Here is a close approximation of a conversation with two Asian students near the end of the last lesson on a Friday:
Student 1: Can I play some music?
Me: Do you have to? What do you want to play?
Student 1: Rick Astley.
Me: The 80s? The 80s should be buried in a deep hole and never see the light of day again. I hated the 80s.
Student 2: You like the 70s, don’t you sir?
Me: I never left the 70s. Greatest time ever!
Student 2: Wasn’t it a racist time?
Student 1: Yeah it was very racist then wasn’t it?
Me: Not any more so than now. You say that like it’s a bad thing.
Student 1: Are you racist sir?
Me: Yes. But is that a bad thing? Why is it a crime?
Student 1. Because it’s discrimination.
Me: We are all discriminatory. I’ll prove it to you. You can only save the life of 1 of 2 people. One is your child, the other is a complete stranger. Who do you save?
Something switched on in the mind of this student. I could see the facial expression like a light bulb moment.
Me: We are all racist or discriminatory in many ways. This is not a crime, it is normal human nature.
Student 1. Yes. (Amazed at new found knowledge, I think.)
