"There's an understanding of one another that didn't exist before," Williams said. "I think this kind of course would be an enriching experience whether you were white, Black, brown or Asian."
Williams said alternative perspectives to mainstream history books and courses will provide a "more complete picture" of what actually happened, including the contributions that African Americans made to Texas history outside of being slaves. Few people, he said, even know there were free African Americans who played key roles in the state's development.
"Many of the Mexican Americans were very naive of their concept of what African Americans were all about until they took this course," he said.
Garcia said that certainly was the case where he was concerned.
"I enjoyed it a lot," he said. It was beneficial for a lot of students."
Less Polarization
Brewer said she has been happy that the idea has been so warmly received by teachers and students alike. Her only disappointment has been the fact that few Mexican-American women have enrolled in the course or, for that matter, at the school.
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COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
