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If we white people want to make a constructive stand against white supremacy and the continued violence enacted against Black people there's one thing we absolutely MUST do:
talk to our children about race
talk to our children about race
And by children I mean young children. I mean elementary school-aged children.
We must speak to our young children about not just race but white supremacy.
We cannot, cannot neglect this duty
We must speak to our young children about not just race but white supremacy.
We cannot, cannot neglect this duty
Children understand far more than many give them credit for. And introducing concepts like racial injustice to white children early allows them to develop and refine that understanding as they grow. It gives them the tools to examine the world & their place in it
And when I say discuss racial injustice here is what I do not mean:
Do NOT say to them "learn not to see color"
Do NOT say to them "there's only one race! the human race!"
Do NOT say to them "we're all the same inside!"
That's not educating children on race.
Do NOT say to them "learn not to see color"
Do NOT say to them "there's only one race! the human race!"
Do NOT say to them "we're all the same inside!"
That's not educating children on race.
That's deflecting. It's taking the easy way out. It's giving in to the privilege of ignorance.
Here's an article for you: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/color-blindness-is-counterproductive/405037/
Here's an article for you: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/color-blindness-is-counterproductive/405037/
Here's another article for you https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/05/white-parents-teach-their-children-be-colorblind-heres-why-thats-bad-everyone/
Difference is not wrong. We can't go on teaching white children that race is a dirty word. By doing that we're only making it easier for them to fall for the subtle miasma of white supremacy. We are not giving them tools to fight against injustice
Children understand unfairness. They understand that unfairness hurts.
Explaining race to them, that some people are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin--that's not a huge leap for children to make. It's not something they can't understand
Explaining race to them, that some people are treated unfairly because of the color of their skin--that's not a huge leap for children to make. It's not something they can't understand
And white children can understand racial injustice without a sense of personal guilt. In fact, talking to them when they are young makes it easier for them to accept that white supremacy exists without imposing a useless cloak of personal guilt.
I am speaking as a parent
I have spoken with my daughter about race & racism since she was 5
She does not hate herself because she is white. Instead she understands that the world is not fair for Black people, and other people of color. She understands she can help change this.
I have spoken with my daughter about race & racism since she was 5
She does not hate herself because she is white. Instead she understands that the world is not fair for Black people, and other people of color. She understands she can help change this.
She accepts that there is wrong in this world and she can work--she must work--to make it right.
She sees race and she sees difference and she doesn't think of this as bad, or wrong, or something secret.
She knows differences aren't the problem. Unfairness is
She sees race and she sees difference and she doesn't think of this as bad, or wrong, or something secret.
She knows differences aren't the problem. Unfairness is
And she's not afraid to be told she's wrong, either.
She's not perfect. I'm not perfect. We both mess up, and we both will continue to mess up but she, at least, understands that you can mess up and still move forward.
That the fight is more important than personal shame
She's not perfect. I'm not perfect. We both mess up, and we both will continue to mess up but she, at least, understands that you can mess up and still move forward.
That the fight is more important than personal shame
Black children learn early that they're in danger just for who they are. For how they look.
White parents who want to 'protect' their own children with fairy-tales of color blindness don't seem concerned with protecting Black children from the truth.
White parents who want to 'protect' their own children with fairy-tales of color blindness don't seem concerned with protecting Black children from the truth.
Here are some links. If you know of any other resources you should reply, if you feel up to it
A Booklist:
https://www.charisbooksandmore.com/books-teach-white-children-and-teens-how-undo-racism-and-white-supremacy
A Booklist:
https://www.charisbooksandmore.com/books-teach-white-children-and-teens-how-undo-racism-and-white-supremacy
More resources: https://centerracialjustice.org/resources/resources-for-talking-about-race-racism-and-racialized-violence-with-kids/
