PB & J is the new KKK

Verenice Gutierrez picks up on the subtle language of racism every day.

Take the peanut butter sandwich, a seemingly innocent example a teacher used in a lesson last school year.

“What about Somali or Hispanic students, who might not eat sandwiches?” says Gutierrez, principal at Harvey Scott K-8 School, a diverse school of 500 students in Northeast Portland’s Cully neighborhood.

“Another way would be to say: ‘Americans eat peanut butter and jelly, do you have anything like that?’ Let them tell you. Maybe they eat torta. Or pita.”

Wait, a PB&J sammich is racist?!  I am curious to know what the lesson was, were the teacher used the sandwich as an example.  If it was, say, a math lesson - Johnnie has six hungry friends over at his house but only two slices of bread for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, how can he divide the sandwich so that everyone gets a taste? - then why would you stop the lesson to inquire as to the dietary habits of others?

Verenice Gutierrez

Or, perhaps the Somali or Hispanic student can learn from the lesson about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Why is always "bad" - here, to be called racist - for a student in a minority culture to learn about what is considered the "American" culture?

Through intensive staff trainings, frequent staff meetings, classroom observations and other initiatives, the premise is that if educators can understand their own “white privilege,” then they can change their teaching practices to boost minority students’ performance.

And what is "white privilege?"


Chuck Barber, who also offers boys’ drum corps at Vernon and Faubion schools in Northeast Portland, approached Gutierrez last year to start up a lunch-time drum class for black and Latino boys once a week. This year, it’ll expand to two classes a week, to accommodate new boys as well as those with experience.

At least one parent has a problem with the the class, saying it amounts to “blatant discrimination and equity of women, Asians, whites and Native Americans.”

“This ‘club’ was approved by the administration, and any girls who complained were brushed off and it was not addressed,” the parent wrote anonymously.

Gutierrez denies that any students were turned away from the drum corps, and vehemently rejects any suggestion that it is discrimination to offer a club catering to minority boys.

“When white people do it, it is not a problem, but if it’s for kids of color, then it’s a problem?” says Gutierrez, 40, an El Paso, Texas, native whose parents were Mexican immigrants. “Break it down for me. That’s your white privilege, and your whiteness.”

What a bigot.

So, how are the test scores there, Verenice?  Because I think you might be missing something if you are focusing your concern on the mention of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.