This week's question.....

[LWolf]

My 90 students ask questions all the time. This is the one, at the end of the day on Friday, that I bring to you for comment.

A student in our chess club, which meets every Friday afternoon, asked me, "Is chess a racist game? Why does white always go first, and black always go after?"

I should say that I teach in a small rural school, mostly white xtian, and that this is the same student who, last year, interrupted a lesson to ask me, "Are you a jew?"

We had an interesting discussion about his question. I'm wondering: how would you have responded?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. It's reverse alphabetical order

A longtime chess tradition :evilgrin:

[LWolf]

4. Heh.

He would have believed that. :evilgrin:

[geckosfeet]

2. Why is it racist for white to go first? It's a rule of the game. The board is asymetrical with

the kings and queens facing each other. The white king is on the players right (queen to the left), the black king is on the players left (queen to the right). I have seen chessboards with red and white pieces, silver and gold, gray and blue etc. etc. The player whose king is on the right ALWAYS moves first.

By those poorly constructed standards for claiming racism one could claim it is a sexist game as well. The queen wields the most power and the queen always has the most power no matter what color the pieces are.

It seems your student is simply not a student of chess even though he is in the chessclub.

[LWolf]

3. He is a student with issues.

Racism is just one. Homophobia another. Religious intolerance yet another.

He's already been convicted of crimes and served sentences; he's 15.

He uses every opportunity to insert race, or racism, into every reading, every topic, every activity.

Chess is the most complex thing he ever does with his brain. He is not a student of thinking.

I like to see him use his brain willingly once a week.

[geckosfeet]

5. Then he knows about facts. King on the right (whatever color) goes first.

No racism. Simple rule.

He can love the game and not feel guilty about promoting racism.

Maybe you could get him a set with different colored pieces.

[LWolf]

8. We've got a set with many-colored pieces;

it's a group game: PI Chess.

He's joined a group game a couple of times.

[Dinger]

6. I Would Have Had To Bite My Tongue With That One, But I'd

be tempted to say,"If I wear white tomorrow, am I a racist?" But actually, I'd dig a little deeper first. I'd (maybe) answer the question with a question. Like, "What makes you ask?" I don't know, to me, it sounds like this kids is trying to start some shit, perhaps trying to egg you on into a trap. Damn, this one is tougher than I thought.

[LWolf]

7. He's always trying to start some shit.

I deflected the question with a little history of the game itself.