Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 150, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 23, 1999 Page: 3 of 14
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CHEKOKEEAN/HERALD of Rusk, Texas—Thursday, September 23,1999—Page 3
Guest Commentary
Children Learn Ethnic Prejudices
WHAT
Ed Bojarski
do children think
about the compli-
cated subject of race? When do they
first become aware of ethnic differences?
When do they develop ethnic pride
and racial prejudice?
These questions fas-
cinate Stephen Quni-
tana, associate profes-
sor of counseling psy-
chology in the School
of Education at the
University of Wis-
consin-Madison. Over
the last decade he's
interviewed scores of
children and teenag-
ers, mostly African-
Americans and Latinos, to
learn their ideas about ethnicity and race.
He's also interviewed kids in Guatemala
as part of a research project sponsored
by UNICEF.
Race and ethnicity aredifRcult concepts
for children to grasp, but they are
tremendously important. Based on his
research and the findings of other scholars.
Quintana has devised a psychological
model that explains how children view
ethnicity and race at different stages
of their development. His model was
published last year in the journal Applied
& Preventive Psychology. From ages
three to six years-the stage Quintana
refers to as "Level 0"--children think
about racial differences purely in physical
terms. In their eyes, race is only "skin
deep." For instance, some kids at this
age believe they could change their racial
or ethnic identity by having surgery or by
staying out too long in the sun.
At the same time, though, very young
children have already learned something
about ethnicprejudice. Researchers have
found that Level O kids of all ethnic
backgrounds are often racially biased
toward whites and against minority
groups. That's tr ue even if their parents
have tried to instill in them positive views
about racial and ethnic differences.
"At this age, theattitudes of the parents
don't necessarily predict the attitudes
of the kids," Quintana explains. "Little
kids are sponges; they are amazingly
receptive to what is going on in the larger
society and they seem to pick up on the
prejudice that's reflected around them."
Fortunately, young children don't usually
act on these feelings of prejudice and may
even form interracial friendships. What's
more, their racial bias tends to decline
when they get a bit older, so Quintana
advises parents, caregivers and teachers
to stay calm if they hear four or five
year olds expressing views that sound
racist. "The most important thing,"
he says, "is to let kids talk about race.
They really need to know that it isn't
a taboo topic."
In Level I, from ages six to ten years,
children have a more sophisticated
understanding of race and ethnicity.
They know that their ethnic background
is a function of their ancestry. They
"Little kids are sponges; they are amazingly
receptive to what is going on in the larger
society..."
-Stephen Quintana
realize, too, that ethnicity isn't just about
how you look. It may also influence the
food you eat, the language you speak and
the activities you enjoy.
Yet, the professor notes, children at
this stage of their development have a
very literal view of ethnicity and race.
For example, when he asked them what
it means to be Mexican-American, kids
in his study said that they spoke Spanish
and ate Mexican food. They seemed not
to realize that their ethnic heritage might
have social consequences. When you're
six or seven years old ethnicity is still a
far away abstract idea. "Children of this
age are sometimes aware that prejudice
exists, but they don't understand what it
has to do with their lives. Their at titude
is, "What difference does it make where
your parents were born?"'Quintana says.
This is a good age for adults to provide
information about different cultures.
Teachers and school psychologists may
want to celebrate ethnic customs and
recognize critical events in ethnichistory.
It's also important to teach kids about
the differences and similarities among
ethnic groups.
By the time children reach Level 2,
from 10 to 14, youngsters are far less
innocent. They have come to realize that
ethnicity is often linked to social class
and they have seen racism first-hand.
Sadly, many of the interracial and inter-
ethnic friendships that flourished on
thi! elementary sch<x)l playground have
ended. For psychologists and teachers who
work with children this age, Quintanas
advice is simple: Be honest about racial
and ethnic prejudice, and don't deny
that it exists.
At Level 3, in adolescence, teenagers
have a mature view of ethnicity and race.
'Illose interviewed expressed pride in
their heritage and a sense of belonging
to a group. They used the pronouns
"us" and "we" more often than younger
children in referring to their ethnic
communities. Working with kids this age
presents special challenges. Psychologists
and teachers shouldn't ignore ethnic
differences or pressure ethnic-minority
teens to assimilate into the majority
culture. Instead, they may need to help
kids express their ethnic identity in a
positive, productive fashion.
Whatever age they are, Quintana says,
children and young people need to open
Letters Policy
The Cherokeean/Herald values
readers' letters and differing
viewpoints. All submissions to
"letters to the editor" must con-
tain the writer's name, address
and zip, along with a daytime
telephone number so we may
contact you with clarification or
confirmation.
Also, letters must not contain
information or allegations
deemed libelous. We do not
publish form letters or copies
intended for mass distribution to
other publications.
Write us at P.O. Box 475, Rusk,
Tex. 75785 or send us a FAX at
(903) 683-5104. Our E-mail address
is herald@mediactr.com. Please
include a daytime telephone
number for clarifications and
verification. Deadline is Monday
at 10 a jn.
up and express their thoughts about race
and ethnicity.
While it's a difficult and complicated
subject, adults must not be afraid to
discuss it with the youngsters."My goal
is to get people talking," Quintana says.
"Certainly race and ethnicity can be a
divisive issue, but we shouldn't forget
that it is also a very rich area."
Letters
Good Samaritans Saved A Life
Early last Saturday morning a
young couple, Steve and Leslie
Lankford, and their two children,
were awakened by a loud noise.
It didn't take them but a few
moments to realize that there had
been a wreck on the highway in
front of their home. One of the
children told them that she could
see fire across the road.
Steve and Leslie dressed quickly,
he grabbed a fire extinguisher and
they rushed to the scene. Upon
arriving they discovered the car
was upside down and the occupant
was partially in the car, with the
seat belt holding him in.
The car was on fire so Steve
immediately put it out. He then
cut the seat belt and having had
CPR training he applied what
he knew to the young man and
cleared his airway.
Within minutes the young man
was breathing on his own. Leslie
ran back across the street to a
relative's home and called 911.
The ambulance arrived and the
young man was air lifted to a
hospital in Tyler.
I believe that Steve should be
commended for his part in an
effort to save a man's life. He
had no thought or concern aboiit"
himself in helping this young
man, he just'knew "that the rriah
needed help and he did what he
could.
Some people are afraid to give
assistance because they do not
want to become involved. Not
Steve.
Janis Nickle
Rusk
Ministerial Alliance Expresses
Remorse
We, the participating pastors
of the Rusk Ministerial Alliance,
desire to express to you our
deep remorse and that of our
churches in the circumstances
surrounding the resignation of
your pastor, Bro. Randall Stewart.
This unfortunate situation affects
many, most importantly his family
and you, the members of First
Baptist Church. No pastor or
church "wins" through the losses
of another sister church. We are
united through Jesus in a common
love and a common victory. The
Scripture tells us, "And if one
member suffers, all the members
suffer with it. " (I Corinthians
12:26). We feel the grief, pain, and
disillusionment that this series
of circumstances has caused each
of you, our brothers and sisters
in Christ. We pray that God will
undergird and strengthen each
of you in the days ahead as you
seek healing and restoration from
the true Shepherd of our souls,
the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray
that God's wisdom, love and kind-
ness will guide you as you stand
together to bring forth the fra-
grance of Christ's victory in the
end.
As area pastors we feel the grief
and disappointment caused by
one of our own who has fallen
into one of the devil's snares.
People always suffer when any
of God's leaders fail to exemplify
Christ. We too are using this as
an opportunity to take inventory
of our own lives and ministries
knowing that Satan targets each
one of God's people and most
especially pastors and leaders.
God has given us a mandate not
to condemn but to pray for our
leaders. Therefore, while we do not
condone the sin, we do not judge
oi- condemn our brother. Rather
we pray that God might bring
complete deliverance, healing and
restoration to him and his fanúly
through the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must remember that God is
the (*ie who cun write victorious
last chapters.
We encourage you, our brothers
and sisters in Christ, to look
unto Jesus and move forward in
His grace. God has done great
things in your midst and He will
complete what He has begun.
The Reviver is being ushered into
our community. God is answering
our prayers for revival through
cleansing His people. No pastor
or church member is exempt from
His scrutiny. We feel that now is
a time for each of us to search our
own hearts and respond seriously
to the Lord in His dealings.
Once again we stand with you
and offer our love and support
in whatever way you would feel
appropriate. We close with these
words of hope and victory from
God's holy word:
"But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels, that the excel-
lence of the power may be of God
and not of us. We are hard-pressed
on every side, yet not crushed; we
are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed
... For we who live are always
delivered to death for Jesus' sake,
that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal flesh ...
Therefore we do not lose heart.
Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day. For
our light affliction, which is for
a moment, is working for us a
far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, while we do not
look at things which are seen, but
at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen
are temporary, but the things
which are not seenare eternal.*' 2
Corinthians 4:7-18.
.1femders of the Rusk Rusk
Ministerial .Alliance
Rev. Keith Hassell, Rev. Clilf
Hur tan, Rev. Lkuuue D/wnuns.
Rev. Noi ñ uitt. Rev. Rodal
Cur Ml. Rev. ('votxsStjnsan,
Hal McNeil. R/r& a \ Sjnjfjsan
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean/Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 150, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 23, 1999, newspaper, September 23, 1999; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152443/m1/3/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.