Racism in america

Essay by asujoeHigh School, 12th gradeA+, March 1995

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Education Curves Racism

A recent study conducted by Education Digest indicated that

77 percent of teenagers believe that there is racism at their

school. Another staggering 75 percent said that the student body

at their particular school is socially segregated. More

remarkably, the survey indicated that over 86 percent of high

school students feel that there is racism in their communities.

The magazine, which circulates 500,000 copies to over 1,900

schools, polled 285 high school juniors and seniors across the

country. The poll shows that racism is not just a problem among

adults; rather, it is a problem for youth as well (Schroeder, 67).

A common misconception is that children are not capable of

prejudice at early age. Yet, this is not true. In 1984 a study

by Darlene and Derek Hopson showed this. The study replicated a

famous 1930's study, where both black and white students were

given dolls of various colors and asked to state which doll was

the 'bad' doll, and which was the 'good' doll.

In the study, 74

percent of the preschoolers, between the ages of 2 and 5,

stated that the dark colored doll was the 'bad' doll (Cole 88).

The survey shows that children can develop opinions through a

variety of sources, even at an early age. According to the

Hopsons these sources include the media, what they pick up in

their own homes, and from the culture in general (Cole 88).

The preceding examples illustrate that there is a need to

educate students when it comes to racism. Affirmative action and

other current programs designed to solve racism only solves the

symptoms, not the problem itself. In order to stop racism it is

necessary to attack racism at its very roots. Since racism can

develop at an early age, it is best...