¶ … racism and children.

There is one reference used for this paper.

Racism continues to be a serious problem throughout the United States. It is important to explore how children today learn race and racism.

Learning Racism

Children today are learning of racism at an early age. They are not as socially active as their adult counterparts, however their activities are just as complex. Children learn social patterns earlier than originally thought, and many racist ideas come from the home environment both directly and indirectly over a long period of time. This can be contributed to the fact that "home is the one place a person can feel free of the social constraints imposed in public life (Van Ausdale)."

Many times, the first experience children have with differences in race occurs in day care. Children fluctuate in the manner in which they deal with these differences, depending on their skin color. Studies have found that most children "have a solid conception of racial and ethnic distinctions by the time they are about six, even if they have had little or no direct contact with people from other racial or ethnic groups (Van Ausdale)."

Role Models

Children learn racism from society and their home environment earlier than many people realize. It is important for adults to understand this and provide positive role models as a means to live together harmoniously. While children are taught both moral and conventional rules, the moral rules are often perceived differently by each race, creating further racial tension.

Conclusion

Racism is still prevalent throughout the United States, despite many efforts to end it. Children are developing racist attitudes at a young age, which leads to a continuation of the racism cycle. Adults at home and in society need to be aware of the influence they have on children if racism is ever going to end.

References

Van Ausdale, D. What and How Children Learn About Racial and Ethnic Matters. The First R.

A pp. 176-195.