Throughout the history of the United States, prejudice has always been creeping around the dark corners at night, and even during the day time at the local grocery store. Prejudice is a negative attitude toward members of a group. This is heavily ingrained into our society. In fact, within the article from The New York Times, How Kids Learn Prejudice, by Katherine D. Kinzler, depicts how children soak up any information given to them, especially from parents. Prejudice leaves America wondering how can we improve our own humanity, involving how to decrease the level of prejudice that wanders around our cities and towns. There are possible answers; however, a definite answer is left to be found. Within How Kids Learn Prejudice, Kinzler begins …show more content…
Kinzler, connects with our textbook in class on certain points. Our textbook discusses how modern racism is increasing, while “old-fashion” racism is decreasing. “Old-fashion” racism refers to over racism such as racial segregation during the Jim Crow era. Modern racism is the subtle and private racism, which typically only reveals itself when the individual feels safe enough to enforce their racial beliefs. The textbook continues to elaborate on modern racism, exploiting another form of racism called aversive racism. Aversive racism is an indirect, subtle, and ambiguous racism that is correlated with childhood. This means that aversive racism is gained as an individual goes through the process socialization during their childhood. This directly corresponds with Kinzler’s explanation. As Kinzler depicts the story of her two-year old, then continued to expand and discuss the socialization of children and how they learn prejudice during grade school, she’s referencing to aversive racism. These children’s biases are typically subtle, and don’t really come out until they feel comfortable themselves to talk about it. Prejudice is overtly present in society, whether it’s out in the open, or within the minds and hearts of