The post will focus on racism in the university (Specifically UMBC) class room. I am NOT asking for advice on how to handle the situation I am merely recounting an instance that I had over the winter semester. I would also like to know any opinions you have on the situation or similar situations faced by you.

On the first day of a winter class with 6 students, we were all asked to introduce ourselves. Naturally the professor introduced themself and proceeded to give the background of their name, and how they received it from their parents. We were then asked to give the background of our name and why we received it. Before any students could answer, a question was asked to the class...

Teacher- "Is anyone here Asian?" (May I remind you this is a class of 6 people...)

-Clearly I am the only Asian person in the room and mind you I am only half. The teacher looks at me to answer the question.

Me- "Yes, I am half Chinese and half White."

Teacher- "Asian names are always so hard to say you know like .... Ching ching chong ching chong. It's weird!"

-Silence-

Teacher- "I have a joke, Do you know how Chinese people get their names?"(Question for the whole class)

-Of course no one is stupid enough raise their hand to answer this question...

Teacher- " Do you know?" *Looks directly at me

Me-" I am not going to answer this question. My name is Thomas Rogers"

Teacher- " Ok! I will tell you, they take metal objects and put them in a pot, then throw it down stairs, and it makes noises like ching ching chong. Thats how they get their name!"

The class basically looked around like are you serious... while looking at me to flip out on the teacher. Lucky for the professor I am only half so I have yet to get past white belt. Anyways I approached the teacher after class to tell her the joke was racist and should not be retold, and received a defensive argument about why it was not racist.

Have any of you faced such openly racist jokes by teachers? What are your opinions and stories?

I was just shocked to be facing such open racism at a school as diverse as UMBC...