Frequently Asked Questions
Answered by “Race Conscious Parenting” http://www.raceconscious.org/frequently-asked-questions/
What to say to children, and when.
https://bit.ly/2Ubzdnd by Betsy Braun Brown
https://bit.ly/2BsMotu an overview of bias development by age, compiled by Julie Bisson
https://bit.ly/3eRo6YK supporting healthy identity development in children of color, an excerpt from Dora Pulido-Tobiassen and Janet Gonzalez-Mena California Tomorrow (1999)
https://bit.ly/305yuI9 supporting inclusive identity development in white children, an excerpt from Dora Pulido-Tobiassen and Janet Gonzalez-Mena California Tomorrow (1999)
https://bit.ly/2Mu6VA7 Bi-Racial children’s identity development
Anti-Bias booklists
From Sarah Griffin (alumni 2018) It’s super important to normalize racial differences. So rather than reading to kids, books ABOUT race, just reading books/having dolls/watching TV shows with black characters is huge in terms of identifying with someone who looks different. Some of my favorite books for this age are:
https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/early-childhood/
Brittany Poulton (Finn, 2021)
I’ve learned so much these past couple weeks. But especially that it’s simply not enough to talk to our kids about equality– we must also talk to them about inequality. And how people can experience the world differently. It’s a scary conversation! Because we want to protect the illusion that the world is a safe and wonderful place for everyone. But that isn’t true, is it? Julius and I started this conversation ahead of a peaceful protest we took Finn to and I’m so glad we did. Kids are empathic and intuitive and understand so much more than we give them credit for. I also think Finn felt proud to be a part of everything, standing with her community in the service of making the world a better place. All that is to say, and speaking only as a white parent, we must be braver! For all our kids.
RESOURCES FOR KIDS
The Snowy Day. Lizard From the Park. Ada Twist Scientist A Squiggly Story The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County Last Stop on Market Street Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion I Like Myself I Had a Favorite Dress Super Hair-O and the Barber of Doom Kitchen Dance Max and the Tag Along MoonMonster Trouble Mary Had a Little Glam
Interactive Diverse Reading List for Kids *This is not a “reading list” it’s an interactive youtube page. Click on any book and you will be directed to a youtube video reading.
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners*A list of children’s books*for 2-4 year olds
From Gigi Gibbs (Rondie 2021) As a Black woman, wife to a Black man, and mother to a Black son and daughter, many people have recently asked me, “What else can I do to show support?” To that I respond:
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
1. Support Organizations that Do Social Justice Reform Work…EVERY day
We need policy and law changes. Here are several organizations where I know many of the organizers and founders personally and support their work:Essie Justice GroupMovement for Black LivesNational Bail OutHighlander Center in TennesseeSoutherners on New GroundMs Foundation for WomenBlack Lives Matter Los AngelesAnti Police Terror Project
2. Get Comfortable with the Discomfort.Don’t allow the anger and hurt you feel today to wane and fade “when this all blows over” a week or month from now.
- Black people don’t get to take off their skin after they’ve done a march, attended a peaceful protest, or waved signs.
- Black people don’t get to settle back into the comforts of White privilege after they’ve voiced their concerns.
- Continue to show your support.
- Show your support when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, and costs you something…just like what a Black person experiences everyday in this country.
3. We Need You. Stay Engaged.
No socially just change for Black people has EVER happened in America without non-Black supporters.1 million Black people marching in Washington barely moves the needle and nothing happens. White people, especially registered to vote White people, at a sit-in, marching with signs, or petitioning captures the eyes of cameras and political leaders.
4. Justice in June Pledge (or any month) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Vxs6jEUByXylMS2BjGH1kQ7mEuZnHpPSs1Bpaqmw0/preview?pru=AAABcvGDCDs*fdZSKPrTFDwC8-z0B-W1tQ
I ask you to take part in the Justice in June pledge, which is a resource on how you can continue doing that inner work beyond realizing it’s not enough to not be racist and to truly become an active and effective ally to the Black community.
Over the course of 30 days, taking as little as 10 minutes per day, you will have spent 5 hours intentionally learning how to be an active ally of the Black community. (That’s less than the amount of time it takes to watch all of Tiger King ~ 5.5 hours.) Remember, the Black community lives the reality of the information you will learn- they have a lifetime of fearing for their well-being versus 5 hours of you being uncomfortable. All the action items listed in the calendar have linked information below the weekly schedule (see sections Watch, Read, Listen, and Act).
“They’re Not Too Young to Talk about Race” Infographic *Infographic with sourced links
Kristen Coggins is a positive discipline educator and a Black woman breaking down white fragility for parents with Janet Lansbury in an interview for breaking down anti-bias modeling with young children. https://www.janetlansbury.com/2020/06/raising-anti-racist-children-a-holistic-approach-with-kristen-coggins/
Continuous Pedagogical resources: Kristin Sherman