How to Solve The Whiteness Problem in College Algebra Once and for All

Worry not. A white savior is here for the rescue!

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

A fascinating and groundbreaking study, based in CRT and CWS (critical whiteness studies - an offshoot of CRT that centers whiteness despite the fact that CRT warns against centering whiteness), finally found the root of all evil - college algebra and the WHITENESS, harm and trauma it inflicts on students of color.

The author is certainly not a scientist and a self-described white, cis-gendered woman - because who is more qualified than her to critique science AND speak for POC?

She begins by asserting the following well known divine truth:

[t]he field of mathematics is a white institutional space in that it normalizes whiteness and is founded on an assumption of white superiority and smartness. Mathematics and STEM, more broadly, are a convergence of white institutional space and eugenics, that position BIPOC students as inherently and biologically inferior.

What is the research “method” you ask? Controlled studies over multiple semesters, sampling hundreds or more students? Nooooo. Qualitative, in-depth interviews with students and professors about the course material? Ha. You’re so naive it’s almost cute.

True to CRT’s commitment to honor all methods of knowledge production, her method is called “portraiture”. Doesn’t sound too scientific? Good. We know science is inherently bigoted. As the author suggests:

These different forms and methods allowed for a multi-dimensional portrait that invited texture and contrast… I paint as a mural.

College algebra was chosen, as it has a significantly lower pass rate by Black, LatinX, and Native students.

What is the reason for the performance gap? A shitty K-12 system that needs to be fixed? Na. Too complicated. It’s a lot easier to blame it all on racism and whiteness.

Asians, as usual, were conveniently ignored as they are the point where the whiteness wave function collapses upon itself.

Q. How does the author prove that college algebra is steeped with racism and whiteness?

A. Through a collection of very random and very anecdotal evidence, backed by no proof or data collection whatsoever, filled with white saviorism and mental gymnastics that bends and distorts said anecdotal evidence until it supports the author’s pre-conceived assumptions.

Q. Are the scenarios described in the article specific to college algebra/STEM?

A. Of course not. Her reasoning (Students of color often lack resources to buy necessary equipment and they often don’t ask for help) could take place in an art or education class. But we won’t miss any opportunity to (de)colonize the sciences.

The one fair point is that students often fall behind because they have no money for needed resources such as calculators and laptops. However, the lack of resources is a token of “whiteness”, regardless of whether it is a white student or a student of color who lacks said resources.

It is only towards the end that the one true goal finally reveals itself:

Beyond this, it is imperative that we begin teaching concepts of race, racism, and whiteness to all college students. I call for required courses on race and racism for college freshmen, not to mention for faculty in their faculty development requirements (Emphasis ours)

Lest we waste a second not sending our tentacles into every aspect of higher education.

Additionally, we need processes in place where scholars with critical race understanding review courses and work with faculty to incorporate course facilitation plans that can assess how whiteness is working in their classrooms and remedy this (Emphasis ours).

Not only do we need mass indoctrination - the inquisition is coming, baby! We won’t rest until we zombify you all or send you to the gulag if you don’t comply.

The Flickering Beacon has a much better idea. Why take College Algebra at all? Nowadays you can easily cheat on the ALEKS placement test, place straight into Calculus 1 and fail it repeatedly until you drop out. Problem solved.