Mobile, Alabama - Racist Math Test

(News Story Linked Above)

Recently, an 8th-grade teacher in Mobile, AL has been placed on administrative leave, after assigning an inappropriate and racist, ten question quiz to her class.

The class of 13 and 14-year-olds initially assumed that the quiz was a joke, however, the Burns Middle school teacher insisted that it was not, requiring the students to complete it and turn it in.

One student was able to take a photograph (shown below) of the quiz and sent it to his mother, who later contacted the Burns Middle school administrative staff.

Photograph taken, by a student, of the controversial quiz assigned to a middle school English class in Mobile, AL.

This news story was discussed in a class of mine late last week. After listening to the professor of the class read the quiz out loud, question by question, we collectively agreed that this quiz is appalling and frankly outraging to all of us - All except for one student.

Not only am I writing this to bring attention to an incident that brings up a number of problems with the society that we live in, but also to address the one student in my class that had the audacity to claim that this quiz was not racist in any way.

I kept my mouth shut at the time, as I understand that you are entitled to your own opinion, however, I need to let you know that you are the problem.

People like you are the reason that events like this occur. This quiz is offensive and inappropriate on so many levels, so for you to sit there and proudly explain to our entire class that you felt as though we were "overreacting," disgusts me.

I understand that you are not personally offended by this quiz as a thirty-something year old, white, male. Neither am I for that matter.

However the difference between you and I is that when I see this quiz, I feel ashamed to be a part of a society that allows the possibility for something like this to happen. You, on the other hand, see this quiz and feel nothing. You are so emerged in your own privilege and ignorance that this awful and wildly offensive quiz means literally nothing to you.

I just wanted to make sure that you understand that the things you said in class last week were far more offensive than the quiz itself.

You, sir, are the problem.