There are certain topics people are taught to avoid bringing up at the dinner table for fear it will offendor disturb someone. But what if those are the very topics with which an instructor has been chargedwith teaching? Exploring privilege, race, sexual orientation, sexism and ageism can be tricky. Thispaper will explore ways to create an atmosphere that is conducive to open discussion and personalexploration of beliefs and judgments held about others. It will explore the difference between “safe”and “comfortable” in terms of classroom norms, and provide an overview of activities that may help todecrease anxiety and stigma around student learning. Readers will learn ways to incorporate studentparticipation and personal responsibility in their multicultural learning venture. There is a balancebetween creating an atmosphere of guilt and one of awareness; riding that razor's edge is a delicatetask for an instructor of multicultural issues.
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