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Charlotte Lavender

Ms.Shane

English II

13 February 2018

Racial Identity

Race is a subject that never seems to die down. It is discussed on the news, in daily

conversations and in school. How did people begin to notice racial differences and how did it

become such an important aspect in self development? How children notice race influences the

way they notice race when they get older. This research is based on children to see how they

learn to interact with others of a different race. The way children identify themselves and others

by race can be affected by the way they notice racial differences, the outlook their teachers have

on race and culture and the influence from their social environment.

Identity development can be defined as a person discovering themself and learning how

they are different from everyone else. Identity development comes from many factors including

culture, religion, nationality and race. Today, how people view their race is influenced by their

social environment, the media and current events. Everyone notices racial differences, just like

how people can tell the difference between straight and curly hair or green and blue eyes.

Children’s racial identity can be influenced by the way they are taught to accept the racial

differences around them.

When children begin middle school, they begin to identify their race and notice

inequalities in race that have an impact on their self development. Being accepted in middle

school is important to most teenagers and their race can have an effect on their social
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environment. Students who are comfortable with their race have more self- esteem and respect

for themselves. However, students who are aware of their racial differences begin to question

their group membership. The ​"Racial Identity Development in Middle School: A Case for School

Counselor Individual and Systemic Intervention." the article states that, ​“When students of color

become cognitively aware of racism and inequality in their environment, racial identity

development adds an important layer to the development of the self”(Akos and Ellis 3). This

explains how the way a child views their race is important to them and their growth as they go

through school and life in general.

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman wrote the article “See Baby Discriminate” and

showed all of their research from talking to children about race by having them do different

activities. This article’s purpose was to show how children will interact differently with children

of a different race, without ever being taught to discriminate. One activity that Bronson and

Merryman organized for the children ages 4-5 was a T-shirt activity. The kids were all handed

either a blue or red t-shirt randomly, and the researchers had them play games and different

interactive games. The color of their t-shirts were very important to the kids when they had to

play. The color of their t-shirts symbolized different races.The article also said,”K​ids are

developmentally prone to in-group favoritism; they are going to form these preferences on their

own. Children naturally try to categorize everything, and the attribute they rely on is that which

is the most clearly visible”. (Merryman 7).This shows that children can segregate on a daily basis

without realizing. This relates to education because children will notice racial differences on

their own but it’s important for them to learn that it is okay to see different races and that every

race is equal.
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Teachers and their culture competence has an impact on teacher training. Early education

is an important factor in racial identity because children look up to their teachers and the way

they learn about their race and different races influences the way they treat others and interact

with others from another race. Kids who are not taught about race can end up discriminating

without meaning to. ​Heejeong Sophia Han wrote in her article, "Use of Racial Identity

Development Theory to Explore Cultural Competence among Early Childhood Educators,

“Teachers should reflect on their own identity development and consider how their perspectives

could influence their teaching and interaction with students, especially when working with

students whose cultural backgrounds are different from their own.”(Han 4). This explains how

early educators' outlook on race can have an influence on their teachings.

Many parents believe that if they raise their kids to not see skin color or racial differences

that they are doing the right thing. However, children are not blind they will always be able to

tell when someone is not the same race as them. As parents, it’s important for them to discuss

race with their kids and teach them to get in the mindset that everyone is equal. Time Magazine’s

article “The realities of raising a kid of a different race” wrote, ​“Parents who believe they can

raise their child color-blind are making a terrible mistake”(Hagland 11). ​Different races do exist

and pretending that they do not does not get rid of discrimination or racism. Whether or not

people tell their children about different races, kids will notice on their own. Having children

being taught about different races, will prevent them from reacting to it on their own.

Overall, race is an important subject that affects a child’s identity development. Children

will notice race on their own but teachers and their social environment contribute to racial

identity as well. Although many parents believe not educating children on race will not result in
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them discriminating against their peers, their guardians have a huge impact on the way they treat

others of another race. The way children learn about racial identity will have an effect on their

self development.
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Works Cited

Akos, Patrick and Cyrus Marcellus Ellis. "Racial Identity Development in Middle School: A

Case for School Counselor Individual and Systemic Intervention." ​Journal of Counseling

& Development,​ vol. 86, no. 1, 01 Dec. 2008, pp. 26-33. EBSCO​host​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ781234​.

Han, Heejeong Sophia, et al. "Use of Racial Identity Development Theory to Explore Cultural

Competence among Early Childhood Educators." ​SRATE Journal,​ vol. 20, no. 1, 01 Jan.

2011, pp. 1-11. EBSCO​host​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ948701​.

Merryman, Ashley. “See Baby Discriminate .” ​Acting out Culture: Reading and Writing,​

Bedford/St. Martins, 2011, pp. 74–85.