Intro to Racism Quiz - Jon Biewen "Seeing white"

What aspect of John Biewen's social studies textbook from the late 1970s is highlighted in the source?

• Its comprehensive coverage of global political systems.

• Its categorization of human races.

• Its emphasis on cultural diversity.

• Its detailed historical event chronology.

Answer explanation

Just to be clear, because some of your KWL charts argued that racism was developed in the 1940s. These type images were embedded in Textbooks all the way up to the 1980s and as Jon Biewen shared - they were included in his 1970's social studies and science textbooks. Race was constructed within the 16th and 17th centuries building off the writings of travel journalists like Gomes Eanes de Zurara.

In a classroom discussion led by Suzanne Pilchick on genetics and the history of racism, she poses a question to students Michael, Ava, and James: What percentage of the human genome is genetically the same among all human beings?

• 99.9%

• 95%

• 90%

• 85%

According to the source, what is considered "politically and socially real"?

• Genetic differences among humans

• The concept of race

• Cultural practices

• Language differences

Answer explanation

Many argue that we should simply stop talking about race and racism and the problem would go away. While it's true that there are no races and that we are all just distant cousins to each other, the social, political and economic world still makes race real and we have a long way to go before the world is stripped of systemic racism and cultural prejudices that are born of racial ignorance.

According to the text, how did the ancient Greeks view their own culture compared to others?

• Inferior

• Equal

• Superior

• Indifferent

What was the ancient Greek perception of the Persians regarding their lifestyle and the resulting color of their skin?

• They admired their indoor lifestyle.

• They thought it was unhealthy and a sign of their laziness.

• They considered it luxurious.

• They were indifferent to it.

What does the term "Ethiopian" historically relate to according to Herodotus?

• A region known for wealth

• People who were considered the handsomest

• A term used for traders

• A mythical tribe

What is the main reason the Greeks considered non-Greeks as inferior, according to the text?

• Because of the color of their skin

• Because of where and how they lived

• Because of their religious beliefs

• Because of their language

Ibram Kendi reminds us that all societies have people who argue for discriminatory ways of organizing people, but also those who argue against the idea. Who did Aristotle consider as his chief foe in Athens who challenged his notions of human hierarchy?

• Socrates

• Plato

• Alcidamas

• Alexander the Great

Answer explanation

One of Ibram Kendi's most important points that he wants every student to know is that in every society there are people who choose to divide and segregate people based on all kinds of crazy ways of thinking about superiority and inferiority BUT there are also people who have always argued that WE are all human beings and deserve equal treatment and dignified treatment. Alcidamas is a great example of someone who spoke out against the discriminatory thinking of people like Aristotle.

According to Nell Irvin Painter, the Greek belief in their superiority was:

• Not racism, but rather an early form of cultural superiority.

• The earliest version of racism ever recorded.

• The first instance where white people (the Greeks) began seeing darker people as less superior.

• A time where racism was actually reversed, and darker people found lighter people to be inferior.

Answer explanation

It is very important that you apply your close listening skills when you are analyzing sources. Remember, this is a skill that requires successful students to focus their attention and employ strategies and tactics of close analysis. If you missed this important idea, it means you were not listening to the podcast closely. The Greeks were not racist because they did not judge people solely on the color of peoples skin and even if they did - Racism is a system that clearly identifies whiteness and the genetics associated with white culture, language, religious traditions and history as superior and non-white people as inferior. This is what racism has been for hundreds of years. It was constructed as an idea starting in the mid 1400s by Portuguese slave trading princes and adopted by Dutch, British, French and other European peoples in the 16th and 17th century columbian exchange. The Greeks would disagree greatly with racist teachings and would argue that any system that argued that darker people were lesser was absolutely insane since they themselves prized darker skin people.

Which early Christian father challenged the notions of human inferiority and expressed human equality, as mentioned by Ibram Kendi?

• Thomas Aquinas

• Saint Augustine

• Saint Francis

• Saint Benedict

Answer explanation

Interestingly - St Augustine was a Roman citizen born in Northern Africa which creates a really interesting framing for this important early leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He certainly had a cosmopolitan attitude towards people and wrote widely about the equality of all people on earth.