Teaching Anti-Racism to Influence Change

Racism is not innate; instead, it is a learned behavior acquired through socialization. From childhood, individuals absorb messages from their environment, including family, teachers, and peers, which shape their perceptions of race and ethnicity. 

 

This ingrained behavior creates societal stereotypes, biases, and discriminatory practices. 

 

Teaching anti-racism not only serves to eliminate discrimination but also creates empathy, understanding, and critical thinking skills, leading to the elimination of prejudice within individuals and society as a whole.

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, racial inequalities plague the educational system, negatively impacting children of color, specifically Black children, at a higher rate.

According to a statistic from the Harvard Educational Review, 33% of Black children are placed in more segregated environments, along with being four times more likely to be suspended  than White children.

 

Insufficient education on anti-racism leaves young people dependent on parental guidance. Without instruction, children perceive racism as unimportant, diminishing their perception of social issues. 

 

White Children do not naturally exhibit a preference for faces of their own race. Instead, they acquire a preference for familiarity by the age of three months. Consequently, children often select friends and playmates based on shared similarities due to a lack of education, unintentionally fostering biases.

Kids aged 0-8 naturally begin to learn from personal experiences and observe patterns from interactions with parents and other family members. It is paramount for educators and parents to prioritize facilitating children’s growth during these formative years as they lay the essential foundation for lifelong learning and development.

 

According to the Department of Philosophy, Valdosta State University, Georgia, USA, the most efficient way to eliminate racism in students is by defining and undoing racism and overcoming the trap of inevitability, teaching the history of racism and the recognition of race as a society, leadership development to overcome the structure of dominance, and accountability and willingness to change. 

 

One of the most controversial aspects of teaching anti-racism and the history of segregation is teaching to a white school, where White kids have trouble connecting to those experiences.

 

In a survey done by Atony Farag, 82.7% of students have never had a social studies or history teacher of color. Prejudice is hard to emulate, and first-hand experiences from a teacher of color could provide students who have not dealt with racism towards them a sense of understanding and that there is more to life than what they are used to.

           

To truly make a change, those striving to change must be willing and make an active effort to acknowledge the harmful impacts of racism.

 

In 2018, Westfield High School created an elective course for 11th and 12th graders to complete in an attempt to teach students about the history of racism. The high school has a 97.4% graduation rate, a predominantly white (83.1%) student body, and only (2.4%) Black students. The idea of the course was to fundamentally revamp students’ knowledge about Black History and to help them understand the damaging aspect of supremacy.

 

While completely suppressing racism may seem daunting, educating about the history of segregation and promoting anti-racism represent crucial steps toward meaningful change. By embracing these strategies, America can move forward, encouraging a more inclusive society and working towards the elimination of prejudice.

 

Racism is not solely about personal beliefs’ it is a larger issue that affects how people are treated based on their race. Schools have a crucial role in teaching us about these issues, empowering us to stand against discrimination, and promoting understanding and respect for all.