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When bullying
is based on race
Dr. Melissa Martin, Ph.D., LPCC-S
Bullying is a form of aggression used to gain power and targeting peers
based on racial differences is another misuse of power. Biracial and
multiracial youth are more likely to be bullied than youth who identify
with a single race, according to the National Voices for Equality
Education and Enlightenment. Twice as many ethnic minority youth in
elementary school report being bullied because of their race.
Types of Bullying
There are three main types of bullying according to the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services:
1. Physical (e.g. hitting, kicking, tripping/pushing, spitting,
taking/breaking belongings, making rude or mean hand gestures)
2. Verbal (e.g. name-calling, teasing, taunting, inappropriate sexual
comments, threatening to cause harm)
3. Social/Relational (e.g. spreading rumors, embarrassing someone in
public, purposeful
exclusion, telling others not to be friends with someone)
What Can Parents Do?
It is important for parents to discuss the challenges that biracial and
multiracial children may experience at school. Give them positive
answers to the questions they may be asked; “What are you?” or “Why is
your skin different from mine?”
Talk to the principals, teachers, and school counselors about ways to
prevent and intervene with racially prejudiced bullying in classrooms
by peers. Does your child’s school celebrate cultural diversity? Does
the pre-school or kindergarten class have toys and books that represent
all ethnic groups?
Research indicates that biracial and multiracial kids that are allowed
to embrace and celebrate all aspects of their heritage instead of being
forced to choose a single-race identity “have the best chance of
success.” Talk to your children about successful Americans of mixed
races: President Obama; actors like Halle Berry and Keanu Reeves; the
athletes Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter; and news anchors Soledad O-Brien
and Ann Curry.
Books for Children
Mixed Me: A Tale of a Girl who is both Black and White by Tiffany
Catledge and Big Hair, Don't Care by Crystal Swain-Bates.
Dolls for Children
Visit www.pattycakedoll.com to find biracial and Hispanic dolls.
Visit www.4kidslikeme.com to find multicultural dolls.
TV and Biracial
The Cheerios commercial that featured a Caucasian mom, an
African-American dad, and their biracial daughter generated strong
racist reactions on YouTube last year. How do we teach adults to stop
ethnic bullying and racial discrimination?
PBS's cartoon Sid the Science Kid stars a biracial kid whose father
seems to be Caucasian and his mother seems to be African-American. Talk
to your kids about the positive message this show sends.
Resources
When Kids Face Racism at School is a national adoption magazine with
information for caregivers regarding racial bullying experienced by
children who are adopted. Visit www.adoptivefamilies.com.
Visit
www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/BullyingHarassment/pubdocs/Race-EthnicityResearch.pdf.
Stop Bullying Now! is a website is sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services
Administration, and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Visit
www.stopbullying.gov.
Listen to an episode of Mixed Race Radio with a discussion on biracial
bullying and when children are bullied due to skin color, hair texture,
eye color or accents. Visit www.blogtalkradio.com and type in biracial
bullying.
Is that Your Child?: Mothers Talk about Rearing Biracial Children is a
book by Marion Kilson, PhD. and Florence Ladd, PhD. They both are
parents of biracial children.
Dr. Heather Harrison writes a blog about her biracial son at
www.themommypsychologist.com.
Talking to Our Children about Racism & Diversity is a booklet
written to help parents and children talk together about diversity and
racism. It includes examples of children's questions and some
suggestions for answering them. It is for parents whose children are
between five and eight years old. Visit www.civilrights.org.
If your child is experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression along
with self-rejection due to bullying based on race, please contact a
child therapist.
Dr. Missy, Ph.D., is a feelings helper, child therapist, play
therapist, and child trauma therapist. She provides therapeutic
services at Affirmations, Columbus, Ohio.
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