Chapter 6: “Becky Please!”: White Teachers and Their Issues With Whiteness

The new cohort for the Urban Teacher Education program filed into the lecture hall for their first convocation. Malina, a dark-skinned mestiza Filipina Colombian teacher candidate, peered around the room, fidgeting nervously in her seat. As she expected, she was the only person of color in the cohort, including the faculty teaching them. The convocation began with a White female professor asking the teacher candidates to get into small groups and discuss the reasons as to why they want to become a school teacher, specific to urban communities. Malina turned around, hoping to join a group nearby. Instead, she was met with the backs of other White females who have already began excitedly introducing themselves to each other. Without a group, Malina panics. She looks up and catches the eye of the White female professor who was conducting the convocation. The professor moves to the middle of the lecture hall, stops the activity, and announces, “Is there a group open? We need a group for … what is your name?”