Talking to Kids about Race and Multiculturalism Jane Bolgatz, Ph.D. Fordham University NEST+m June 1, 2016 Microag gression s:

Why multiculturalism? ● Foster positive identities ● Increase academic performance ● Reduce bias ● Cultivate good citizens ● Economics ● Physical health

Thank you! Jane Bolgatz, Ph.D. Fordham University

Agenda 1. Intro (talking about USA) 2. Theory and research 3. How do we talk to kids?

Yes, and

Improvisors… 1. Make and accept offers “Yes…” 2. Build on what others offer “and…”

Comfort Risk Danger

“Ouch” and “Oops”

Hope/Concern ● Turn and talk

Schemas

Where do schema come from?

How did you first learn about race or racial difference? ● PROTOCOL ● 1 st person talk 1 minute. No interrupting. Only listen. ● 2 nd person talk 1 minute. No interrupting. Only listen. ● Ask questions and/or share responses. ● Not talking about gender, religion, class…

Schema are socially and historically constructed. WARNING!

1899 editorial cartoon "The Yellow Terror In All His Glory"

Bride &tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqi9Xrx8zMAhULOz4K HWi8ARoQ_AUIBygB&biw=1366&bih=657#tbm=isch&q =bride&chips=q:bride Whiteness normalized Search on Google Images for

unconscious bias

Doctors Employers Consumers Housing Government Education

Doctor Bias Cardiovascular care Cancer care HIV care even after adjustment for socioeconomic differences and other healthcare access related factors. higher mortality among people of color

eBay ● iPods auctioned on eBay ● White hand holding the iPod received 21 percent more offers than a Black hand.

We did not ask to grow up in this smog.

It is our responsibility to work for change. (Frustration and guilt are good for about 5 seconds.)

NEST+m Mission “…to produce young scholars who are distinguished by their intellectual capabilities, communication skills, capacity for leadership, ethical values, and readiness to contribute to the betterment of the world at large.”

Thoughts? Questions?

How do we talk to kids?

Be proactive ● Invite conversation. ● Teach vocabulary. ● Notice.

Color Colorblind

Listen and respond on their level.

Respond “That’s a great question.” “I feel…” “What do you think?” “I’m not sure. Let me think about that.”

In the moment.. What do you mean? How do you know? Let’s talk about this.

Celebrate differences and similarities.

Babies Explicitly point out the differences: picture books, dolls. “Smiling baby with beautiful chocolate skin! Laughing baby with creamy skin!” “This is what human beings look like, with all different colors of skin. Isn’t that terrific?”

Toddlers “Everybody’s got skin. It keeps our insides in! Skin colors come from our birth moms and dads. Names of skin colors are silly — no one is black and no one is white.” Offer other names for skin color: mahogany, toffee, tan, cream, white-brown, toast.

So, what do you prefer to be called? Handicapped? Disabled? Physically challenged? “Joe” would be just fine. Michael Giangreco/Kevin Ruelle

Teach empathy. “Are you an upstander?”

Older kids “We are all members of one race: the human race. But racial identity is absolutely real, and everybody has a racial identity.” “Sometimes people get treated badly because of the color of their skin or the shape of their eyes. In our family, we believe that is wrong.”

Make children worldly There’s a word for that. We call that… In society…

● prejudice/stereotype judgments/assumptions we make about others based on a generalization ● discrimination actions based on prejudice ● institutionalized racism systemic and cumulative system of advantage/disadvantage based on race ● cultural racism value and normality attributed to Whiteness, and/or devaluing, stereotyping, ignoring, or “othering” people of color

Teens Help them see that when things are unfair and wrong, they can make them right, and that people do that all the time. Discuss and model for your children the belief that people can take on unfairness and work to change it. Tell them, “That’s what people in our family do.” Make it explicit! Source: Julie Olsen Edwards (julieolsenedwards.net) from your-childrenjulieolsenedwards.net

Let’s Try

Questions and Comments

Thank you!

● Did you know…? Until 2005, the United States Food & Drug Administration’s food pyramid recommended only milk and dairy as a source of calcium, but … ● 70% of African Americans ● 90% of Asian Americans ● 74% of Native Americans, and ● 53% of Mexican Americans are lactose intolerant. ● Only 15% of Whites are lactose intolerant. 3 Bell, C. (2007). Evidence-based practice and cultural sensitivity. University of Minnesota. Retrieved March 26, 2008