Final answer:
Racial awareness is evident by age 3 to 5 years, and children start to form biases at this age. Confronting racism requires addressing both explicit and implicit biases, and education on the subtleties of systemic racism is essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
A substantial body of research indicates that racial awareness becomes evident by the age of 3 to 5 years. At these formative years, children start to recognize and assign meaning to race, which is a critical period for shaping perceptions and attitudes. Although racial concepts continue to evolve as children grow, these early years mark a notable point at which racial biases can begin to form. Racial awareness and subsequent biases or preferences may manifest through children's choices and behaviors, such as the selection of playmates or reactions to storybook characters. Cognitive development and societal influences intertwine to form the foundations of a child's understanding of race.
Confronting and addressing racism involves recognizing and challenging not only explicit but also implicit biases. Training and exposure to diverse groups can mitigate these biases and help individuals progress from merely non-racist to actively anti-racist, thereby becoming agents of positive change. Understanding and reflecting on covert forms of racism, like those found in school tracking systems and media representation, are crucial in countering systemic racism and implicit bias. It is vital to educate individuals on these often subtle manifestations of racism to promote equality and fairness within society.