Racism
Kara Cooney
Compelling Question
Supporting Questions
2. Why is it important to lead conversations about race and ethnicity with students?
Background Information
-Under the law it appears that everyone is created equal and therefore treated equally. This includes people of any race or ethnicity.
-Five-to eight-year-olds are in a critical period where they begin to place value judgements on similarities and differences.
- Many studies have shown that children notice racial cues as early as infancy
- When asked 14% of the children said their parents did not like black people and 38% said they did not know.
Significance
What I Learned
-You must use words purposely, not using terms involving race so the students would feel more comfortable opening up and talking about it.
-You could also talk about stereotypes between the North and South parts of the United States, which is easier than talking about racism.
- A teacher must ease their way into discussing the topic with their students. It is also important to enforce the ideology of tolerance with everyone.
-Rather than sharing opinions is it crucial to be a mediator in the conversation so the students are able to discover their own ideas.
Recommendations
-Read and discuss books with children asking engaging questions
- The Sneetches
By Dr. Suess Available at:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/sneetches-and-other-stories
Summary: Sneetches are a group of yellow creatures that live on a beach. Some Sneetches have a green star on their bellies, and are called star belly Sneetches. In the beginning of the story having no star makes them less in society. Sneetches who have stars on their bellies are part of the popular group. The Sneetches with stars are snooty and rude to the ones without. Sylvester McMonkey McBean arrives, driving a machine. He gives the Sneetches without stars an opportunity to get a star by going through the Star-On machine. Everyone flocks to them, but the original star belly Sneetches get mad and upset, because they no longer have people to discriminate again. Then Sylvester tells the original star belly Sneetches about his Star-Off machine. The original star belly Sneetches quickly flocked to his star off machine in order to remain special and different. Sylvester does not keep track of who was originally a star belly Sneetch so they all keep running through his machine in order to try to fit into the better group.
- The Colors of Us
by Karen Katz Grade level: K-2 Available at: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/colors-us#cart/cleanup
Summary: This book is about a 7-year-old named Lena who wants to paint a picture of her. She soon realizes that when trying to do this there are several different shades of brown and that everyone is a different color. She begins comparing all the different colors to foods. She goes on a walk around her neighborhood with her mother and they talk about how people all have different skin colors, and that they must all be appreciated. She realizes that there are a lot of colors that would need to be used to represent everyone.
- Include Everyone
by Shannon Rhodes Grade Level: Pre-K-2 Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Include-Everyone-My-Kind-Family/dp/1500829382 Summary:
This story’s main message is about including everyone. It encourages children to surround themselves by people who are different from them. The names and pronouns are left blank and the characters in the story are uncolored. This could show the children that it does not matter what skin color people are, and that we are all people.
- Separate is Never Equal
By Duncan Tontanium Grade Level: 2-6 Available at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18405521-separate-is-never-equal
Summary: This story is about an American citizen of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent in California who was denied the privilege to go to an all white school. She knew perfect English and the only thing keeping her from going there was her ethnicity. This took place about 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education.
Sources
Bronson, P., & Merryman, A. (2009, September 4). Even babies discriminate: A nurture shock excerpt. Retrieved November 16, 2014, from <http://www.newsweek.com/even-babies-discriminate-nurtureshock-excerpt-79233>
Hall, L.A. & Piazza, S.V. “Engaging with critical literacy: Reflections on teaching and learning.” The English Journal , 99 (2010) 91-94. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014. <http://www.academia.edu/1247907/Engaging_with_critical_literacy_Reflec tions_on_teaching_and_learning>
Hollingworth, L. (2009). Complicated conversations: Exploring race and ideology in an elementary classroom. Urban Education, 44 (1), 30-58. How White Parents Should Talk to Their Kids About Race. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2014, from <http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/the_kid s/2014/03/teaching_tolerance_how_white_parents_should_talk_to_their_kid s_about_race.html>
Hughes, L.A. (2016, April 12). Email interview.
Ito-Gates, J., & Dariotis, W. (2006). Talking to young children about race and racism.
Pact's Point of View, 1-3. Retrieved October 31, 2014, from <http://www.pactadopt.org/app/servlet/documentapp.DisplayDocument?D ocID=157>
Lee, R., Ramsey, P. G., & Sweeney, B. (2008). Engaging young children in activities and conversations about race and social class. Young Children, 63(6), 68-76.
"Racism." - Global Issues. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
Reddy, S. (2016, April 12). Email interview.
Talking to Our Children About Racism & Diversity. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2014, from <http://www.civilr ights.org/publications/reports/talking_to_our _children/> What if We Taught Kids About Skin Color and Racism The Way We Teach Math? (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2014, from <http://magazine good.is/articles/what-if-we-taught-kids-about-skin-color-and-racism-the-way- we- teach-math>
Winkler, E. (2009). Children are not colorblind: How young children learn race.
PACE,3 (3), 1-8. Retrieved November 9, 2014, from <https://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/africology/faculty/upload/children_colorbl ind.pdf >
"11 Facts About Racial Discrimination." 11 Facts About Racial Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.
Live Binder: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1980546