Talking about Race and Racism
Anti-Racist Parenting
We must talk to our kids (of all races) about race and teach them to recognize and interrupt racism. We know that many parents who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color talk to their kids about race and racism but only 5% of white parents do. This perpetuates racism. Research shows that kids of all races inevitably learn and internalize concepts of racism and white supremacy from society beginning before Kindergarten. Considering this reality, staying silent on issues of race and racism with children is deeply problematic. In the words of Ibram X. Kendi, "We are either racist or anti-racist. There is no neutral... We can also flip flop between the two." We must actively work to counter racist currents in our society, in our minds, and in our children's developing racial identities.
Important components of anti-racism:
A note to BIPOC families: We want to learn from you and partner with you in this journey. We want your kids to thrive (at Cottonwood and outside of Cottonwood)and build a strong positive racial identity development. Read more here about racial identity development specific to Black kids. Please let us know your thoughts or suggestions on how we can make school a safe and equitable space.
A note to white parents: BIPOC parents have conversations with their kids about race because they don't have a choice about whether to think about race. White people have the privilege of choice about whether to think about race. It can be too tempting to be silent, "neutral" or put it out of our minds, especially because it can be uncomfortable to shine a light on privilege that we are conditioned to not see. It can be overwhelming to think about all the work and change that needs to happen. Please stay in the fight. Educate yourself, keep doing this work, and encourage your white friends and family to do the same.
This work is never done!
Further Reading:
More information on being Anti-racist for both white people and BIPOC.
Short NPR article about raising anti-racist kids
Book list for starting anti-racist conversations with kids and young people
The Conscious Kid- promoting equity and building healthy racial identity development in youth
We must talk to our kids (of all races) about race and teach them to recognize and interrupt racism. We know that many parents who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color talk to their kids about race and racism but only 5% of white parents do. This perpetuates racism. Research shows that kids of all races inevitably learn and internalize concepts of racism and white supremacy from society beginning before Kindergarten. Considering this reality, staying silent on issues of race and racism with children is deeply problematic. In the words of Ibram X. Kendi, "We are either racist or anti-racist. There is no neutral... We can also flip flop between the two." We must actively work to counter racist currents in our society, in our minds, and in our children's developing racial identities.
Important components of anti-racism:
- Seeing color, celebrating diversity (challenging colorblindness)
- Directly countering racist messages of white superiority from society (These messages can be internalized by kids as early as preschool if they don't have a counter narrative. One way to start this conversation is by looking at your home library and noticing how many main characters are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Make changes and discuss!)
- Engaging in meaningful action against racism at a personal, interpersonal, and community level. Modeling this for your child + discussing why you are taking action is a great way to show them what anti-racist activism looks like in real life.
- Understanding white privilege and how white people benefit from it in our society
- Being an ally to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)- (celebrating Black excellence, Elevating BIPOC voices, and being open and accountable when called out for racism)
A note to BIPOC families: We want to learn from you and partner with you in this journey. We want your kids to thrive (at Cottonwood and outside of Cottonwood)and build a strong positive racial identity development. Read more here about racial identity development specific to Black kids. Please let us know your thoughts or suggestions on how we can make school a safe and equitable space.
A note to white parents: BIPOC parents have conversations with their kids about race because they don't have a choice about whether to think about race. White people have the privilege of choice about whether to think about race. It can be too tempting to be silent, "neutral" or put it out of our minds, especially because it can be uncomfortable to shine a light on privilege that we are conditioned to not see. It can be overwhelming to think about all the work and change that needs to happen. Please stay in the fight. Educate yourself, keep doing this work, and encourage your white friends and family to do the same.
This work is never done!
Further Reading:
More information on being Anti-racist for both white people and BIPOC.
Short NPR article about raising anti-racist kids
Book list for starting anti-racist conversations with kids and young people
The Conscious Kid- promoting equity and building healthy racial identity development in youth