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Posted by:
Sonia Nieto
University
Amherst, MA
Topic:
Sonia Nieto responds
Message:
There is nothing wrong with a multicultural fair that features food, national dress, and performances, and in fact if these things bring families into the school, they can be worthwhile projects that result in many benefits to the school: they can promote good community relations and encourage both ethnic pride and authentic cross-cultural communication, among other advantages. The problem is that these activities are sometimes seen as the only or primary way to promote diversity in the school. But the "foods and festivals" approach is just one way to begin an appreciation for cultural diversity; it is not a multicultural program.
Multicultural fairs and other such activities can become little more than superficial and celebratory festivities, and in this way they are incomplete and shallow. That is, they avoid facing the far more difficult but significant issues at the heart of a true multicultural education – issues such as equity and fair access – that are often avoided because they bring up thorny issues that are much more difficult to resolve.
So, while I wouldn’t discourage schools from having multicultural fairs, I’d want them to think of such activities as a first step in the road to becoming a multicultural community. Along with fairs and festivals, I’d encourage schools to take a serious look at their curriculum, pedagogy, retention and tracking policies, testing, hiring practices, and all the other policies and practices that create a school climate that is either empowering or disempowering for those who work and learn there. When a schools’ policies and practices are more equitable for all students, then we’d really have something to celebrate.
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