Mojo
converses with student Maxwell Granitz during the teen forum.
Pulling No Punches
Teens open up about stereotypes at
Building Community event.
Shari S. Cohen
Special to the Jewish News
C
haldean, Jewish and African
American students opened
up about stereotypes at a teen
forum held on April 18 at the Walled
Lake Educational Services Center.
Students from three Walled Lake
high schools participated in the forum,
the third such event organized by the
Chaldean News/Jewish News Building
Community Initiative, a collaboration
begun several years ago to expand ties
between the two communities. Health
Alliance Plan (HAP) also was a spon-
sor of this year's forum, attended by 75
Walled Lake high school students.
Radio personality Mojo (Thomas
Carballo) from Mojo in the Morning on
95.5 FM moderated a panel with five
student leaders and three clergymen,
followed by questions from individual
students. Clergy panelists included
Father Anthony Kathawa from Mother
of God Chaldean Church in Southfield,
the Rev. Horace Sheffield III of Detroit's
New Destiny Baptist Church and Rabbi
Michael Moskowitz of Temple Shir
Shalom in West Bloomfield.
Chaldean, Jewish and African
American students pulled no punches in
sharing stereotypes they said are often
attributed to each group. A Jewish stu-
dent said that non-Jews think of Jewish
students as having big noses and a lot
of money. Chaldean students reported
being called "camels" and criticized for
disinterest in school because of assumed
future jobs in family-owned stores. An
African American student said, "I'm
expected to have the lowest grades and
to jump the highest [in sports]" although
she is a good student, a vegetarian and a
swim team member.
Everyone stressed the importance of
treating each person as an individual to
combat negative stereotypes.
"Some people will hold true to a ste-
reotype, but not all:' Moskowitz said.
"You have to treat people as individuals.
All of us have stereotypes and names
thrown at us:"
Wayne State University's Dean of Students Office, the Cohn Haddow
Center for Judaic Studies, Hillel of Metro Detroit and the
Jewish Community Relations Council are honored to present
THE WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING
REMEMBRANCE PROGRAM
6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8
Wayne State University General Lectures Building
5045 Anthony Wayne Drive
On the 70th anniversary of this historic event, this special evening of
reflection honors the courage and faith of the men and women who
stood against their oppressors through a series of memories, tributes,
music and poetry. Special guests include:
• Maya Karmely, Acting Deputy Consul General representing the
Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest
• The Honorable Paulina Kapuscinska, Consul General of the
Republic of Poland
• Mag. Thomas Schnoell, Austrian Consul General
• David Weinberg, Director, Cohn Haddow Center for Judaic
Studies and WSU Professor of History
• Howard Lupovitch, Incoming Director, Cohn Haddow Center for
Judaic Studies
• Stephen Goldman, Executive Director, Holocaust Memorial Center
• Anca Vlasopolos, WSU Professor of English and 2012 Murray
Jackson Creative Scholar in the Arts
• Margaret Winters, WSU Interim Provost and Senior Vice
President for Academic Affairs
Dessert reception to follow.
Free transportation will be available from the West Bloomfield Jewish
Community Center and Holocaust Memorial Center at 4:45 p.m. and
the Oak Park Jewish Community Center at 5 p.m.
Free parking is available in Parking Structure 2, located on the
John C. Lodge Service Drive (entrance is north of Warren Avenue).
RSVP at doso.wayne.edu or call 313-577-1010 and indicate any
special needs accommodations and bus reservations.
1830020
20
May 2 • 2013
JN
Despite the prevalence of stereotypes
and the tendency to feel most comfort-
able with people like themselves, many
students said they have friends from
diverse backgrounds.
Adam Birndorf, a student at Walled
Lake Central, said there are only 40 or
50 Jewish students at the school and that
he has African American and Chaldean
friends. "Stereotypes don't matter," he
said. "I know who I am and what I am:'
However, inter-group dating is still
controversial for many families, students
reported.
Mojo asked for ideas on how to reduce
stereotypes and several participants
responded that getting to know each
other is an important step.
Students spoke frankly about the
challenges of being a minority and their
efforts to cope.
Mojo asked how they respond if they
see students being bullied or discrimi-
nated against.
Kayli Silverstein of Walled Lake
Western said that she reaches out and
tries to be friends with them. Megan
Houbba of Walled Lake Central said, "It's
not bad to be within your own group,
but all people should be treated the
same'
Several students mentioned Walled
Lake Western High School's Chaldean
and African American "walls," where
some students tend to hang out based
on their background. Two students
said they try to counteract negative
stereotypes of African Americans, one
commenting that he began to "act less
ghetto" when he transferred to Walled
Lake Northern.
Ghetto' reflects poverty:' Sheffield
said. "We do ourselves a great disservice
with pants hanging down. Excellence
cuts against every color. Now we get
punished for being smart:'
A final student comment spoke to the
individuality of all: "I love all people. I
am different from everyone, even other
blacks:'
Mojo urged students to "get to know
each other and keep an open mind. You
are our future:'
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