For too long, Black children and families have been systemically denied the chance to achieve health, safety, and prosperity in America. Anti-Black racism in all aspects of our society has made it impossible for us to truly ensure every child has equal opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our children are watching the events unfolding around us now - police brutality resulting in the deaths of Black people, as well as protests and riots erupting in response to decades of oppression and racism. These protests are an expression of the pain and rage of Black people, and we cannot ignore the urgency of the moment to respond with action. And that starts at home.
Parents – especially parents of white children – need to talk with their children about race. This can be a challenging, complex topic to discuss. Too often, white people have felt it was enough to not be racist themselves, to teach their children to be kind and compassionate. Too often, white people have avoided this conversation because they are uncomfortable having it. But child development reveals how young our children are when they begin to form their own beliefs about race, whether or not we talk about it with them.
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When parents don’t take an active role in teaching their children about racism and discrimination, it leaves a vacuum where those critical beliefs about race are formed instead by social and mainstream media, television and movies, and later, by peers and other adults.
We have to start talking to our kids about racism early and often, and – especially white people – about implicit bias and white privilege. By creating opportunities to discuss race, we can plant and cultivate anti-racist beliefs in children before racist beliefs have the chance to take root instead. Our children are watching and learning, and it is our responsibility to have the tough and important conversations about systemic and historic racism with them. It is also our responsibility to show by example how our children can be part of the change that is needed to build a more equitable world.
We call upon parents to talk to and educate their children about race. You don’t have to have all the answers, and it’s okay to be uncomfortable. Educate yourself about the history of racism in America. Take advantage of age-appropriate resources to talk to your children about race, and to incorporate racially diverse experiences into the books they read, the shows they watch, and the toys they play with. For older children, you can teach them about the history of racism in America, how racism manifests itself into violence against Black people, and what they can do to become an advocate for racial justice.
Anti-Black racism has persisted in America for hundreds of years. Now is the time to respond with our collective action. And that can start at home. Commit yourself to talking to your children about racism. If we are to create an environment where all children can reach their full potential, then we have to teach children the truth about racism in America, so we can get to work dismantling it. Here are some resources and tools for learning more about the history of racism, talking to kids about racism, and books and movies featuring black experiences:
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Talking About Race
NPR Podcast, Parenting: Difficult Conversations, Talking Race with Young Children
HealthyChildren.org, Talking to Children About Racial Bias
Tolerance.org, Beyond the Golden Rule. A Parent's Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice
NYMag.com, 12 Anti-Racist Books Recommended by Educators and Activists
Books for Littles, Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race Book Collection
Embrace Race, 31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance
Common Sense Media, Black History Movies that Tackle Racism
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When parents don’t take an active role in teaching their children about racism and discrimination, it leaves a vacuum where those critical beliefs about race are formed instead by social and mainstream media, television and movies, and later, by peers and other adults.
We have to start talking to our kids about racism early and often, and – especially white people – about implicit bias and white privilege. By creating opportunities to discuss race, we can plant and cultivate anti-racist beliefs in children before racist beliefs have the chance to take root instead. Our children are watching and learning, and it is our responsibility to have the tough and important conversations about systemic and historic racism with them. It is also our responsibility to show by example how our children can be part of the change that is needed to build a more equitable world.
We call upon parents to talk to and educate their children about race. You don’t have to have all the answers, and it’s okay to be uncomfortable. Educate yourself about the history of racism in America. Take advantage of age-appropriate resources to talk to your children about race, and to incorporate racially diverse experiences into the books they read, the shows they watch, and the toys they play with. For older children, you can teach them about the history of racism in America, how racism manifests itself into violence against Black people, and what they can do to become an advocate for racial justice.
Anti-Black racism has persisted in America for hundreds of years. Now is the time to respond with our collective action. And that can start at home. Commit yourself to talking to your children about racism. If we are to create an environment where all children can reach their full potential, then we have to teach children the truth about racism in America, so we can get to work dismantling it. Here are some resources and tools for learning more about the history of racism, talking to kids about racism, and books and movies featuring black experiences:
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Talking About Race
NPR Podcast, Parenting: Difficult Conversations, Talking Race with Young Children
HealthyChildren.org, Talking to Children About Racial Bias
Tolerance.org, Beyond the Golden Rule. A Parent's Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice
NYMag.com, 12 Anti-Racist Books Recommended by Educators and Activists
Books for Littles, Anti-Racism For Kids 101: Starting To Talk About Race Book Collection
Embrace Race, 31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance
Common Sense Media, Black History Movies that Tackle Racism