion models from Africa or the multicultural Banana Republic ads? When is it a celebration of diversity and when is it exploitive? I guess I am thinking in terms of something to help young people relate it to stuff they see in their own lives - maybe a media literacy piece or pop culture piece. But, this may be straying too far from the original intent. just a thought.

Anyway, I think it is a great project and really appreciate the tour!

Laura

[Andrew Wheelock]

Thanks for the great comments Laura


Spiff