Parental Guidance in Teaching Racial Awareness: A Child's Journey to Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences
Overview
This essay explores a seven-year-old girl named Charlotte's gradual understanding of racial and ethnic differences in American society, facilitated by her mother Audrey's conscious effort to teach her about racial diversity. The narrative demonstrates how parents and teachers play a critical role in fostering positive racial identities and creating safe spaces for children to examine complex ethnic and racial issues, thereby preventing racial bias and promoting inclusive behavior.
What this essay covers
- Charlotte's initial confusion about racial terminology and her misconceptions about African Americans
- Audrey's approach to addressing racial awareness through homework and conscious parenting
- The role of parents and teachers in countering normalized racial hierarchies and building positive racial identities in young children
Preview
A Short Story in a Fictional World
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
A Short Story in a Fictional World
At seven years old, Charlotte did not understand why some people where referred to as African Americans and others as white Americans. Charlotte had the notion that as far as a person lived in the United States, he/she was an American. However, she occasionally heard some people being referred to as Black Americans while others were referred to as white Americans. Charlotte often thought that maybe, individuals who are known as African Americans belonged to Africa and America continents. Also, she thought that maybe those who were referred to as African Americans had visited America for a while and would go back to Africa one day. She had heard her peers at school explaining how they toured Africa during the vacation. Also, she had heard that the people living in Africa were very different from those who lived in the United States. Unfortunately, she had not visited Africa, and thus, she did not know more about Africans. Although she had visited different cities in America, she had not travelled outside America. Charlotte knew that her mother was an African America and her father was a white, although she did not understand what being an African American meant.
It was on Saturday evening when Audrey, Charlotte’s mother decided to help her with the homework. The homework required Charlotte to draw a picture of her based on observations of her reflection in a mirror.