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by David Guzman
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Add to FavoritesMentor programs should not consider race when connecting mentors with
children because both mentors and children should learn to be
comfortable with people of other races and backgrounds.
Our society is gradually learning how not to stereotype people by
external characteristics. The social upheavals of the 1960s have
changed our society to the point that all races and most genders are
treated equally under the law. The next step in this progression is
for us as individuals to treat all people equally and appropriately.
If we are to succeed as a society, we must learn to get along with
people from different groups as well as we get along with our own.
Mentoring is a microcosm of this social change. If people were
allowed only to mentor only young people of their own race, it would
perpetrate the backward social conditions that we as a society have
been struggling to transcend.
The assumption is often made that mentoring is a one-way street; that
is, that the mentor only gives to the one being mentored and receives nothing in
return. This is simply not true - the mentoring relationship works
both ways, and the mentor benefits at least as much as the mentee. Any
teacher worth his or her salt will tell you that they learn at least
as much from their students as they teach them. Having been a
teacher, I know how true it is. I am grateful to my students for
having enabled me to better learn the material I was teaching.
What can mentors learn from young people of different genders, races,
nationalities or economic backgrounds? First of all, they can step into the
mentee's shoes and learn what it is like to be them. The chances are
that both mentor and mentee have been pre-selected on the basis of
ability, openness and willingness to learn, so that each will be open
to learning about the other. Understanding one person makes it easier
to understand others' values and approach to life.
Some of the benefits to the one being mentored are obvious: the
opportunity to associate with a successful person, the contacts that
become available, and the socialization into the the mentor's
behavioral world. But a less obvious benefit is the life lessons. If
the mentor comes from a different background than the one being
mentored, he or she can provide insight into the situations and
their responses to them that led to success. Both must learn to
understand the other's group social signals as well. This makes
both more sensitive and better able to communicate with each other, a
benefit that will extend to their social relationships with others.
I therefore believe that mentor programs not merely not consider
race or other external characteristics when connecting mentors with
children, they should respect the differences and match people of
different races and backgrounds.
Learn more about this author, David Guzman.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
Yes
Should race be taken into consideration when assigning mentors to children?
Successful mentoring really hinges upon the strength of the relationship between the mentor and the protg. But because our racial and cultural backgrounds impact how we relate to others on a personal level, I would have to say, "Yes, race should be taken into consideration when assigning mentors to children." However, I also believe that we must ask a follow-up question as well, "Should race be the primary consideration in assigning mentors?" To that I would emphatically reply, "No, not even close!"
Studies of various types of youth mentoring programs have shown that at-risk youngsters often benefit greatly from developing a positive one-on-one relationship with a caring adult. Improved academic performance and a decreased likelihood of engaging in substance abuse, criminal activity or sexual promiscuity are but a few of the demonstrated benefits resulting from the positive influence of a mentor.
As an African-American I am also keenly aware that young people of color may face additional challenges uniquely tied to racial discrimination and learning to adapt and succeed in a world where they are not members of the dominant group. A same-race mentor will likely have faced similar challenges. As a result, he or she may be able to provide practical solutions to these types of challenges based on personal experiences, which a mentor of a different race would not have had. There is also something to be said for young people of color being exposed to successful people who share their own racial or ethnic background.
However, I do not believe that race should be the only or even the primary consideration in determining whether a mentoring relationship will be successful. The ability to listen, to care, to support and encourage a young person and to do whatever it takes to build a relationship based on trust is far more important than simply "matching" in skin color.
Getting to know the young person on a personal level should be the first step for any serious mentor, whether they share the same racial background with the youngster or not. Understanding the family situation, special challenges the child may be facing academically, the type of neighborhood the young person lives in as well as the youngster's talents, hopes and dreams (or lack thereof) will serve as the foundation for building a successful relationship.
The additional challenge for a mentor of a different race or even a same race mentor from a different socio-economic background is in understanding how racial and economic differences can impact a child's values, self esteem and perceptions about the world. Gaining this understanding may be challenging but is certainly not impossible. The key is to avoid the temptation to view the young person and their racial background through the lens of stereotypes and instead do the work needed to increase our understanding of races and cultures which are different from our own.
How does a prospective mentor accomplish this? Well, how do we learn about anything that we are unfamiliar with but interested in learning more about? We research it. When we are contemplating a career change, a major purchase or even taking a vacation how do we approach it? We search the Internet; go to libraries and bookstores and network with people to find out more about the subject in which we have an interest. There is no reason why a desire to become more knowledgeable about racial and cultural differences could not be approached in much the same way.
Some formal mentoring programs may actually offer "cultural awareness" training and prospective mentors should by all means take advantage of these training opportunities. But there is also much to be gained from more informal "field work" as well.
Books and films presented from racial and cultural perspectives different from our own serve to increase our appreciation for racial differences and can also be used to start conversations with friends and colleagues about race in a non-threatening way. Attending museums, cultural events and religious services can be great ways to develop a better understanding of different racial perspectives.
Not only is the mentor better prepared to relate to his or her young protg, the mentor can actually reap a number of important benefits for himself as well. American society continues to become more and more racially and culturally diverse. The ability to easily adapt to living, working and socializing with people different from ourselves is invaluable. When we take the time to learn about others our own lives are enriched. Cross-race mentoring can be a win-win situation for all involved, as long as we remember that race, while important is not the only characteristic in defining our lives and relationships.
Learn more about this author, Robin Landry.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
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