Racist Facebook Event against Native Americans: Preservice Teachers Explore Ethical And Critical Multicultural Implications

Antonette Aragon*, Karen Kaminski**
Antonette Aragon*  Karen Kaminski**
*-** Assistant Professor, Colorado State University.
Periodicity:April - June'2012
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jet.9.1.1812

Abstract

This exploratory case study sought to analyze data from Collaborative Learning Modalities (Brantmeier, Aragon & Folkestad, 2011) on-line threaded discussions in a teacher education course where pre-service teachers examined the nature of a Facebook event revealing unethical and racist notions against Native Americans. In 2010 a university student posted a Facebook event titled, “Cowboys vs. Indians” inviting fellow students to wear “Indian headdress” to rouse team spirit for a rival basketball game. This Facebook event stimulated commentary from many university students decrying Native Americans. Participants in this study believed unethical racism was present in this event because of the prolific nature of on-line communication where offensive statements and ideas were cruelly exposed about Native Americans. Such offensive ideas asserted against Native Americans were performed under a false sense of anonymity or autonomy.Yet anonymity was revealed by the media and such information was exposed displaying unethical behavior to a large unanticipated audience.

Keywords

Critical Multicultural Education, Native Americans, Facebook, Ethical, Social Networking, Pre Service Teachers, Racism.

How to Cite this Article?

Antonette Aragon and Karen Kaminski (2012). Racist Facebook Event Against Native Americans: Preservice Teachers Explore Ethical And Critical Multicultural Implications. i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, 9(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.26634/jet.9.1.1812

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