The Wrong Kind of Different

This eye-opening investigation reveals how well-intentioned multicultural education can actually reinforce racial hierarchies in unexpected ways. Through extensive interviews with teachers in a Midwestern school district, Randolph uncovers how educators' perceptions create a troubling pecking order among minority students. The research exposes a system where certain immigrant groups receive preferential treatment while poor Black students face exclusion, despite official commitments to diversity and inclusion.

What makes this study particularly compelling is its focus on the subtle mechanisms of "colorblind multiculturalism" and how even progressive educational frameworks can perpetuate inequality. Randolph's careful documentation of teacher biases provides crucial insights for anyone concerned with educational equity, from administrators to future educators. The book challenges readers to reconsider what true multicultural education requires beyond surface-level celebrations of diversity, making it essential reading for understanding how racial dynamics operate in contemporary American schools.