The sociological dimensions of multicultural education

Abstract

AbstractThe United States began as a place of bondage, a European‐privileged, segregated state where profit and exploitation ruled the day. American schools developed within this racially discriminate society. Euro‐American officials excluded African descendants and other people of color from political, economic, and educational opportunities. One theory to emerge for including non‐European descendants into America's segregated schools was multicultural education, which theorists established to provide African Americans and others with equal access to mainstream educational services. The popular terms to arise from multicultural education are diversity and inclusion although educators often use the condescending term “minorities” to describe communities of color. Critics of multicultural education believe it is unnecessary because it would create disunity and negate America's core values. Critics also believe multicultural educators do not address the impact of racism on educational development. Unlike multicultural educators, critical race theorists analyze the impact of racism as multicultural theorists tend to view racism as a social anomaly motivated by individual choice. This paper is an exploration of the sociological complexities of multicultural education and its effectiveness as a response to America's unjust society, the possibility of non‐white ethnic groups working together to create an atmosphere of educational equality under the theoretical guidance of multicultural education, and the extent of how students of color may include themselves in standard American school curriculums.