USING RACIAL AND ETHNIC CONCEPTS - THE CRITICAL CASE OF VERY YOUNG-CHILDREN

We examine the racial and ethnic concepts and related actions of very young children in a preschool setting. Breaking with much of the conve ntional literature on the cognitive development of preschool children, we argue that young children engage in interaction involving clear an d often sophisticated understandings of racial and ethnic concepts and meanings. We discuss: (1) how racial and ethnic concepts are used to exclude or include others; (2) how racial or ethnic concepts are used to define oneself and others; (3) how power and control link to racial and ethnic understandings; and (4) how adults misperceive the racial and ethnic language and activities of children.