Assimilation Quote by Derrick Bell
““The Portland school board's policy equated integration and racial assimilation. This policy, Rist explains, is a "means of socializing nonwhite students to act, speak, and believe very much like white students." It leaves dominant group values intact, does no damage to notions of white superiority, and helps to gain the support of those whites who view it as a means of helping "nonwhite peoples to become fully human by instilling in them 'white' ways of thinking and feeling." In keeping with the assimilationist tone of the program, the principal assigned one or two black children to each classroom, and scheduled only a few special teacher-training sessions, which were poorly handled. The principal's desire was to treat the black students just like the whites. This approach was undermined by his failure to recognize and address fears and misconceptions of teachers about the black children's academic ability and behavior problems, the adequacy of their home backgrounds, and their moral turpitude.””
About This Quote
The policy claims integration by forcing nonwhite students to adopt white cultural norms, preserving white dominance while presenting itself as benevolent assimilation.
In simple terms: Assimilationist integration masks power structures.
Key Takeaway
Integration can be a tool for cultural domination.
Themes
racial assimilation
power dynamics
education policy
cultural hegemony
white privilege
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
policy critique
sociological observation
When to use this quote
- integrating minority students into predominantly white schools
- teacher training on cultural competence
- policy discussions on equity vs. assimilation
Key Concepts
socialization
teacher bias
institutional racism
curriculum design
Practical Applications
- designing truly inclusive curricula
- evaluating integration policies for hidden biases
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing integration as assimilation affect student identity?
- What alternatives preserve cultural diversity while promoting equity?
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