https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:58:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2544248 Mon, 09 May 2016 09:08:19 +0000 snowjewelz 2544248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ginabean3: I grew up with less than 5% asians in school (like, under 10 people in all the grades). I definitely found community outside of school (mostly at church, we traveled far to go to a Chinese church). By the time DD goes to school I'm sure it will be a lot more diverse than when I went, but still predominately Caucasian. I don't really mind; I know there are other avenues that I can teach /show her diversity. </p> <p>I totally did feel like an outsider a lot of times, especially with culture/traditions, but ultimately I think it made me a stronger person and have better empathy for others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2542455 Thu, 05 May 2016 16:59:14 +0000 Ginabean3 2542455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: my LO is 1/2 white and 1\2 Chinese and the majority at the school is Hispanic/Latino. The Asian pop at the school is under 5% and there are more white students but she looks 100% Asian (in my opinion). </p> <p>Thanks ladies, you've given me a lot to think about. I just want her to have a good, well-rounded school experience and I'm just worried about her being the "only white/Asian kid" and not fitting in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541911 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:55:29 +0000 regberadaisy 2541911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a coworkers who's friend was Caucasian and lived in suburbia. She purposefully signed her daughter up for a Girl Scout troop in the city to expose her to more ethnic and cultural diversity. So there are definitely opportunities to expose your children, should you wish! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541902 Thu, 05 May 2016 08:49:12 +0000 justjules 2541902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere</p> <p>I had a similar experience. I am bi racial (white/Puerto Rican) and grew up in a 98% white (maybe 2% Asian) town. I never saw any other brown skinned people. However, I always felt like an outsider, culturally I grew up "white" but I don't look white. When I'm with Puerto Ricans I look (more) similar but don't speak Spanish etc. </p> <p>My DS is 1/4 white, 1/4 Puerto Rican, and 1/2 Filipino so A crazy racially ambiguous mix. Diversity is super important to us and I hope DS gets to go to a diverse school but you never know. Something might happen and we end up in white suburbia like I grew up in (I hope not though! :silly: ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541799 Thu, 05 May 2016 07:27:13 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2541799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ginabean3: just so I have a better idea...your LO is bi-racial (black &amp; white?) and will be in a majority black school? The only time I could forsee someone making your LO feel uncomfortably different is when the white parent drops off or picks up LO. There are black kids that look bi-racial and bi-racial kids that look black.</p> <p>I think expanding your LO's world outside of school so she sees other kids that look like her is key. My elementary school was majority white, but my first Girl's Scout troop was all-black and I attended a historical black ballet school.</p> <p>ETA: I also had playdates with classmates and my after school art classes were in our neighborhood. Life outside of school wasn't purposely and solely black. If you're diligent in seeking opportunities for her to mix with all kinds of kids she should be ok overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541716 Thu, 05 May 2016 02:05:57 +0000 lamariniere 2541716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Adding a slightly different perspective. I grew up biracial in a predominantly white small town. Even though I self-identify as Caucasian, kids from elementary on up would single me out as different from them. It bothered me a little bit when I was in elementary school, but as I got older, it really didn't matter anymore. I liked being different and realized that any racial jokes or negative attitudes only came from ignorance. I credit my (Caucasian) mom for being a strong influence and helping me stand up for myself and always making me feel like I had a lot of worth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541566 Wed, 04 May 2016 20:16:34 +0000 mrsjazz 2541566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is something I do worry about. Although we are in NYC, LO is the only brown child in her class. We had an issue where a few of her friends were calling her cinnamon and my LO was very upset about it and the teacher had to be involved. I know the kids are young so they don't understand, but it's a way that my LO is made to feel different--which bothered her.</p> <p>We didn't get into our 1st choice pre-k--which is very diverse so I'm a bit bummed by this. The pre-k she got into is highly rated and recommended and there will be more brown kids at the school but as I saw when I toured she might be the only one in her class.</p> <p>LO loves her friends. But she does also need to be around kids that look like her. When she was in a dance class and there was a girl her age and her complexion LO came up to me and said, "Mommy, look, she's brown like me!" She was so excited and it made me sad. </p> <p>Things should change once she gets to K. </p> <p>I grew up going to schools where I was usually the minority. I had a great education but I did battle some self-esteem issues for a while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541530 Wed, 04 May 2016 19:53:51 +0000 regberadaisy 2541530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girls are mixed and we are very much in suburbia which means her schools will always be predominantly Caucasian. I want our girls to be exposed to more ethnic diversity and that will happen outside of school. I grew up in NYC so my schools were always a big melting pot. Do I wish her schools will be more diverse? Yes. Do I worry about it? Nope. They are great schools in a great district. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/being-a-minority-at-school#post-2541381 Wed, 04 May 2016 16:32:08 +0000 Ginabean3 2541381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm looking forward to when my oldest starts elementary school in 2 years. We may possibly be living in an area where the student population is not very racially diverse. My LO would be a minority in the school she would go to. I'm on the fence about this because I always pictured her going to a very diverse school with students from many different backgrounds and cultures and walks of life.</p> <p>Has your LO experienced it? Pros? Cons? Advice? </p> <p>Other information...my LO is bi-racial and the majority at the school is a non-white majority. If that makes a difference in your response/thoughts. </p>