#overcomingracism

[c8mburnslostinthewild]

Had the pleasure of listening to the Wilder Foundation's MayKao Y.Hang at the #overcomingracism conference today, so excited for workshops !!!

[whitenessforum]

TEACHERS INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN

Besides their home environment, schools can be one of the first places that children are exposed to and learn about race and culture.

Teachers are the leading influence of children’s perceptions on race in the classroom.

By incorporating multicultural training into teachers’ classrooms, especially white teachers, it could help develop positive attitudes about race among their students.

These programs are designed to teach them to discuss issues of race with their students that have traditionally maintained a culture of silence in racial issues in the classroom (Lawrence, 2005).

If teachers learn to diminish racial biases and incorporate multiculturalism in their curriculum, it can leave a positive impression on their students perceptions of race.

[whitenessforum]

TEACHER INFLUENCE

This video is a news story that shows that racism is present in teachers and at school. A teacher kept making racial remarks and stereotypical comments to a young black male. In this news story there were several instances where the teacher used comments singling out the black race. The teacher’s comments were racial remarks even if she didn’t mean for them to be perceived that way. A teacher is an influential peer among students and needs to be well educated about the topic of race. 

[whitenessforum]

POSITIVE TELEVISION SHOWS, LIKE "ARTHUR"

After watching the short episode of Arthur, we can see that having programs like this will benefit our youth and their perceptions towards other races. The introduction of the show does a good job of highlighting positive interactions between different racial groups. It is important for parents and adults to share this program with the children in their lives. The rest of this episode shows an interracial friendship develop between a white child and brown child. It also shows how the mother of the white child is very accepting of their friendship and encourages them to spend more time together. If children are exposed to this, they will be able to associate this type of friendship as a positive idea. Seeing the encouragement and support of these friendships from the mother of the white child will give children more reassurance that these interracial friendships are important.

[whitenessforum]

Music's Affect

The types of music played for young minds can have a strong affect on their perceptions of race. 

Parents play music for children in order to sooth and stimulate their minds. 

American society is full of musical representations and symbolism of race. 

As children gain more freedom of choice when they grow older, they begin to choose the music they listen to with less parental consent. 

Some parents may not think twice about the music their child listens to.

It is important for parents and caregivers to pay close attention to the genre, lyrics, and themes conveyed in the music children listen to.  

Music that contains racist, racially prejudice, or derogatory lyrics about race can all negatively affect the way children think of people of color. 

White supremacy songs instill the ideal of white privilege and white domination. 

Young children are the most vulnerable to absorbing derogatory themes about race and their listening habits must be monitored. 

Lyrics are the most influential part of music, followed by superstardom of musicians. 

If censorship or monitoring is not done, children are likely to assimilate and believe hateful notions of race. 

[whitenessforum]

THE INFLUENCE OF TELEVISION

As early as age 6, children are able to show favoritism towards their own group or race (Vittrup & Holden, 2011).

Young children are likely to view media content as a glimpse of reality which makes them more likely to be influenced by what they are seeing on television.

Their attitudes from what they see are then carrying over to how they interact with other children outside of their race.

Subconsciously, children are able to see distinctions between racial groups in TV shows.

[whitenessforum]

Top 10 Racist Cartoon Moments

What we can learn from this video clip is that Disney movies aren’t the wholesome family movies we grew up thinking they were. The racial stereotypes that these characters portray are inappropriate and somewhat shocking. Most adults are not aware of these overt acts of racism that are shown in Disney movies. This is why it is important for parents to be monitoring what their children are watching on TV so we can begin to eliminate kids’ negative perceptions on race.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THIS?

Promoting cross racial friendships in a positive light through television programs.

The more children see these interactions, they will be more likely to imitate interracial friendships outside their homes.

[whitenessforum]

REGGAE ~ ONE LOVE

I grew up listening to tons of reggae by artists of all skin colors- Marley, Tosh, Steele Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Israel Vibration, UB40, Groundation, Manu Chau, Black Uhuru, and more. Reggae is great for kids due to its groovy beats and uplifting lyrics that constantly advocate equality.  

Taking its lyrics from a speech by Haile Selassie, Bob Marley's "War" is one of music’s most eloquent and powerful statements about racism. As far as a distillation of anti-racist sentiment goes, you can’t really do a whole lot better than this: “Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.” Quite.

More empowering and beautiful "War" lyrics...

That until there no longer First class and second class citizens of any nation Until the colour of a man's skin Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes Me say war. That until the basic human rights Are equally guaranteed to all, Without regard to race Dis a war. That until that day The dream of lasting peace, World citizenship Rule of international morality Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, But never attained Now everywhere is war - war.