Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, after administering the first part of a grueling three day English test to my sixth graders, I decided it would be worthwhile to have a class discussion on MLK and civil rights. I began by asking students to share what they already knew about MLK and invited any questions they might have. One girl ask why he was called a doctor, which gave me the opportunity to explain the difference between a PhD and a medical doctor. Another student said, "He was a good man," but had little else to add to that emphatic statement. I then read a short picture book called Martin's Big Words. I was interrupted several times by questions like, "Were you alive when this was happening?," and, "What about the people in the middle - people that are not black and not white?," and attempted to answer all inquiries in an open, realistic way. I supposed I was most surprised by the question that came right at the end of class. "Ms. Petersen," Altagracia said, "Do you like black people?." I wanted to be purposefully in answering such a question and not just write it off by say yes, of course. I proceeded to mention that I am sure I have some prejudices and stereotypes and I know I have thought something about a person that wasn't necessarily true, but, yes, I told them I think black people should have every opportunity that white people do and, in fact, I have some very good friends who are black. Later that day one of my students said, "I thought you were going to say that you didn't like black people." I thought this comment a bit strange, but then I realized that my students, in general, are prejudiced against African Americans. One of the boys insisted on demonstrating how the black men he knows walk like they're really cool and say things that make them seem better than other people.
At the end of the class period, some of the students started arguing about who is an American and who isn't. I mentioned something about people having different definitions for American. I said that my definition is any one who lives in America or has lived here and considers himself an American. Immediately one of the boys shouted out - No way, I'm not an American. I'm Dominican! I realized in that moment that I had made an assumption - that my students would one to be considered Americans when this was not necessarily true.
I wonder who learned more from this lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. - my students or their teacher.