Diversity – Beauty & Strength
“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry,
and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry
are equal in value no matter what their color…”
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that
in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou
One of the topics concerning youth I find myself often researching and learning about is identity, especially how young people view themselves and others. One area in particular is relating to race and ethnic background – how do young people see themselves and others? Are we as educators teaching children to see beyond color? Below are a few pieces and resources on this subject:
Media
“A Girl Like Me” A Short Documentary Film by Kiri Davis
A few years back (then 17-year-old) Harlem student Kiri Davis recreated the famous doll experiment of the 1940′s by psychologist Dr. Kenneth Clark. Children were presented with dolls of different races to see how they responded to them. Kiri received recognition from various outlets for the film and was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, bringing the subject to the forefront to be discussed – have perceptions changed?
CNN Report: Black or White: Kids on Race (May 2010 – Click here for the full report)
This is a video that shows how race affects kids today. CNN commissioned a study on children’s racial beliefs, attitudes and preferences that shows black and white children are biased toward lighter skin. The test aimed to re-create the landmark Doll Test from 1940s. The two girls at the end of the video have so much wisdom and see the reality that “you don’t judge someone by the way they look but by the way they act.” Though it was sad to see when some didn’t realize their worth, it’s refreshing to see that some really “get it”.
Colour Me – The Feature Film
Colour Me is a feature-length documentary film following motivational speaker Anthony McLean and five youth on their journey to discover what it means to be black.
“McLean is sick of stereotypes that surround the black community. He’s sick of documentaries that profile “at risk youth”. He’s sick of persisting rhetoric on the “black struggle.” – From the Colour Me Movie’s Facebook page. Watch this development reel from the documentary:
