It’s a strong force that even babies display, but there are tools to tackle it.
You try to teach your kids to be inclusive and open-minded. Perhaps you strive, specifically, to set a good example when it comes to equality. But are kids inherently racist? Here are 5 things to know about how their minds work when it comes to racial bias.
1) Even Infants Show Racial Bias
A study from the University of Toronto found that infants as young as six-to-nine months old demonstrated racial bias in favor of people from their own race. Researchers believe that some amount of racism can result from not having exposure to other-race individuals as a baby.
2) Yes, Non-Black Minority Children Can Show a Pro-White Bias
In work done with children from diverse backgrounds and living in a racially integrated part of Toronto, Canada, it was found that pro-white bias exists even outside of white communities.
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“We found that non-Black minority children living in a racially diverse part of Toronto showed an implicit pro-White bias from six years of age,” said York University Faculty of Health Professor Jennifer Steele.
3) Meditation Might Reduce It
Back in 2015, it was found that meditating for just 7 minutes can reduce racial prejudice. True? Read more about it here.
4) But Racial Bias Can Still Make Them Un-Empathetic
Humans seem to display empathy by default, but researchers in Italy say those feelings are diminished when someone outside of your race is suffering. The answer? Being aware of this tendency could mean you try to go that extra mile, by default.
