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RACISM
Why This White Man Didn’t Want His Kid Playing With Our Black Kids
Turns out, you’re never too young to learn about racism
None of us are born racist,” people love to say. What they rarely admit is that White children endorse racist ideas about Black people before they utter their first word, learn to tie their shoelaces, or step into a classroom. These racial attitudes develop before many parents are willing to have “the talk” with them. By three months old, babies prefer faces that match their race, and by six months old, they show a bias toward learning “from an adult of his or her own race.” Starting at a very young age, children take cues from their parents and family members, as well as videos and other digital content. So, while it’s true that none of us are born racist, it’s a moot point since White children develop racialized ideas before they come in contact with Black children or those belonging to other racial groups.
While race-neutral or “color-blind” White parents maintain the racial hierarchy by acting oblivious to racial disparities, racist White parents are pouring kerosene onto a fire. Case in point, one Ohio couple used white supremacist ideology in their homeschooling curriculum, allowing White parents to “download antisemitic and racist lesson plans to teach Nazi ideology, along…
