In the latest Weekly Whim on EQSQ.com, "The Seeds of Racial Discrimination: When Are They Planted?", Katrina Boydon discusses the history and current state of racial discrimination in the United States through the medium of Kenneth B. Clark's famous "doll tests" of the 1940s. EQSQ.com offers personality quizzes and career and education advice based on the empathizing (EQ) and systemizing (SQ) personality profiles, and features a weekly column discussing topics such as race discrimination, gender bias and career equality for men and women. (PRWeb) February 28, 2007 -- In her Weekly Whim column, "The Seeds of Racial Discrimination: When Are They Planted?" Katrina Boydon traces the fight to end race discrimination in the United States. Boydon touches on the continuing issue of racial preferences observed by Kiri Davis, a 17-year-old high school student who recently completed a study with young black children in New York. The Weekly Whims piece is featured on EQSQ.com (http://eqsq.com), an online personality test resource for education and career choices.

"The Seeds of Racial Discrimination: When Are They Planted?" describes the Clark racial stereotypes tests of the 1940s (http://eqsq.com/columns/race-discrimination.html). Black children were shown baby dolls that were identical except for the color of their skin. They were asked to identify the dolls' races and to choose their favorite doll. Most named the white doll as their favorite. The people who performed the tests concluded that even very young black children had been exposed to prejudice. They had internalized the discrimination they encountered, directing it outward. The tests were used in the Oliver Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, court case to prove the negative effects of racial segregation. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional.

Though the United States government and the United Nations have taken steps to prevent racism, the tests conducted by Kiri Davis may indicate that there is far more to be done. The EQSQ.com article reveals that the Clark test prejudices are still evident today. Of the 21 young black children in Kiri Davis' study, fifteen chose the white doll as their favorite. Boydon ponders how the results might change if young white children were given the test. She concludes, "I'm not sure I would like the answer" (http://eqsq.com/columns/race-discrimination.html).

In addition to in-depth articles about social issues such as racial stereotypes, gender equality and unconscious prejudices, EQSQ.com offers personality quizzes designed to determine if people are empathizers (EQ) or systemizers (SQ). Empathizers are very good at understanding other people's needs and desires. Systemizers excel at analysis and finding patterns within systems. Both empathizers and systemizers turn to EQSQ.com (http://eqsq.com) for education and career choice information.

EQSQ.com centers on the Empathizing-Systemizing theory of the male versus the female brain types. The tests were developed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright at the University of Cambridge, England. Systemizers and empathizers can find information and resources for education, educational programs and careers.

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