This chapter commences with defining and highlighting racism as a
term and a concept; defining its nature and how it is related to identity
formation, as an ethical issue with moral imperatives. Then it will give
a very brief historical background of the institutionalisation of racism
as apartheid in the South African educational system, followed by a
discussion of racial consciousness in children by drawing on the wider
global context, specifically analysing very briefly, the significance
of the so-called Clark doll experiment in the USA. It then proceeds
to argue that racism is a social construct determined by contextual
factors, arguing that racial diversity, contrary to racism, is a ‘natural’
phenomenon.
From this perspective, the author then discusses responses to
efforts of racial integration in schools in post-1994 South Africa. In
this context, it is further argued that schools constitute critical spaces
where racist attitudes and practices are formed and inculcated. Then
the chapter highlights the role of literature and media in informing
racist tendencies in children. Finally, it accentuates the critical role
that parents, and adults play in the socialisation of children’s racial
attitudes.