Our Students Can See Race: Let’s Do Better this Black History Month
I once had a student who insisted she was gray.
Her mother is white. Her father is black and so logically (in the mind of a three-year-old) she is gray.
Yet, despite conversations like this one, many within our field still utter the phrase, “kids don’t see color,” with such confidence that when I speak about race within my classroom too many still respond with shock and horror. It is time we give our students a bit more credit.
It is conventional knowledge within our field that children are sponges, constantly soaking in and internalizing everything that anyone around them says or does. Whether we want to admit it or not, a component of what is happening around them is race and by extension racism. Yes, even if the adults in their immediate unit are not exhibiting racist behaviors, those within their society are. Therefore, it is reasonable to come to the conclusion that children internalize that as well.
Sadly, research backs up these claims with some studies stating that children as young as three utilize race to explain people’s behaviors and pick playmates. Other studies outline that white children as young as four show a preference for whiteness, while their black counterparts do not hold the same regard for their own race. And, this is all in addition to the infamous doll test in which students of white and black skin color were asked to choose a doll. When given the option between dolls of varying skin colors, the children almost always chose the white or lighter-skinned option.
As educators, it is imperative that we acknowledge the fact that children do truly see all aspects of our society both good and bad, and embrace conversations about race within our classrooms. It brings to mind one of my favorite quotes, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” If we help children to change the way that they see skin color, the way that they interact with race changes.
Okay, I am ready to talk about Race with my students… Now what?
Inspire Pride!!- Children are inherently self-centered. Utilize that fact to cultivate a lesson in which they get to express pride in their own racial identities. An excellent way to do this is to let them explore their own skin tone and the many other colors that makeup who they are through self-portraits. Allow them the opportunity to explore different colors through multicultural markers, crayons, pencils or paints, and give them the opportunity to share. Allowing children to feel that joy in the colors that compose their own identity helps to cultivate a positive relationship with race!
Color Exploration!- As Educators, when we say colors, we are typically referring to our basic rainbow colors. How about, engaging in a color exploration of the colors that compose skin? Giving the students positive associations with these colors early on can help them to have positive associations with these colors as they grow!
Representation, Representation, Representation!!- This one is a biggie!! Diversify your classroom decorations, play materials, and library to depict those of a multitude of skin colors. Reading stories to your students that include black main characters or tell stories of leaders within that black community (that do not all center on the civil rights movement as learning about the civil rights movement is amazing but the black community also offers our world so much more) displays to your students the richness of that community.
Have the conversation (over and over again)- In a child-appropriate manner, explain to your students that racism is something that happens in our society.
“Sometimes, people are not kind to black people because of the color that their skin is.”Explain why this behavior is unkind and give them the language and ability to identify it. If your students are aware that racism exists and are able to recognize it, they will be better able to avoid racist behaviors. Keep in mind that this conversation, just as any other lesson in preschool will likely have to occur many times. Allow your students to ask and create a space in which they can be comfortable discussing this topic. If you create this safe space now, they will likely be comfortable discussing race as they grow!
Empower them- With the ability to identify racism comes an incredible opportunity to stand up against it. Your students can change the world for the better! Allow them the opportunity to do so. Educate your students on the many ways that they can actively be anti-racist. From participating in racial justice movements through donations or protests to calling out racism when they see it. There are so many BIG things our tiny humans can do!!
Simply put, it is our duty as educators, to help our children to have a better relationship with race.
Our students can change the world!
——-Cindy Stansbury
