Young Voices on Behalf of Racial and Social Justice

What really caught my attention in the article Race and Respect Among Young Children was how such young children can comment another child based on their race. I thought that being so young; children wouldn’t even realize the differences between one another to make such comments as “Black girls can’t become queens”. Assuming that most children are criticizing one another because of their race, it will be a difficult subject to encounter. I remember being in elementary school and being able to determine different races but never have I thought about criticizing them. Since some children need a talk to understand how being racial can have an effect on someone, it may be hard for the teacher to approach the subject because it deals with slavery and other nationality conflicts. I find this method of educating children about racial comments in their early age because once they grow up they know not to judge a person by their nationality.


The most durable subject to come across, in my point of view, is a child’s lifestyle and where they live. There are many children who face problems at home or in their environment that makes them feel a certain way. In the article Teaching for Social Justice made me trace back to the times where I had lived in a neighborhood where there were always gang related situations that had kept me awake all night. It is understandable for young children to want a change in their community and realize that homeless people are not supposed to be out on the streets. For children to realize this at a young age is very good because once they start to have a strong passion for homeless people or disruptive neighborhoods, they will grow up trying to make a difference in their community and for their teacher to help them learn about why this is happening also educates the young students about what has to be right.

The Relationships Between People

            Society does not realize the racism and sexism that takes place in books that everyone have read while growing up until it is pointed out. There are many racial remarks and stereotypes within a storyline of a story that people do not catch at the first take or at all, sometimes. Reading this short article has also made me realize the message people convey to others during a movie. I’ve never realize the way authors place people into a certain category in which they are looked to be in, like the whites will take place of a leader, Mexicans are the construction workers, or Latino families having a lot of children. Once I’ve read this, I’ve realized how many stories and movies I’ve come across that fit these exact examples. Whites are always viewed as superior and the over rulers as opposed to the African Americans living in the projects or happen to always be involved in a conflict. This shows me how the author thinks and shows me their perspective of the cultural humanity. Sometimes, these little remarks are written unintentionally but it may affect a person who relates to the racism.

Cinderella Corruption

    It is typical for a Caucasian female to play the main role in the Cinderella story than any other female of another nationality. Lead roles in a child's favorite cartoon can cause the way the child thinks and will affect their expectations in life. this is telling some children that the only hope for being like Cinderella is to be a Caucasian, young, beautiful and rich female when being any nationality other than American have no chance at all. The lead role in fairy tales corrupts the mind of young children and conveys the wrong message. although this may not be seen by others, it may affect a lot of insecure young females of every nationality.

         There are many disagreements and frustrations on why there can't be an African American, Hispanic or an Asian female playing the lead role of Cinderella. Lead roles are very important because the Cinderella story is introduced to children when they are young and are still going through their learning process. this conveys a negative message to them about their hopes and dreams which will affect their future. Caucasian being the lead role in almost everything can affect the way they approach the real world, like working in a company with a boss that is Caucasian and not having any hope to take over his or her occupancy. After children realize this unfair lead role, they will likely try to change themselves to get close as possible to the Cinderella image. This will prove that Cinderella has shot down children's self of steam all the way down. Cinderella portrays a horrible message to children and may change their life.