Difficult Discussions: Race-ing to Conclusions

For such a diverse nation, we certainly have a hard time talking about race. Unfortunately, we have an even harder time talking about it in our schools (which, let’s face it, weren’t exactly race-neutral 50 years ago). Hence, the mild shock I felt when I saw the article “Why do Asian students generally get higher marks than Latinos?” in this morning’s Los Angeles Times.

Provocative title? Definitely. Haven’t all of us wondered in the dark corners of our colorblind, politically-correct minds the same question? I’m not asking you to confess and be absolved, if that’s what you’re thinking—but reporter Hector Becerra is. Becerra was able to gather eight students from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles’ Eastside to talk about this touchy subject.

According to the LA Times, “Lincoln Heights is mostly a working-class Mexican American area, but it's also a first stop for Asian immigrants, many of them ethnic Chinese who fled Vietnam…Both the neighborhood and student body are about 15% Asian. And yet Asians make up 50% of students taking Advanced Placement classes. Staffers can't remember the last time a Latino was valedictorian.”

The conversation Becerra was able to capture amongst Latino and Asian students is fascinating and strikes to the heart of the achievement gap: While Asian students may experience greater pressure to succeed at home, systematic racism seems to prove an even greater barrier to Latino achievement.

Some crucial points:

"In our school we have tardy sweeps, and normally the staff members let the Asians go," Karen said. "They don't really care if we're late."

Ericka Saracho, 16, an A student, said her Latino family did not push her to do well in school. When she got a rare B, "they're like, 'Oh, wow, Ericka finally got a B! How do you feel about that?'" she said. She is one of the few Latina students on Lincoln's Science Bowl team.

But the most interesting part of the story revolved around the culture and expectations of school staff:

"I'll send one of my [Latino] boys out just to get water, and here comes the security, 'Please make sure you send him out with a pass,' and I'll say I will," Olmedo continued. "And the Asian kid will walk around the whole campus, the whole day, the whole week, for a whole month!"

One student said in a separate interview, many Latino students are responding to cues. Johana Najera, 17, said the Academic Decathlon offers a not-so-subtle cue about who belongs. "We already know that it's Asian, and they kind of market it more for Asians," Najera said. She noted that the shirts for the Academic Decathlon team have a logo done in the style of anime, Japanese animation. "It appeals more to Asian students," she said.

More provocative, however, are the more than 100 comments Becerra’s article drew from readers, which range from painful personal narratives to downright Darwinian remarks. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

And now, who wants to take on the illustrious task of duplicating Becerra’s discussion in Washington? Any ambitious takers who aren’t afraid of difficult discussions?