During a school activity, parents could come to explain their jobs to the children. Mateo’s dad, who is a doctor, came to class wearing his white coat and carrying his medical instruments. He patiently explained his routine and answered all the children’s questions with kindness. I was amazed at how well he handled the group, and the connection with the children was immediate. He was tall, had dark skin, and was very kind. He had endless energy and showed a lot of patience and tenderness towards the children.
When he walked into the classroom, most of the children were excited and curious. Many of them started asking questions right away, except for Jane, one of the most active students in class. It seemed strange to me because she was always very outgoing and full of energy. That day, she looked like a different child. I barely recognized her. I was surprised when she said to me:When he walked into the classroom, most of the children were excited and curious. Many of them started asking questions right away, except for Jane, one of the most active students in class. It seemed strange to me because she was always very outgoing and full of energy. That day, she looked like a different child. I barely recognized her. I was surprised when she said to me:
“Teacher, can I stand next to you?”
I gently replied:
“Of course, Jane.”
How could I say no to her, especially when she was always so independent and confident? She clung to my arm, hid her face most of the time, and didn’t want to speak.
I asked her several times what was wrong. I thought maybe she was feeling shy or something had happened at home. But when the talk was over, I asked her again. Then, with total innocence, she said:
“It’s because Mateo’s dad is Black, and I don’t like that… it makes me a little scared.”
I was very surprised, but I stayed calm and gently asked her:
“What do you think scares you, Jane?”
She lowered her gaze and said:
“I just don’t like people with a different skin color.”
I wanted to help her reflect, so I said:
“I understand. But tell me, Jane, do you like colors? We have so many colorful things in class. Why do you think that would be scary?”
Jane stayed quiet and seemed confused. So, I asked her another question:
“Can you imagine if Mateo’s dad hadn’t come to share so many wonderful things with us just because someone was afraid of his skin color? What would you think? How would you feel?”
Jane’s blue eyes widened in surprise, and she said:
“No, because I’m just a kid… but I think I would feel sad.”
I was speechless. Jane always stood out for her ability to make friends, her confidence, and for always being the first to participate. That day, I understood that talking about racism in class is not optional. I don’t think it’s fair to call a child racist, but they can start to adopt harmful behaviors and views of the world because of their environment or the people around them.
Children are not born racist, but they learn to be if no one teaches them otherwise. Ignoring the issue doesn’t make it go away. Silence doesn’t educate. Diversity is a treasure, but only if we learn to value it. Every child deserves to feel proud of who they are, without fear of rejection. As teachers, we have the power — and the responsibility — to change the future, one classroom at a time.
That day, I decided to create resources to work on racism and empathy with children. Because teaching equality is not just necessary, it’s urgent. After working on the topic with Jane and talking to her parents, I realized how important it is to address this issue. When I dug deeper into the reasons behind Jane’s reaction and spoke with her parents, I understood that children’s beliefs don’t just come from their families but also from social media and the culture around them.
That’s why, if we start raising awareness from an early age, the future will be fairer and more equal for everyone. Here’s why it’s so important to talk about racism with young children:
Why talk about racism in the classroom? 5 reasons teachers can’t ignore:
- Children are not born racist, but they learn to be if no one teaches them otherwise. Prejudices form from what children see and hear around them. If we don’t talk about racism, we let those harmful ideas grow silently. Talking about it naturally helps dismantle those beliefs from an early age.
- Ignoring racism doesn’t make it disappear. Not mentioning racism in class doesn’t protect children, it leaves them vulnerable. Racialized students face comments, looks, and situations that affect their self-esteem. Talking about this teaches all children to recognize injustice and be part of the change.
- Diversity is a treasure that only has value if it’s understood. Learning about other cultures, histories, and experiences broadens children’s minds. When they understand that differences make us richer, they learn to respect and celebrate diversity instead of fearing or rejecting it.
- Every child deserves to feel proud of who they are. No student should feel bad because of their skin color or roots. Working on racism in class teaches children to love themselves and others, fostering empathy and confidence in their identity.
- As teachers, we have the power to change the future. Our classrooms are the first place where children learn to live together. Teaching equality, justice, and respect transforms students and plants the seeds for a more compassionate society.
If you’d like to work on these values in your classroom, I invite you to check out my resources on racism and anti-racism. Tools designed to help you guide difficult conversations and make them simple and meaningful. Because every word we sow today can change lives tomorrow.
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