On Being a Student of Color

http://www.upworthy.com/i-never-thought-id-want-to-high-five-a-teacher-for-yelling-at-a-student-but-i-was-wrong?c=reccon1
I recently watch this video on an instructor(Elliot) disciplining and yelling at her white students while multiple students of color surrounded them observing closely. At first I was confused and I just regretted clicking on this long 13 minute video, but I continued to watch for some reason. Then it hit me, this Elliot was teaching these white students what it feels like to be a student of color. Elliot would discriminate the white students based off their eye color and would attack the students for their responses. At a certain point one of the students walked out of the room, however the Elliot continued to teach her lesson.
What was more surprising was when this student came back. The Elliot paused her lesson to yell at this student. 

"Elliot: “No. You don’t come back in here until you’ve apologized to every person in this room because you just exercised a freedom that none of these people of color have. When these people of color get tired of racism, they can’t just walk out because there’s no place in this country where they aren’t going to be exposed to racism. They can’t even stay in their own homes and not be exposed to racism if they turn on their television. But you, as a white female, when you get tired of being judged and treated unfairly on the basis of your eye color, you can walk out that door, and you know it won’t happen out there. You exercised a freedom they don’t have. If you’re going to be in here, you’re going to apologize to every black person in this room. And do it now ... and every person of color.”

Student: “I’m sorry there’s racism in this country..."

Elliot: “Bullshit! No, you’re not going to say ‘I’m sorry there’s racism.’ You’re going to apologize for what you just did.”

Student: “I will not apologize because it’s not a matter of race always...”Elliot: “Out.”" 
The video continues on and the white students learn about being a student of color. One important point that the Elliot states is that people are different, externally and internally, but you can not ignore certain characteristics of that person to make you feel comfortable. You can not say you do not see someone as black, or brown, because then you are disregarding their culture and histories.
In terms of our PE, we can not generalize people and their stories. Sure groups of people may suffer from adversities in life, but that does not apply to every individual in that group. Empathy, putting yourself into another's shoes is the closest you can get to understanding one another, and if not you can always ask them with their permission.