Why do teens self-segregate along racial lines ?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Spent a week this Summer at a teens’ coed summer camp and noticed this happening. The African-American kids in particular seemed to really self-segregate and only sit with AA kids during mealtimes.

Our troop is about 40% white, equal amount Asian/Indian, with a few Latinx and AA kids. But at summer camp 2025, they all just seemed to separate this way.

Why are kids still doing this in 2025? Any suggestions to stop it?

The same reasons adults do.

Sure, but that doesn’t make it ok; don’t you agree ?

DP but it doesn't make it wrong either. Forcing them to mix is wrong.

It’s a red flag for sure. Not associating with any other race than your own is not healthy or admirable in any way no matter what your excuse is. It’s wrong to discriminate based on skin color.

Doesn’t it depend on who is doing the self-segregating? My sense is that it’s not okay for white kids to self-segregate and exclude but it is okay for Black kids to do so.

I think it goes back to the idea that Black kids need a “safe space” but white kids do not.

(Though personally I would understand if white kids DO need a safe space to be with white kids… 10 years ago, I’d say that is crazy but today, people are so aggressive with the race stuff, I would understand if everyone, all races, want to segregate MORE than they did 10 years ago).

I think what you are missing here is that White kids are generally surrounded by plenty of other White kids so their culture (you know, talking "white", styling their hair "white" (e.g. straight), engaging in activities that are predominantly done by white people in their communities -whether it be swimming, lacrosse, hunting) is constantly being validated. The notion it's not okay for White kids to hang out with other White kids is bizarre. Of course it's okay! It's the norm in our culture. And when Black and Asian kids hang out with them, the White kids are not expected to adjust their behavior beyond not being explicitly racist.

Black kids and other POC often are in settings where their cultures are not validated and the racism they experience is not acknowledged. Spending time with other kids that share their culture and experiences of racism is extremely helpful and in some cases a matter of survival.

Styling hair is not part of White culture. I don’t know anyone who hunts but all races swim. Lacrosse is a Canadian sport and Americans have taken it up. It’s not their culture. Black kids have American Black culture that they’ve created. It has nothing to do with ancestors from Africa. A lot of Latinos have traditions from their old country because they are typically more recent immigrants and they still speak their native language.

When it comes to black and white Americans whose families have been here for a long time I think the word culture is overused and misused.

Yes, all races swim, but some were explicitly banned from many pools for a long time. If you Google "top swimmers in the world" they are all White.

As far as importing something from Canada I'm not sure how that makes it not White culture. White women imported yoga from India and yoga is definitely part of White culture. Do other races participate in it? Of course! White people also listen to hip hop but hip hop is definitely part of Black culture.

Further: the central problem is white culture and cultural supremacy.

This graphic really helps illustrate the problem here in the U.S.

That is a partial illustration of the extremely problematic supremacy of white culture in America

Except that it's total BS. "White" people is a misnomer and does not objectively exist. Are Swedish people white? Because they certainly are not rugged individualists by any measure. Who comes up with this nonsense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My eldest is in a predominantly white friend group and has been since middle school. Occasionally, there’s one other Black girl and a few Persian or Desi girls. She also only dates white guys. She has one close friend who is also AA and also has only dated white men. Some of it is where she was raised 5-13 and some of it is common interests that are expensive to pursue so they seldom attract AAs and Latinos. We’re from a generationally multiracial, multiethnic family so the dating part isn’t as big an issue as the friend group part has been. The friend group has been great for networking professionally. There are some drawbacks though. I have pointed out a few times that she gets upset when her friends miss ways she’s treated differently from them in exclusive settings. They are supportive when she points it out, but they are blind up until then.

Meanwhile, my younger kids don’t have any close friends who aren’t people of color. They have really tight circles of young folks from different cultural backgrounds but similar values. This has been great for keeping them focused academically, but not so great as they start to network for careers.

"Networking" for careers is another word for corruption. Not a very strong foundation on which to build your social structure.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent a week this Summer at a teens’ coed summer camp and noticed this happening. The African-American kids in particular seemed to really self-segregate and only sit with AA kids during mealtimes.

Our troop is about 40% white, equal amount Asian/Indian, with a few Latinx and AA kids. But at summer camp 2025, they all just seemed to separate this way.

Why are kids still doing this in 2025? Any suggestions to stop it?

The same reasons adults do.

Sure, but that doesn’t make it ok; don’t you agree ?

DP but it doesn't make it wrong either. Forcing them to mix is wrong.

It’s a red flag for sure. Not associating with any other race than your own is not healthy or admirable in any way no matter what your excuse is. It’s wrong to discriminate based on skin color.

Doesn’t it depend on who is doing the self-segregating? My sense is that it’s not okay for white kids to self-segregate and exclude but it is okay for Black kids to do so.

I think it goes back to the idea that Black kids need a “safe space” but white kids do not.

(Though personally I would understand if white kids DO need a safe space to be with white kids… 10 years ago, I’d say that is crazy but today, people are so aggressive with the race stuff, I would understand if everyone, all races, want to segregate MORE than they did 10 years ago).

I think what you are missing here is that White kids are generally surrounded by plenty of other White kids so their culture (you know, talking "white", styling their hair "white" (e.g. straight), engaging in activities that are predominantly done by white people in their communities -whether it be swimming, lacrosse, hunting) is constantly being validated. The notion it's not okay for White kids to hang out with other White kids is bizarre. Of course it's okay! It's the norm in our culture. And when Black and Asian kids hang out with them, the White kids are not expected to adjust their behavior beyond not being explicitly racist.

Black kids and other POC often are in settings where their cultures are not validated and the racism they experience is not acknowledged. Spending time with other kids that share their culture and experiences of racism is extremely helpful and in some cases a matter of survival.

Styling hair is not part of White culture. I don’t know anyone who hunts but all races swim. Lacrosse is a Canadian sport and Americans have taken it up. It’s not their culture. Black kids have American Black culture that they’ve created. It has nothing to do with ancestors from Africa. A lot of Latinos have traditions from their old country because they are typically more recent immigrants and they still speak their native language.

When it comes to black and white Americans whose families have been here for a long time I think the word culture is overused and misused.

Yes, all races swim, but some were explicitly banned from many pools for a long time. If you Google "top swimmers in the world" they are all White.

As far as importing something from Canada I'm not sure how that makes it not White culture. White women imported yoga from India and yoga is definitely part of White culture. Do other races participate in it? Of course! White people also listen to hip hop but hip hop is definitely part of Black culture.

Further: the central problem is white culture and cultural supremacy.

This graphic really helps illustrate the problem here in the U.S.

That is a partial illustration of the extremely problematic supremacy of white culture in America

Except that it's total BS. "White" people is a misnomer and does not objectively exist. Are Swedish people white? Because they certainly are not rugged individualists by any measure. Who comes up with this nonsense?

Obviously they are referring to American White culture, just like when you say Black culture you are thinking of Black American culture. Race is a social construct. It is not based on biology or ancestry, but it is a thing that exists impacts people's lives in real ways. Much of what we consider "American culture" was created and is controlled by White people. It is preposterous on its face to suggest there is no White American culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent a week this Summer at a teens’ coed summer camp and noticed this happening. The African-American kids in particular seemed to really self-segregate and only sit with AA kids during mealtimes.

Our troop is about 40% white, equal amount Asian/Indian, with a few Latinx and AA kids. But at summer camp 2025, they all just seemed to separate this way.

Why are kids still doing this in 2025? Any suggestions to stop it?

The same reasons adults do.

Sure, but that doesn’t make it ok; don’t you agree ?

DP but it doesn't make it wrong either. Forcing them to mix is wrong.

It’s a red flag for sure. Not associating with any other race than your own is not healthy or admirable in any way no matter what your excuse is. It’s wrong to discriminate based on skin color.

Doesn’t it depend on who is doing the self-segregating? My sense is that it’s not okay for white kids to self-segregate and exclude but it is okay for Black kids to do so.

I think it goes back to the idea that Black kids need a “safe space” but white kids do not.

(Though personally I would understand if white kids DO need a safe space to be with white kids… 10 years ago, I’d say that is crazy but today, people are so aggressive with the race stuff, I would understand if everyone, all races, want to segregate MORE than they did 10 years ago).

I think what you are missing here is that White kids are generally surrounded by plenty of other White kids so their culture (you know, talking "white", styling their hair "white" (e.g. straight), engaging in activities that are predominantly done by white people in their communities -whether it be swimming, lacrosse, hunting) is constantly being validated. The notion it's not okay for White kids to hang out with other White kids is bizarre. Of course it's okay! It's the norm in our culture. And when Black and Asian kids hang out with them, the White kids are not expected to adjust their behavior beyond not being explicitly racist.

Black kids and other POC often are in settings where their cultures are not validated and the racism they experience is not acknowledged. Spending time with other kids that share their culture and experiences of racism is extremely helpful and in some cases a matter of survival.

Styling hair is not part of White culture. I don’t know anyone who hunts but all races swim. Lacrosse is a Canadian sport and Americans have taken it up. It’s not their culture. Black kids have American Black culture that they’ve created. It has nothing to do with ancestors from Africa. A lot of Latinos have traditions from their old country because they are typically more recent immigrants and they still speak their native language.

When it comes to black and white Americans whose families have been here for a long time I think the word culture is overused and misused.

Yes, all races swim, but some were explicitly banned from many pools for a long time. If you Google "top swimmers in the world" they are all White.

As far as importing something from Canada I'm not sure how that makes it not White culture. White women imported yoga from India and yoga is definitely part of White culture. Do other races participate in it? Of course! White people also listen to hip hop but hip hop is definitely part of Black culture.

Further: the central problem is white culture and cultural supremacy.

This graphic really helps illustrate the problem here in the U.S.

That is a partial illustration of the extremely problematic supremacy of white culture in America

Except that it's total BS. "White" people is a misnomer and does not objectively exist. Are Swedish people white? Because they certainly are not rugged individualists by any measure. Who comes up with this nonsense?

Obviously they are referring to American White culture, just like when you say Black culture you are thinking of Black American culture. Race is a social construct. It is not based on biology or ancestry, but it is a thing that exists impacts people's lives in real ways. Much of what we consider "American culture" was created and is controlled by White people. It is preposterous on its face to suggest there is no White American culture.

Speaking of social constructs, "culture" is much more of a social construct than "race".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Someone really said yoga is part of white culture? LOL 🤢 You can steal and water down everyone's culture as much as you want, but it will never be yours just because you participate.

Please. Soccer wasn't created in Latin America but it's definitely part of Latino culture. Yoga as practiced in the United States is by and large not part of Indian culture, yes it's appropriated and it's very much a part of White woman culture. Especially the ones that have a lot of fake spirituality.

Culture is often appropriated and transformed. I'm not sure how that can possibly be controversial.

white Americans have no culture.

White people that came here from places a long time ago like Ireland, England, Germany, Italy and all the other countries that people came here for a better life didn’t hang on to old cultures.

My father’s ancestors came to America 175 years ago. Back then people tended to marry from the old country, then from other countries in Europe. Soon Asians, South Americans, Africans and others emigrated to the US. They were more likely to hold on to their languages and food, ceremonies, etc. More recent in history Americans are marrying people who came here from different parts of the world.

There’s no such thing as white culture anywhere. The sooner people who become Americans branch out and make friends with a variety of people the sooner we’ll stop hurling insults at each other. We can dream anyway.

The term culture refers to "the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group."

Do you think it's an insult to say there is Black culture or Latino culture or Asian culture? Should those cultures be erased? Should Latino people stop speaking Spanish and dancing to Latin music?

Do you think there aren't social institutions in the United States that are created by and mostly led by White people? Do you you think White people in the United States have developed no music, art or food?

Of course there is White American culture. It doesn't mean all White people are the same just as there is a lot of diversity among Black, Latino and Asian people.

I think there are white american regional cultures but not really a cohesive white culture writ large as much. Of course, there are also black regional cultures, but additionally a larger black culture.

Come on, people listen to White country singers heavy metal music everywhere. People eat hot dogs everywhere. You are in denial.

People eat pizza everywhere too but that doesn't make anyone Italian wtf. Beyonce just put out a country album and there is. along history of black country music. Heavy metal music is extremely niche and most white people don't listen to it either. Weird.

Why is hip hop Black culture but country isn't White culture? This is your discomfort with naming things as White.

I never said anything of the sort. I don’t think it should be this way but black people have made it very clear that white hip hop artists will not be allowed on any large scale. Black people gate-keep to keep white people out of hip hop and it’s wrong. Just like it was wrong for white radio stations to exclude legitimate black country artists. Even so there are many white hip hop acts even internationally but the dominant black american culture rejects them outright based on skin color. Either bigotry is wrong or it is not. I think it’s wrong no matter who is being discriminatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent a week this Summer at a teens’ coed summer camp and noticed this happening. The African-American kids in particular seemed to really self-segregate and only sit with AA kids during mealtimes.

Our troop is about 40% white, equal amount Asian/Indian, with a few Latinx and AA kids. But at summer camp 2025, they all just seemed to separate this way.

Why are kids still doing this in 2025? Any suggestions to stop it?

The same reasons adults do.

Sure, but that doesn’t make it ok; don’t you agree ?

DP but it doesn't make it wrong either. Forcing them to mix is wrong.

It’s a red flag for sure. Not associating with any other race than your own is not healthy or admirable in any way no matter what your excuse is. It’s wrong to discriminate based on skin color.

Doesn’t it depend on who is doing the self-segregating? My sense is that it’s not okay for white kids to self-segregate and exclude but it is okay for Black kids to do so.

I think it goes back to the idea that Black kids need a “safe space” but white kids do not.

(Though personally I would understand if white kids DO need a safe space to be with white kids… 10 years ago, I’d say that is crazy but today, people are so aggressive with the race stuff, I would understand if everyone, all races, want to segregate MORE than they did 10 years ago).

I think what you are missing here is that White kids are generally surrounded by plenty of other White kids so their culture (you know, talking "white", styling their hair "white" (e.g. straight), engaging in activities that are predominantly done by white people in their communities -whether it be swimming, lacrosse, hunting) is constantly being validated. The notion it's not okay for White kids to hang out with other White kids is bizarre. Of course it's okay! It's the norm in our culture. And when Black and Asian kids hang out with them, the White kids are not expected to adjust their behavior beyond not being explicitly racist.

Black kids and other POC often are in settings where their cultures are not validated and the racism they experience is not acknowledged. Spending time with other kids that share their culture and experiences of racism is extremely helpful and in some cases a matter of survival.

Styling hair is not part of White culture. I don’t know anyone who hunts but all races swim. Lacrosse is a Canadian sport and Americans have taken it up. It’s not their culture. Black kids have American Black culture that they’ve created. It has nothing to do with ancestors from Africa. A lot of Latinos have traditions from their old country because they are typically more recent immigrants and they still speak their native language.

When it comes to black and white Americans whose families have been here for a long time I think the word culture is overused and misused.

Yes, all races swim, but some were explicitly banned from many pools for a long time. If you Google "top swimmers in the world" they are all White.

As far as importing something from Canada I'm not sure how that makes it not White culture. White women imported yoga from India and yoga is definitely part of White culture. Do other races participate in it? Of course! White people also listen to hip hop but hip hop is definitely part of Black culture.

Further: the central problem is white culture and cultural supremacy.

This graphic really helps illustrate the problem here in the U.S.

That is a partial illustration of the extremely problematic supremacy of white culture in America

Except that it's total BS. "White" people is a misnomer and does not objectively exist. Are Swedish people white? Because they certainly are not rugged individualists by any measure. Who comes up with this nonsense?

Obviously they are referring to American White culture, just like when you say Black culture you are thinking of Black American culture. Race is a social construct. It is not based on biology or ancestry, but it is a thing that exists impacts people's lives in real ways. Much of what we consider "American culture" was created and is controlled by White people. It is preposterous on its face to suggest there is no White American culture.

Speaking of social constructs, "culture" is much more of a social construct than "race".

Lol anything to avoid acknowledging the role of race in our society