JC

I can’t control myself. Every time I hear something new about the effect Hines has had on Korea’s mixed community, I have to automatically post. This story talks about how school text books are going to be changed in order to include mention of mixed Koreans. I think this is huge — for kids (mixed or not) to grow up seeing these images is so important.

American football star Hines Ward’s visit is having a far-reaching effect on Korean society. The government is planning to revise school textbooks to include the mention of cultural diversity, and it will also conduct a factual survey in efforts to eliminate discrimination of mixed-race Koreans.

Cheong Wa Dae said the government will conduct a survey on the number of mixed-race Koreans and their living standards. In the past, there have been working-level discussions among government ministries to relieve social prejudice, but there has been a lack of study on the early generation of people born to mixed American and Korean parents during the Korean War.

Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development said they will revise school textbooks by 2009 to include mention of multiracial and multicultural aspects in Korean society. Currently, textbooks highlight that Korea is an ethnically homogeneous nation.

By the way, I happened to catch some of Miss USA on Friday night (I did *not* have control of the remote control! :|) and Hines was one of the judges. That night, I guess after seeing him on tv in addition to the non-stop articles, I had a dream that I met him. I think it was at an after-party for the Miss USA pageant. He came up to me and introduced himself and I interrupted him and said, “Hines, I know who you are. I have only posted stories of you about 30 times on Mixed Media Watch!” He and I both chuckled as he said, “Right, right!” — apparently, he was familiar with MMW. In my dreams…..lol.