Newsweek Article - "See Baby Discriminate"

[jedifreac]

This week's Newsweek magazine has a new feature article, "See Baby Discriminate" that talks about researchers' efforts to study children and their perceptions in race. It's a worthy read since both the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series and The Last Airbender film are targeted towards families and children. One researcher even studied if

Comments

[sidepocket_pro]

This is a really great article, something of a great plot to data mine from. Although I must admit, all it really did was conform a lot of things I already figured out.

I love the whole argument our society does with the whole "Everyone is created equal, racism is so low that there is none." Because we taught an entire generations after WWII to dislike "hate racism", we have compellingly opened ourselves up to "ignorant racism" in it's highest form. Our solution to the issue of racism is to act like it's been solved...when it's not.

Never mind that the whole idea that kids somehow do not know about racism, which is total bull crap because kids learn by observing their environment, their piers and more importantly: what adults tell them the world is like.

Adults are kids, only bigger. And we wonder why parenting is all screwed up.

In short, if you want to have some pure video fun about kids and racism, I can point to the video I've used ever since this special aired:

[rosegilmore]

WOW. That makes me really sad to see that. :(

[sidepocket_pro]

I know it really illustrates it well, right?

See sadly people don't want to read so they skip out on the article above. But you show someone this and well...there is not much to say.

Though I feel that Avatar_Kaiser at AvatarSpirit.net would still try to justify the racism in this. =D

[erikonil]

Of course they would. Because you know someone would pull out the 'it's just a cartoon' trope.

[caterfree10]

Oh my god, that video. >:

[dkwrkm]

Ok, that was terrifying, with the bomber end everything at the end? (>_<) Yeah.

[earthy_dreamer]

o.O I see the indoctrination of negative race stereotypes in youth is still going well....

[fadedelegance]

That is SO sad.

Yeah, way to go, parents--teach your kids racial profiling! "That Arab must just be a terrorist!"

God, that is sad. :-(

[sidepocket_pro]

Best one:

Little Girl: He looks like a nice person, PLUS he has a smile. He's smiling!

Narrator: ...but both men are smiling.

Also, Timothy LeVay as a teacher...lol. Those kids would be dead quick. ;D

[sidepocket_pro]

Yup. That is how everyone does it. =P

[pretty_angel]

Which is exactly the point where the media come into play... It's just everywhere. D:

[sapphire_fuego]

Oh man! Why can't society see that the images "feed" to children have a major influence on how they perceive different ethnicities??

when was that aired?