Digest # 144: Talking to Kids about Race
We know that kids notice race, and pretending to be color blind just does not work. We all have implicit biases, even if we don’t want them and are not explicitly biased. However, it is difficult for adults to talk about race issues, and teaching our kids about them can seem even more daunting. So, for this week’s digest, we have a roundup of resources aimed at helping parents, or teachers, talk to kids about race.
1. Guide to Allyship by Amélie Lamont, @amelielamont
Before talking to your kids, it might be helpful to read on what it means to be an Ally, and how to handle some of the situations we encounter regularly. The author explains their reasons for creating the guide best:
From Guide to Allyship
2. RESilience by the American Psychological Association, @APA
RES stands for Racial and Ethnic Socialization, and they talk about uplifting youth through healthy communication about race. There are a number of resources highlighted for parents, and some quick information in Q&A format if you keep scrolling.
From APA RESilience
3. How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race with Michel Martin on NPR @MichelMcQMartin
A great 10-minute listen. In this NPR show, Michel Martin spoke with Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America.
4. Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup by Katrina Michie
Tons of resources here. We really like their header image showing how young children respond to race with citations! (shown below)
From Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup
5. Talking About Race from the National Museum of African American History & Culture, @NMAAHC
Another great resource. See their own description below.
In addition, you may also like these from our website. These blogs and digests range in publication date from 2016 to 2020.
From time to time, we pick a theme and provide a curated list of links. If you have a theme suggestion, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Occasionally we publish a guest digest, and If you'd like to propose a guest digest click here. Our 5 most recent digests can be found here:
Digest #139: What Comes After School? Career Tips and Advise
Digest #140: There’s An App For That
Digest #141: Autism and Educational Settings
Digest #142: (COVID-19 Edition): Online Teaching and Learning Resources
