by Tonya Barton

Created on: November 17, 2007

You've heard it before. Children learn what they live. This statement has proved to be factual time and again. Children are people too. Impressionable people who grow into adults, continuing in the cycle of what they were taught. Both good and bad.

How then, do we raise racially tolerant children? By example of course. Even though it takes a village to raise a child, most examples are set in the home.

Children are not born racist, it is something they are acquainted with, and it usually originates with family. Many families, regardless of race, live up to the labels that society has put on them. Therefore, in many instances, these families will unwittingly impress the crux of divide upon their child's psyche.

Now that these children have been unwittingly labeled by their parents, they carry that characterization with them through school and life. They will establish friendships and other relationships in their community with people who look and dress and judge just as they do, based on what they've been taught - carrying on the legacy of hate.

Children need to be exposed to diversity to create tolerance, and we must all assume responsibility in creating diversity. As for parenting, we must "set the tone" - ignorance can no longer be accepted as a valid excuse for careless behavior. Therefore, we must recalibrate ourselves to be more familiar and caring towards all races.

Venture out of the community, get involved and meet new people. We must stop allowing the media to "educate" us about individual races. Instead, we must expose ourselves and our children to the magnificence of our country's ethnic medley, and break the tie that binds. In doing so, you will find that "there is more to unite us than there is to divide us" (Bishop T.D Jakes).

As children age, the likelihood of them being influenced by outside sources increase. Maintaining a line of open communication at this stage is imperative in preventing children from succumbing to peer pressure. Listen openly to what children are saying and if necessary, reiterate what it means to be compassionate and open-minded.

Our children are born and gifted to us as blank slates ... what then, will you as a parent bilge on the blank slate of your child?

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