Racial Sensitivity

Racial Sensitivity Through the Generations

In the essay “Teaching, and Learning, Racial Sensitivity”, Jerald Walker describes the main point, “When blacks integrate predominantly whiteinstitutions like Academe, racial incidents gaffes rather than ill will”. Jerald makes himself very clear on what he thought was happening back in those days. Through Jerald's present-day experiences,racial sensitivity has come a long way. Racial Sensitivity has been expressed through many generations.

As one experience Jerald encounters is playing basketball. His friend is hesitant aboutasking him to play to prevent ay signs of racism. Even though this experience was minor, back in the day was a different story. The Jim Crow Laws were a set of laws indicating black people's rights.Although they were considered free, racial sensitivity was displayed greatly. Whites and Blacks were no where seen playing any sports together, or even in the same building. Blacks had to deal withpoorer facilities, and did not gain the full respect as the whites. Comparing the Jim Crow laws to Jerald's minor misunderstanding, our generation of racial sensitivity has improved greatly.

Anotherexample shown by Jerald's personal experience is his first encounter with his college roommate. His roommate was raised on a rural farm and had no indication of black knowledge. He had not been raisedsurrounded by blacks and has no experience to understand their equality to whites. Jerald describes how the first encounter was uncomfortable and racial judgment was occurring. Of course, after awhile of knowing each other, the roommate quickly became comfortable with Jerald. Back in the day, the relationship between blacks and whites was no where near friendly. Whites would utter in disgust atthe sight of a black person. Black people gained no respect from white people in all aspects. Jerald's second experience on racial sensitivity shows us that after a little understanding, black people...