So here it goes...
I was going to summer camp at age 5 and there was one African American girl named Danielle in my group. She was obviously just like us, loved playing with hair, jumping rope, and coloring. I looked at her no different, but others did. This one girl (I can't remember her name) decided that she was going to form a club. Everyone was allowed in it, except Danielle. Hmmm I wonder why? How could a 5 year old girl truly understand racism? I chose to stand up for Danielle and said that if she wasn't allowed in the club, then I was not going to join. Surprisingly everyone followed.
This story popped back into my head when reading about the whites, not being allowed to join the African American Muslims. It was unbelievable to me. If someone shares the same belief, or is open to the belief, then how come they can't join? Malcolm at first did not let him because he was so "anti-white".
The problem that has always been on my mind since that day was how come such a young girl had a prejudice against an African American girl, just like us? I've always believed to this day that it had to be influenced by the girl's parents and family. If a mother makes a statement against someone, the girl is most likely to follow. This still exists today. If a parent is a strong democrat or republican, the child is most likely going to follow in their footsteps.
Was my assumption way off? I don't know so I looked it up. I was correct! A study showed that parents' racial views impact the decisions of their children. This does not depend on genders (Schweitzer). So this young girl that did not want Danielle in her club, most likely was raised in a family that stereotyped, and had negative ideas of African Americans. This girl most likely heard her parents make a comment against African Americans, so that influenced her decision to exclude Danielle. To me it is just horrible.
My parents raised me to never judge, and that racism was horrible. They have African American friends, our good family friends are Chinese, my aunt was adopted and raised in a Chinese household, so different ethnicities are all around me. We are open to everyone. Their views on racism, have definitely led me in the right direction. I do not view others as inferior, because they are a different color.
Work Cited
Schweitzer, John H., and Robert J. Griffore. “Child-Parent Racial Attitude Relationships .” Education Resources Information Center . 8 Mar. 2009 .
3 comments:
caylin-
i think is so cute how you knew what racism was and not to follow it, even at age five. i fully agree with what you have to say; racism and discrimination is always influenced by parents. for example, one of my close friends' parents are strictly republican. hence, he is also hardcore republican just for that reason. racism and discrimination against color and physical appearance is just the same way.
cay,
i really liked your story about the camp because i thought it was amazing that even at such a young age, society has taught us to be so discriminatory. (good for you for standing up for your friend!) but seriously, i am actually disgusted by the amount of segregation that is in america, or even in places as small as our school. no matter where you are, there are a thousand ways that someone can judge you. "your hair is the wrong color, your too tall, your clothes aren't 'in,' your house is too small, your skin is too dark." it is amazing how there are so many things that people can pick apart about each other, that no one spends the time to pick out the good assets anymore. why can't society teach us to go up to someone that you might not usually talk to, and compliment them on their shirt or their new haircut just because you like it? i think these are the lessons we should be taught by our parents and by the surrounding world; not lessons of hatred and bigotry.
hey caylin,
I think it is great how you had the courage to stand up at such a young age. I remember when kids tried to make clubs to exclude one person in elementary school. I would always be the one to tell someone when they were not being nice, and I never joined one of the "clubs" that would purposely exclude one person. However, I never had to stand up against racism. It is amazing how parents affect young children's minds. There is no way for young kids to know what racism is because all kids want to play and have fun together. I think it is disgusting how that little girl's parents taught her to be racist. I applaud you for knowing right from wrong and for standing up against prejudice.
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