I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla: Raising Healthy Black and Biracial Children in a Race-Conscious World

Myth: Black and biracial children dislike their race from the time they are preschoolers.

Reality: Young black and biracial children are unable to understand racial prejudice. In fact, developmentally they are incapable of understanding the concept of race.

A childs concept of race is quite different from that of an adult. Young children perceive skin color as magical -- even changeable -- and unlike adults, are incapable of understanding the mature concepts surrounding race and racism. Just as children learn to walk and talk, they likewise come to understand race in a series of predictable stages.

Based on Dr. Marguerite A. Wrights research and clinical experience working as a child psychologist, Im Chocolate, Youre Vanilla teaches us that the color-blindness of early childhood can, and must, be taken advantage of in order to guide the positive development of a childs self-esteem.

Im Chocolate, Youre Vanilla is filled with practical, positive, and creative ideas for handling common situations such as what to do when your child says she wants a white doll; how to deal with relatives and friends who compare your childrens skin colors and hair textures; and how to discipline your children so that they can grow up with self respect. Teachers will gain valuable insights about how preconceptions can contribute to a childs success or failure and how to handle discipline problems in the classroom.

Wright answers some fundamental questions about children and race including

What do children know and understand about the color of their skin?
When do children understand the concept of race?
Are there warning signs that a child is being adversely affected by racialprejudice?
How can adults avoid instilling in children their own negative perceptions and prejudices?
What can parents do to prepare their children to overcome the racism they are likely to encounter?
How can schools lessen the impact of racism?

With wisd