newsflash: kids need stuff explained to them. no, really.

[pauraque_bk]

See Baby Discriminate - Kids as young as 6 months judge others based on skin color. What's a parent to do?

This article is well worth a read. It cites some experimental evidence about how white kids learn -- and don't learn -- about race and discrimination. Apparently vague platitudes like "everyone is equal" don't work on young kids, who have no idea you're talking about skin color unless you specifically say so.

I love the comparison to gender roles, which of course we do explain to kids in no uncertain terms. "Women can be doctors" -- great, no one has a problem telling boys that. We even feel good about it. Then why does it seem painfully awkward to tell a white kid "Black people can be doctors"? Who are the vague euphemisms for, the kids or the adults?

Pretending race doesn't exist only confuses white kids, who will notice it anyway, and it *certainly* isn't doing non-white kids any favors. Way to deny the existence of a large part of their life experience, like it or not! (cf Stephen Colbert: "I'm color-blind. By that I mean, I can't see black people.")

Comments

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

Why would white parents be so reluctant to say 'see, black people can be President?' Or 'black people can be doctors.' (Also, in my family: 'black people can be Starship Captains!')

Mine did, and I don't think they even did that good a job teaching me about race.

[pauraque]

It's weird. There is a particular white, liberal discomfort with acknowledging race - at all. Of course it's not universal, and could be partly regional. I don't think the article said what region the participants in those studies were from, but they reacted just like I'd expect white liberals from the bay area to react, at least. As to how it got that way, I'm not sure. But I don't think my parents ever said a word to me about race.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

I got the distinct impression when I read the article that it might have to do with class.

[pauraque]

Ah, you're probably closer to the mark there. It looks like the authors have written a book, so maybe there are more details easily available there.

[conuly]

Because it sounds like you're putting the idea "Black people can't do such-and-fuch and race is important" into their heads. Not something I agree with, but a lot of people are very uncomfortable acknowledging race at all.

[trobadora]

Pretending race doesn't exist only confuses white kids, who will notice it anyway

See, that's the thing. I think there's this idea that if we never mention race at all, it will never occur to kids that it exists. As if they didn't see the world around them. *headdesk*

[pauraque]

Exactly, which that article refutes pretty resoundingly. If kids don't mention race, it's only because they take their cues from their parents and fear offending them by bringing up something they've gathered is bad.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

"everyone is equal" seems to be a repeated theme for some parents whether talking to kids about everything from race to disabilities. I recall feeling uncomfortable talking to kids directly about race when it felt like I *should* be falling back on a theme of equality; it's good to see a study like this that says it's more important to deal with race directly.

[bardsmaid.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, Eo. Fascinating stuff that certainly provides food for thought.

It makes sense that those groups that are affected by race (minorities) talk about it, while those in the majority... simply don't see that there's an issue. Which is a common view when you're part of a majority and not affected by what for you is a non-issue. I recall the news comment some years back by the white guy who couldn't see why race was such an issue, because it never occurred to think about himself as white. My reaction: walk through South Oxnard or South Central LA and see how aware you suddenly are of your whiteness.

[pauraque]

Totally. The belief that race "isn't an issue" is one that can only be held by those who benefit from racial privilege itself.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I remember at the children's bookstore people finding out just how kids will make up their own rules if no one tells them. I remember a young woman coming in completely mortified because her son had informed her that black people work for white people. She was like, "We never said that! We don't have any servants!" I was like well, it's the upper west side. Have you noticed all the black nannies?"

She was coming in to get books about black families just being people and not being servants!

[pauraque]

Really! Of course kids draw their own conclusions based on what they see, that's how they figure everything out about the world. They're plunked down in a totally new society where, starting out, they don't even speak the language...

[subtle-shades.livejournal.com]

I don't agree with everything in the article. Sometimes it's a matter of leading by example. I didn't notice that races might matter to some people until these boys in the third grade pointed it out - viciously. After I got over the entire experience, I forgot their blatherings for several years.

But I was raised on a military base where ethnic and cultural diversity abounded. Everyone was green. Period.