In a disturbing display of learned behavior, two young Black girls were seen forcing a smaller white child to hit herself in the head before knocking her to the ground. The incident, captured on video, reveals how deeply ingrained prejudices can manifest even in the very young. What’s most unsettling is the likelihood that the white child, in her innocence, had no awareness of racial differences—yet the older girls acted out a cruelty that clearly didn’t originate from their own hearts. Children aren’t born with hate; they absorb it from their surroundings, whether through explicit lessons or subtle societal cues.
The video, recorded by a young Black boy who dismissively tells someone to “shut up,” adds another layer to this troubling scenario. His passive reaction suggests a normalization of such behavior, as if witnessing aggression has become unremarkable. This raises difficult questions about the environments these children are growing up in—what are they seeing, hearing, and internalizing that would make them act this way? The boy’s detachment is almost as concerning as the girls’ actions, hinting at a broader desensitization to hostility that should never be part of childhood.
It’s heartbreaking to consider that these children, at such tender ages, have already been conditioned to replicate the divisions they’ve observed. The white girl, likely confused and frightened, represents the collateral damage of prejudices passed down through generations. Meanwhile, the Black girls, too young to fully grasp the weight of their actions, mimic the power dynamics they’ve been exposed to, whether at home, in media, or elsewhere. No child is born believing one race is superior or inferior—these are distortions they learn, consciously or not, from the world around them.
This incident underscores the urgent need for early, intentional conversations about empathy, respect, and equality. Parents, educators, and communities must actively counteract the harmful narratives children inevitably encounter. Instead of allowing biases to take root, adults have a responsibility to model kindness and challenge stereotypes before they harden into lasting beliefs. The fact that such young children are already acting out these patterns is a stark reminder that racism isn’t innate—it’s taught, either through direct influence or unchecked exposure to toxic attitudes.
Ultimately, the video serves as a sobering reflection of how deeply society’s flaws can seep into the minds of the youngest among us. These children aren’t villains; they’re products of a world that still struggles with racial tensions and systemic inequities. The solution lies not in blaming them but in addressing the root causes of their behavior. By fostering environments where diversity is celebrated and compassion is prioritized, we can help ensure that future generations grow up free from the prejudices that continue to divide us.