Would you take a class on African culture taught by a white person?

Question

Im just asking. My friend is enrolled and wants me to take the class with her. The professor is a white lady from pennsylvania. There is no indication from reading her profile that she has ever been to Africa. I plan to go and ask if she has, and if she says no. Im walking out.

Would you take that class?

Answer 1

Would you take a class on African culture taught by a black person who has never been to Africa? If so then what's your point? What's the difference between a black professor and a white professor? If not then what's the point of mentioning the professor's race? Why not just say that you wouldn't take a class on African culture taught by someone who has never been to Africa?

I would probably take the class. Whether or not I agree or think anything taught is accurate, I like to hear what others have to say. It can be beneficial in many ways.

Answer 2

Well I did take a japanese language class(es) taught by a white professor. Then later by a Japanese one. There were plus & minuses to both. But she did spend some time in Japan. She might be alright being white, heck there are some white people that believe more in the accomplishments of black people-THAN SOME black people.
A big minus is that she's never been to Africa.

Answer 3

Quite tricky. Most african history books are written by white people. How do i know if the truth is written there. Surely i expect to be taught by someone who have good knowledge of africa and been to africa. I don't think a white person is the right one for this class. i will walk out.

Answer 4

There ARE white people in Africa. You're being a little close-minded, I think. I know a professor of New Testament Studies at one of the most prestigious universities in the country who happens to be an Orthodox Jew. People of all ages and denominations flock to her classes because she is brilliant on her subject. Why couldn't a white woman- even one who has never been to Africa- teach this class well? And, by the way, to the person above, most language teachers are not of the nationality of the language they teach- they just "majored" in it at college, are fluent and understand how to teach it to others. TAKE THE CLASS- you might learn something

Answer 5

No, I wouldn't. If she hasn't spent the time to study and really learn the culture and actually lived in Africa for awhile, then I wouldn't waste my money on taking her class. All she would know is what someone else taught her and I'm not going to spend hundreds of dollars just to hear some regurgitated B.S.

Answer 6

I don't think that I would unless, just like any other class, I felt that she was qualified to teach it. On the flip side, I do not feel that I would be qualified to teach a white culture class. (Because I know that someone will bring it up). Now, I have an exception to both rules. If you are talking about African American literature or European literature, I don't think that it matters what color you are; just that you are trained to do it.

Answer 7

I don't see why there is a problem. I graduated from a historically black college and mostly all the professors in my major (English) were white. So I took African American Lit AND African History from a white man. If he or she has a love for the culture and have really studied what they are teaching, I don't see why it's a problem.

Answer 8

Man that's kind of weird. I don't see anything wrong with a non-African teaching African culture, but I would definitely check behind her information, which you should do with any teacher and yes...if she hasn't been to Africa, etc. then I'd walk out too.

I had a problem with a Jamaican teaching US Black History in college. He was so FOS and arrogant that I couldn't take him seriously, so I walked out. The class was more opinionated than about history.

:D
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James, people really don't have a choice when it comes to learning about White or European History. That was a part (I was going to say risk, but...I'll be nice) of integrating with White schools.

Answer 9

I actually did. It was an African American studies class and it was taught by a white woman. My mom hated that but I had to take the class because I was a freshmen.

Answer 10

I would not take the class. What can she teach us about our culture? I would also go a step further and ask the college why do they have a white person teaching this class. It makes no sense. That's like one of us trying to teach a class on Asian culture.