A study in expanding stereotypes

Erika never liked people of colour. She grew up in a community which prided itself on its WASP residents. White-Anglo-Saxon-Protestants were considered the only worthy people. All she heard as a child was how dirty, uneducated and lawless anyone who did not look like her was. Anyone not of WASP heritage who had the gall to come to town was methodically harassed and driven away. How does anyone growing up with such a mentality escape its poisonous culture.

Her high school had classes in French and German (no Spanish thank you very much). Erika’s grandfather had immigrated from Germany to escape what would become the Great War. Although he learned English, he frequently spoke German at home. Wanting to be able to speak her grandfather’s native language, she chose to take the German classes for her foreign language requirement. Miss Boeke, who had the class call her Fraulein Böke, the name of her ancestors, was slightly plump with a wrinkled face from which shone eyes that twinkled. Fraulein Böke not only taught her students the language but included stories of history and culture from pre-Nazi Germany. Her teaching enveloped the class with love. Erika adored her. The seeds of teaching had been planted.

In her first teaching position out of university Erika found that she had a Native American girl assigned to her class. Annie was tiny, much smaller than the other third-graders, dark-skinned with jet black braids. She rarely looked up and never raised her hand. Erika felt this proved that all Native Americans were stupid and disgusting. She tried to look ant anyone other than Annie, yet her eyes kept finding their way to the little quiet girl. As a brand new teacher Erika could not stand the thought of having a less than perfect class. She found herself drifting towards Annie’s desk as she walked around the class.

Surprisingly, Annie’s clothes were clean, her hair was always washed and perfect in its braids. She did not even smell bad. But she would not engage with the class. Erika has to speak with her. Asking Annie to stay inside during recess Erika asked why Annie never raised her hand. After a little coaxing Annie said that she had been taught to think things through before answering any question. How could she compete with the other children who threw their hands up saying ‘Me, me, ask me!’? That evening Erika could not get Annie out of her mind. After days of pondering she requested a meeting with Annie’s parents.

Nervous, Erika waited after school to meet these ‘Indians.’ What would they be like? How could Erika converse with any intelligence with them? Soon a little old lady came through the door. She was round with a face of wrinkles within wrinkles, but her eyes shone bright. Erika was immediately reminded of her favourite teacher Fraulein Böke. ‘I am Annie’s grandmother’ she said. ‘Annie comes home crying from school every day. Why is this?’ With unexpected tears in her eyes Erika explained that Annie never participated in class, that she said she was taught to think before raising her hand. ‘That is our way,’ the old woman explained. ‘We must consider all possibilities. We must ask the earth for answers.’ ‘What do you mean, ask the earth?’ ‘The earth and all of nature provide our understanding. We learn from the Wild strawberries when spring is coming. We learn from the buffalo how to protect our young.’

Erika found herself lost in the depths of those dark, twinkling eyes. What wisdom! What insight! Who were these people that she had deemed not worth anything? She wanted to know more.