The Impact of Racism on Children

1. I believe the environment, no matter if you were white or black, had a huge impact on the minds of children during this time.  While I don't necessarily think all effects were positive as no child should ever be shown such extreme violence, I do think the reality of racism and segregation was demonstrated to people.  I think, as the readings supported, by seeing what it took to keep the idea of segregation and racism alive made many children turn away from the idea.  I also think that it gave many black children a reason to fight for equality.

2.  I believe that while the actions were intended to perpetuate racism and that they may have a first, eventually it began to have the reverse effect.  After reading children's testimonies about lynching and seeing the horrible pictures themselves, I can't help but believe the grotesque nature of the acts eventually became so distasteful that lynchings were seen in a negative light.  I think showing the true reality of racism made many realize the ideas were not something they necessarily believed in.

3.  I do think that some of the effects of the actions carried out in the early 1900's had effects on both black and white children in the 1960's.  While I can't say that the actions were directly related to the ideas of white power that still seemed to be prevalent in that day, I can't help but believe the ideals of white supremacy that were taught to children then did not get passed to their children during the '60's.  This is demonstrated by the article "A Doll that Looks Like me", by the fact that children in segregated schools tended to reach for white toys over toys of their own color.  I think that this is a demonstration that children even in this day tended to reach for what they believed was right.