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Racism is the primitive belief that a person’s character and worth are transmitted through his genes and body chemistry. From this belief comes the notion that some races are “better” than others.
Racism infects people of every colour, tribe and nation. Historically it has been used to justify all kinds of domination and conquest and has walked hand in hand with intolerance, injustice and violence.1
A United Nations World Conference on Racism met in September, 2001, to discuss this problem. As it turned out, all participating nations were quite good at criticizing the racial intolerance and human rights abuses of the others but uncomfortable in discussing their own. For example:
- The United States and Europe were against effective discussions of slavery compensations and sent only low-level delegates.
- Israel and the United States were against discussing the possibility that Zionism is racist against Palestinians, causing both to walk out of the conference altogether.
- India was against including discussions about caste-based discrimination.
- Some Arab nations were against discussions on oppression of Kurds or Arab slave trade.2
Popular media such as television are saturated with racial stereotypes, and children’s programming is no exception.3 All of us have been affected by racist myths. Humility is in order whenever we talk about this issue with our children. If what we tell our children does not agree with what is in our hearts, what we say may carry little weight.
It may be impossible to completely eliminate racism from our communities. However, there are things we can do to minimize its impact on our children.
- Object to racist jokes and insults.
- Find age-appropriate books and videos on racism, prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Look for positive portrayals in the media of the cultures and talents of people from different races.4
- Talk to your children about the characters they see on television and in films. Do the bad characters in cartoons have an accent? Explain to them why you disapprove of stereotyped characters. Talk to them about the people who created the show, and ask them if they think these producers really understood the people they are portraying.
- Analyze other media, especially ads. Are certain ethnic groups linked to certain products? How are they portrayed? Take some tips from the Media Awareness Network, www.media-awareness.ca.#Learn the truth about history. For example, there really was a Pocahontas. But she was a thirteen-year-old girl when she met John Smith, not a full-grown woman. She probably didn’t look much like the small-waisted, long-haired character in the Disney film.5 Learn also what the Bible has to say about people groups and their origins.
- Promote active teaching in your school about other cultures.6 Find ways to start friendly and meaningful dialogue with an individual or group that is being stereotyped.7
- Point out examples of “institutional racism” in government or industry. For example, a national chief recently accused the Canadian government of institutional racism for passing laws without the consent of the governed.8
This is just a start. As we combat racism in our own hearts and homes, we will be better prepared to respond to its victimizing effects in the larger community.
Endnotes:
1. Rigoberta Menchd Tum, “The Problem of Racism on the Threshold of the 21st Century,” a speech delivered in Guatemala, C.A., May 21, 1996, <gos.sbc.edu/m/lascasianas. html>. 2. UN’s World Conference on Racism, <www. globalissues.org/ HumanRights/Racism.asp>. 3. Child & Family Canada, “Talking to your kids about racial stereo-types,” <www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/mnet/ 00001067.htm>. 4. New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, “Say No to Racism,” <www.gnb.ca/hrc-cdp/e/sayno.htm>. 5. Child & Family Canada, “Talking to your kids about racial stereotypes”. 6. Xavier Kataquapit, “A wonderful place of cultural diversity,” Wawatay News, October 17, 2002. 7. Magellan Behavioral Health, “Wellness Tips: Avoiding racial stereotypes in the face of conflict,” <www.magellanhealth.com/corporate/news/ releases/pdf/ AvoidingRacialStereotypes.pdf.>. 8. Bryan Phelan, “Coon Come condemns ‘institutional racism,’” Wawatay News, October 31, 2002.
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