Why we need to explore race with Black children

Abstract

This article will depict the necessity of exploring race with Black children in dramatherapy utilising a black¹ empathic approach through which the effects of race can be recognised and safely explored. The concept was inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests during May 2020, triggered by the murder of George Floyd in police custody. During the video of the distressing incident, Floyd said he could not breathe on several occasions, yet the Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin continued to kneel on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. Chauvin’s actions are a vivid reflection of institutional racism affecting Black people. This article will present several issues concerning racial disparities in Britain, with succinct examples of my personal feelings and experiences. Through addressing systemic problems, the article will explore the negative impact of racism and prejudice for Black children, as immediate exposure to an oppressive system means that they are at greater risk of developing mental health issues and a challenged Black identity. Therefore, it is imperative that dramatherapists provide a space for Black children to explore race in order to improve resilience and develop a healthy racial identity.

Keywords

Black Black children black empathic approach race racial identity racism

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