 |
 |
|---|
Youth Communication helps marginalized youth develop their full potential through reading and writing, so that
they can succeed in school and at work and contribute to their communities. [more]
Our Magazines
Race And Ethnicity (75 found)
When she enters 7th grade as the only black student in her class, Desiree is thrown into confusion about her racial identity. (full text)
Natasha interviews minority teens in the suburbs to explore the relationship between race and success. (full text)
As a Muslim teen who dresses traditionally, Sara becomes an object of attention after 9/11 and gets harassed on the street. (full text)
Anne, who lives in a group home, meets Cliff and they soon fall in love. But Anne can't tell Cliff her living situation, nor that her mother is a racist. (full text)
Kizzy is nervous about attending an overwhelmingly white school in Minnesota. But once on campus she makes friends of all races. (full text)
When George, who is Chinese, moves to the Bronx, he is frequently taunted by black kids. But after a black youth befriends and defends him, George moves beyond his stereotypes. (full text)
Jamal speaks standard English, can’t dance, and prefers baseball to basketball. Does this mean he’s less black than his peers? (full text)
Allen's family and friends call each other "n-gga" all the time and it isn't until the 4th grade that he learns the racist meaning of the word. He's been confused about whether or not to use it ever since. (full text)
Sue’s boyfriend tells her that if she were a “real” Korean girl, she would listen to him when he told her what to do. (full text)
Edwidge describes the bewilderment, culture shock, and stereotypes she faces on arriving in the U.S. from Haiti at 12. She will later credit this essay with helping to inspire her novel "Breath, Eyes, Memory," which becomes a New York Times bestseller. (full text)
Ebony is ecstatic when she falls in love with a Nigerian boy, but as the relationship gets serious she realizes that he's breaking his family's and his culture's rules by dating an American.
Brief comments from Queens teens on what it's like to live in America's most diverse county.
Nesshell admires the Anti-Defamation League's message of tolerance. But in attempting to spread this message, she learns that she won't always meet with like-minded people.
Describes a recent wave of attacks on Latin Americans in Staten Island, the community's response, and the definition of a hate crime.
Angelica researches the origins of some common ethnic and racial slurs, and notes that it's the intent of the user—rather than anything inherent in the word—that gives a slur its sting.
As a person of mixed race, Brittany has never considered interracial relationships a big deal. She interviews peers who have been involved in interracial relationships to learn more about the practical pros and cons.
Margarita unintentionally offends a black classmate. After the two girls cool down and talk, they find friendship. (full text)
After being mugged by two black boys, Chantal—who is African-American, herself—starts to think that racial profiling is justified if personal safety is at stake.
After talking to author Adam Mansbach, Evin realizes that white people in America still enjoy certain advantages.
Samantha, who is black, has a difficult adjustment to the overwhelmingly white University of Michigan.
In junior high school, Nesshell was ostracized by her peers for "acting white." More recently, she was taunted and called the N-word by white kids in a chat room. Labeled on both sides, she wonders in frustration whether people are capable of seeing her for herself. (full text)
When Irving realizes that his 4th grade teacher has been criticizing and isolating him because he is dark-skinned, he develops a plan to prove that skin color is not an obstacle for learning.
(full text)
(full text)
Renea reports on a series of studies that show how our brains are hard-wired to categorize people by race. She explains that, although some biases may come naturally, there are easy ways to counteract them and become more open to people who are different from us.
Kelly explains the historical origins of the idea of race, which has no basis in science. She argues that we should be taught to appreciate our essential sameness as well as our differences, since moving beyond race will make it more possible for people to be judged by their actions.
Ebony critiques the usefulness of HotGhettoMess.com, a website that seeks to shame blacks and Latinos who "act ghetto" and perpetuate negative stereotypes about people of color.
Evin interviews Adam Mansbach—author of a novel in which white people spend a day apologizing to black people—and ponders the usefulness of the word "sorry." (full text)
YCteen interviews three experts on race: Rinku Sen, a racial justice activist; Lasana Harris, a neuroscientist who studies how our brains process race; and Dalton Conley, a sociologist and author of the memoir "Honky."
Jimmy, who is Asian-American, becomes friends with a Puerto Rican classmate and they visit several of the city's Puerto Rican neighborhoods together. Jimmy learns to appreciate another culture and develops a new appreciation for his own Chinese background.
Evin's parents warn him to avoid certain neighborhoods and he develops a wariness toward anyone from the "ghetto." It's not until he befriends kids from hood that he learns to separate "bad neighborhoods" from the people who live there.
Nesshell summarizes the Shirley Sherrod story that arose in the national news during the summer. She concludes that the way media and government figures reacted to Sherrod's message bodes badly for prospects of racial healing.
The students at Phillippe’s international high school tend to stick with people of their own nationality. But soccer brings them together.
Marsha never really thinks about being Haitian, until one day in class when she is made painfully aware of some of her classmates’ misconceptions.
When Leneli, who is Filipina, dates Jeremy, who is black, they turn heads.
At April’s school, students segregate themselves by hanging out in different hallways according to race and ethnicity. (full text)
When Anita befriends Meghan, the only white girl in her grade, she learns about a culture she never experienced before.
By Donald’s definition, Barack Obama is not African-American, because he doesn’t share the history and experience of most blacks in the U.S.
Desiree is not buying the argument that blacks can use the “n-word” in an empowering or affectionate way.
As a white boy in a black neighborhood, Fred had to “act ghetto” to fit in. But now that he’s growing up, he wants to change his ways.
Stephanie resents being followed in stores because she’s young, black, and stereotyped as a shoplifter.
As a Muslim youth, Abanty has become self-conscious and fearful after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She worries that she and her family will be the targets of revenge. (full text)
As the one Asian face in a black neighborhood, Luce faces racist taunts, but soon learns not to judge an entire group by the actions of a few.
Janill, who is Ecuadorian, is bothered when people assume she’s Puerto Rican or Dominican.
Cassandra’s high school is diverse, but students rarely mix in the cafeteria.
Jordan feels pigeonholed by the “model minority” stereotype, which says that he should work hard, get good grades, and never cause any trouble.
Angelina feels out of place at the elite private school she attends where she’s one of the only black students.
The writer is angry about the gap between American ideals of liberty and justice for all and the reality of discrimination and injustice.
Mohammad’s family is Kurdish, an ethnic group without a country of their own.
As a biracial child, Nicole gets teased by those who can’t fit her into a category.
Samantha, who is black, has a difficult adjustment to an overwhelmingly white college.
Wearing a Puerto Rican flag necklace helps Omar feel connected to his culture.
Roberto Clemente, the first Puerto Rican in the Baseball Hall of Fame, is a role model for Luis.
As the son of a black mother and white Jewish father, Satra doesn’t fit into society’s categories and gets teased and rejected.
LeFonché is devastated when her mother refuses to allow her white foster mother to adopt her.
James conducts a brief lesson in African-American history, in the form of a quiz. We learn about the first African-American to earn an international pilot's license, in addition to more well-known greats from the past. (full text)
Artiqua, who’s black, is pressured to break off her relationship with Johnny, a Puerto Rican.
When Latoya, who is black, becomes friends with a Puerto Rican girl, she must confront her attitudes toward people who are “different.”
As the only Koreans in a white, upper class neighborhood, Sung and her family get the cold shoulder.
When Jessica, who is Puerto Rican, befriends Cindy, who is Chinese, she becomes fascinated with Asian culture and begins to immerse herself in it. She learns the history, Chinese phrases, and how to use chopsticks properly.
A black teen helps Priscilla, who’s Asian, recognize her own stereotypes and get beyond them.
When she goes to see the film "The House of the Spirits," based on the novel by Chilean author Isabel Allende, Jessica is offended that none of the leading roles are played by Latinos.
Shaniqua is teased at school for “acting white” because she gets good grades and has a big vocabulary.
In the wake of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Mohamad documents some of the ways the news media vilify Arabs, and the discrimination and violence that often result.
David feels caught between the Dominican and Ecuadorian sides of his family.
Lara envies her friends, who still have strong bonds to their ethnic cultures and traditions. She's been so Americanized that when people ask where her family's from, she doesn't know what to say.
The devastation of Los Angeles in the wake of the Rodney King verdict reminds Mohamad of the destruction he witnessed in his native Beirut, and of the similar social inequities at the root of both explosions.
Chris spends months preparing for his bar mitzvah and almost dies of stage fright when the big day arrives.
Karina likes to wear miniskirts and listen to heavy metal. Does that mean she isn't proud of her Dominican heritage?
Zeba feels immigrants should put their American identity ahead of their original heritage.
Orubba describes her close relationship with Layla, a family friend who once worked with Orubba's dad. (full text)
| HOME | WHO WE ARE | FOR EDUCATORS | FOR AGENCIES | FOR PUBLISHERS | FOR TEENS | NEWS & EVENTS | PERMISSIONS | PRIVACY |
| Copyright © 2011 - Youth Communication - 224 W. 29th St - New York, NY 10001 - Ph: 212-279-0708 - FAX: 212-279-8856 |