"children by age four have developed racist views through the media as well as through the dominant community culture. Often schools unknowingly contribute to these attitudes by ignoring differences."
Out of the whole of chapter seven these sentences stood out most to me. By age four, children have developed racist views. Age Four! My first thought was of the little girl I babysit who just had her fourth birthday a few weeks ago and I wonder what her views on the world and the world's people are. Then I think how life will be for her. A white, blond haired, brown eyes, very pretty little girl. She's very clearly in the dominant culture. I wonder what her reactions would be to children like Peley and Raji. Of course she is a strong personality, so she would probably butt heads with Peley and steamroll over Raji when it comes to doing things her way.
Then I thought about the media. The majority of people are english speaking white people on the television shows watched in the U.S. While more and more it's becoming more diverse the majority of the shows are still about the dominant culture in the U.S. The majority of any religion or holidays shown are Christmas and Christianity. There's very few that show Buddihism (which is what they celebrate in Cambodia) or Hinduism. Therefore all most children may know is Christmas and Hannakuh to some extent. Any holidays Peley and Raji celebrate would be alien to the other children.
Especially since most schools seem to be more and more turning a blind eye to religious and cultural differences as well as society. More and more it's "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas". I understand the intent behind that, but part of me has always thought if someone were to wish me a "happy hannakuh" I'd take it in the spirit it was intended and not jump down the person's throat "I'm not Jewish". People are so afraid of offending others with their differences that children are losing out on the experiences of diversity, so that when they're exposed to it, they don't understand it and react in ways that show their mistrust and fear of it. This is what is leads to hate groups and bullying of others who are different. This attitude of 'everyone needs to be the same so we don't offend'. It's going to come back and haunt us. Perhaps it already is starting to.
What are your thoughts?
Susan, you have a great idea but I feel it is because you as an individual, are more open. Unfortunatly, people in todays world often take things at face value and not the ture spirit as you mentioned. I think that with some of this close mindedness, we have to resort to saying like "happy holidays". But I agree with you 110%, it's all just a best wish and something we should just smile and be happy to have been wished.
ReplyDeleteAs for coming back to bite us, I believe it already has. People are attacking other different cultures and different peoples. Look at what happend the other day on the view with Glenn Beck. He jumped to a conclusion about all Muslims. Not all Muslims are bad, infact I am sure most are actually good people.
Susan, you said "people are so afraid of offending others with their differences that children are losing out on the experiences of diversity so they don't understand it and react in ways that show their mistrust and fear of it." I definitely think that mistrust and fear is at the root of the problem, but I don't think it is necessary a fear of offending others. I think it is a fear that by pointing out differences, it will make people feel MORE different. It is the attitude that carries weight. If you point out differences with an attitude of appreciation, the difference won't be transmitted as a message of "bad" but as a message of "good."
ReplyDeleteSusan, I really like your post. I think you bring up a lot of important to notice things. For example, what media shows us. I thought about this for a while and I haven't seen a lot of shows that show people celebrating other religious holidays besides Christian ones. There is also still a lack of diversity in TV shows. I know that there was the George Lopez TV show about a hispanic family and their life...and that when it cancelled one of my former co-workers who is hispanic was really disappointed as it was one TV show that showed people of her culture that she could watch as a family show with her daughter. People really do what to see images that resemble themselves and their culture that they can relate to. As a part of the mainstream culture I don't often think and notice this lack of media diversity and it's good to be reminded to take a step back and think about it. How would I feel if what I saw all around me ...was nothing like me? I think it would send me a message that maybe I am wrong in some way, or lesser, or just not fitting in. Media is overwhelming our society and it can send a message by what it doesn't say or do or show us!
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