Talking To Children About Racist Language In Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The Schools Committee hosted Talking to Children about Race: Language Matters with communications expert and educator, Ayesha Gallion, Dara Gronau, principal at Maplewood Middle School, and a panel of Columbia High School students: Sakinah Daniels, Abygail Metellus, Ben Morris, and Jordan Muhammad.

At the program, which took place earlier this month they spoke honestly about the use of racial slurs used by teens both as in-group language and as insult, organizers said.

Gallion started the presentation and discussion by asking the audience if their children share their experiences with them; if they heard language from kids that they disapprove of; if they worry about the influence of media, peers, and other sources that they no longer control for their middle-schoolers? She then asked the panel of Columbia high School students to share their experiences and opinions about everything from use of the ‘N’-word to code-switching, to cultural appropriation. She first asked if they preferred to “short-hand” triggering words or they used them as spoken.

Here are some of the takeaways from the panelists:

• Teaching white kids not to use the n word is a baseline. Teach them also about covert language that is racist
• Give kids history and context for deeper understanding
• Some black kids are accustomed to using the ‘N’ word in in-group settings. There was not full agreement on whether this is okay or not.
• All agreed that white kids adopting Black culture is problematic. Appreciation and appropriation are different.
• Use logic and compassion to help kids work through what is offensive language.
• Help kids develop empathy and also the sensitivity to know that what they hear among peers, in media, in music may not be appropriate for conversation
• Be intentional as up standers, empower your kids to be up standers, and call out racist language when you hear it
• Give people space to express their experience of racism (and don’t center yourself in that conversation)
• Behavior matters too: white kids often know how to steer clear of racist language, but not in their actions

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