A Solution to Prejudiced Bullying: Anti-Racism Education in Middle Schools

When Brittney Tichenor-Cox's 10-year-old daughter started spraying air freshener on her skin before school one day, she knew something had to be wrong with her daughter whose beaming smile suddenly faded at the start of fifth grade. 

Tichenor-Cox eventually got out of Isabella "Izzy" Tichenor, who was autistic and the only Black student in her class, that a boy said she stank, which was one incident that occurred among a long series of bullying that targeted her skin color along with many other qualities. 

Tichenor-Cox informed the teacher, the school, and the district about the bullying occurring under their noses. She said nothing was done to make the situation better and on November 6, 2021, at their home in Salt Lake City, Izzy died by suicide.

Brittany Tichenor-Cox displays a photo of her daughter, Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor, during an interview

Isabella "Izzy" Tichenor's death is one of many cases where prejudiced-based bullying has led to mourning families. Schools have been turning a blind eye to these situations for far too long. Something needs to be done. Children must be educated from a young age to correct dangerous ideas and behaviors that severely impact others. 

Suicide rates among racial and ethnic minorities have increased exponentially over the last decade, and Black Americans in particular. Studies that a writer from the University of Houston wrote about show the connection between suicide rates among racial and ethnic minorities and discrimination. These studies also show that discrimination affects marginalized populations more than White people. This is largely due to the historical and systemic structures of power and privilege that have memorialized racial inequality. 

With centuries of colonization, slavery, segregation, and discrimination, deep-rooted disparities have been embedded into various areas of society. These structural inequalities have been reinforced for years, contributing to adverse outcomes for Black individuals and communities. Now keep that in mind, then take in the fact that suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black young adults aged 15-24 with nearly 3,000 Black Americans taking their own life each year. 

Statistics of Black Youth Suicide

Prejudice-based bullying doesn't only take the lives of thousands of Black Americans every year, it also affects physical and mental health along with increasing the likelihood of drug use and delinquent behavior according to a research article from the Wiley online library. The article also states that academic performance is hindered as well. You'd think that schools would try to cover all aspects of bullying. Still, much of the bullying literature fails to acknowledge the broader societal and ecological factors that contribute to bullying such as racism, influence power structures, and dominance patterns within children's interpersonal relationships.

This issue needs to be addressed head-on, and if students are taught from a young age about discrimination and anti-racism, then future generations can follow in these footsteps and combat racism at its root. Schools should implement mandatory anti-racism classes into their middle schoolers' curriculum to achieve this goal. 

Students at this stage of middle school are in a formative period where they start forming their beliefs. Suppose middle schoolers are taught about the historical and contemporary impacts of racism. In that case, they will develop empathy and critical thinking skills to help them recognize their roles in combating prejudice and discrimination. 

Some people who have no idea of the amount of things exposed to children in schools may think that anti-racism classes aren't appropriate for middle schoolers. What's overlooked in these debates is that middle schoolers are already exposed to racial issues through peers and society. Just imagine everything children are already exposed to on their phones through social media as well! Making anti-racism classes age-appropriate should be the least of everyone's worries because they can be structured to help students understand and navigate these complexities in a supportive environment.

Other arguments against anti-racism classes include that curriculums are already heavily loaded for middle schoolers. This is wrong as integrating anti-racism classes into curriculums won't detach from students' learning experiences. They offer valuable opportunities to develop students' critical thinking skills, social-emotional learning, and civic engagement. All these skills complement core academic subjects that are already taught in every school. To throw this argument to the curb even more, addressing these prevalent issues of inequality and racism is integral for students to be educated and engaged citizens in a diverse society.

By providing students with the knowledge, skills, and empathy to take the issue of racism head-on, these classes encourage the next generation to be positive agents of change. Through age-appropriate and structured education, middle schoolers can deeply develop their understanding of the historical and contemporary impacts of racism. 

These classes would also help students cultivate empathy for others, appreciate the value of diversity, and contribute to building a community where everyone is accepted. Integrating anti-racism classes in middle schools is imperative to prevent prejudiced-based bullying and create a culture of respect and acceptance among students, as these classes would equip students with the knowledge, empathy, and skills needed to combat racial biases, promote inclusivity and equality, and foster positive intercultural relationships from a young age.