Racism Through The Eyes of Children
“We tend to think that you have to be white to be a white supremacist...Some of the worst white supremacist I know are black people”-Anonymous. In society we tend to believe that white supremacy in the United States came from white people and even though this may be true, some black people believe in white supremacy as well. Racism is the belief that based on abilities and characteristics one race may be superior or inferior to another. Sexism is the belief one’s sex is naturally superior to another sex therefore the superior sex should dominate important areas in life from political to social life. Racism and sexism has been a topic of discussion for over centuries. Whereas, racism within a particular …show more content…
Claudia dismembers the white baby doll her family had gotten her for Christmas she does this because she is trying to see what made the white doll so beautiful just like that Shirley Temple cup. It doesn’t take long for Claudia to realize that since white people are the superior race they are considered the standard beauty society. Blonde hair, blue eyes and bowline lips just like Shirley Temple. Within the text it says “To discover what eluded me: the secret of the magic they weaved on others. What made people look at them [white girls] and say, “Awwwww”, but not for me?”. Racism causes Claudia to feel hate and anger at such a young age because she can’t seem to figure out why oppressed black people put white people on a …show more content…
Internalized racism came with the notion that whiteness was considered beautiful and pure and blackness was the exact opposite;light skin black people were considered more beautiful because they were closer to “whiteness” then darker skin people. Maureen Peal and Junior are two lightskin children within the text who were also affected by internalized racism. “..white boys didn’t stone her [Maureen], white girls didn’t suck their teeth when she was assigned to be her work partners..(Morrison 62)”. Owing to the fact that internalized racism exist Maureen Peal will never have to experience being bullied or harassed like dark skinned children have to face on the daily basis.“Junior used to long to play with black boys. More than anything in the world he wanted to play king of the mountain and have them push him down the mound of dirt and roll over him” (Morrison 87); however, things began to change once Junior’s mother told him the difference between dark skin children and light skin children, “Colored people were neat and quiet; niggers were dirty and loud” (Morrison 87) it didn’t take long for Junior to actually believe this; “Gradually he came to agree with his mother that neither Bay Boy nor P.L.[two dark skin boys] was good enough for him.” Junior no longer wanted to hang out with dark skin children because he believed he was
“We tend to think that you have to be white to be a white supremacist...Some of the worst white supremacist I know are black people”-Anonymous. In society we tend to believe that white supremacy in the United States came from white people and even though this may be true, some black people believe in white supremacy as well. Racism is the belief that based on abilities and characteristics one race may be superior or inferior to another. Sexism is the belief one’s sex is naturally superior to another sex therefore the superior sex should dominate important areas in life from political to social life. Racism and sexism has been a topic of discussion for over centuries. Whereas, racism within a particular …show more content…
Claudia dismembers the white baby doll her family had gotten her for Christmas she does this because she is trying to see what made the white doll so beautiful just like that Shirley Temple cup. It doesn’t take long for Claudia to realize that since white people are the superior race they are considered the standard beauty society. Blonde hair, blue eyes and bowline lips just like Shirley Temple. Within the text it says “To discover what eluded me: the secret of the magic they weaved on others. What made people look at them [white girls] and say, “Awwwww”, but not for me?”. Racism causes Claudia to feel hate and anger at such a young age because she can’t seem to figure out why oppressed black people put white people on a …show more content…
Internalized racism came with the notion that whiteness was considered beautiful and pure and blackness was the exact opposite;light skin black people were considered more beautiful because they were closer to “whiteness” then darker skin people. Maureen Peal and Junior are two lightskin children within the text who were also affected by internalized racism. “..white boys didn’t stone her [Maureen], white girls didn’t suck their teeth when she was assigned to be her work partners..(Morrison 62)”. Owing to the fact that internalized racism exist Maureen Peal will never have to experience being bullied or harassed like dark skinned children have to face on the daily basis.“Junior used to long to play with black boys. More than anything in the world he wanted to play king of the mountain and have them push him down the mound of dirt and roll over him” (Morrison 87); however, things began to change once Junior’s mother told him the difference between dark skin children and light skin children, “Colored people were neat and quiet; niggers were dirty and loud” (Morrison 87) it didn’t take long for Junior to actually believe this; “Gradually he came to agree with his mother that neither Bay Boy nor P.L.[two dark skin boys] was good enough for him.” Junior no longer wanted to hang out with dark skin children because he believed he was