It is important work, raising anti-racist children. We start the job by educating ourselves, but it is important to teach our kids at the same time. If we wait until we know everything, we’ll never do it. If we wait until we’re comfortable, it won’t happen either. This work is uncomfortable, no matter how long we do it.
So, here are some resources for you and your kids. Read together. Have tough conversations when they’re young and don’t stop when they get older. Even when they conversations are awkward or hard or we’re afraid we’re getting it wrong-we have to have them.
Articles & Media
- A personal account of white privilege
- Raising an Advocate-Amiyrah Martin 4 Hats & Frugal
- Jen Wilsea: The problem with denial of white privilege
- Black Lives Matter Explained
- Trauma & Race in a Time of Crisis: This is a recording of a class session from the Life in Quarantine Class I’m taking about trauma and race. It’s hosted by Sabia Wade (The Black Doula). You can find more info. about that class and the upcoming group here.
Podcasts
- This American Life: Police Brutality
- Police:Part Two
- This American Life: School Integration
- School: Part Two
(These podcasts are both 2 parts and they are extremely good at exposing the systemic nature of racism in our schools and the inherent bias in all of us that makes police work hard.)
Books for You
There are so many. These are the ones I have read so far and many I recommend for the same reason I told you to read to your kids-exposure and education. Know these stories. I have included links to other people’s lists as well. While I haven’t read all these books, I trust the people who made the lists to provide excellent resources. The links here are mostly to the author’s webpages. Not only does that give you a chance to decide where to buy the book, but you can also learn more about their other titles. Also, if an author tells you to go to Amazon to buy their book, that’s likely self-published and the only place (for now) you can buy it. You are still supporting them as authors by buying the book on Amazon.
- Antagonists, Advocates and Allies: The Wake Up Call Guide for White Women Who Want to Become Allies with Black Women- Catrice Jackson
- My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies- Resmaa Menakem
- Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood- Trevor Noah
- The Tao of Wu: Rza
- So You Want to Talk About Race: Ijeoma Oluo
These are on my shelf for later. I haven’t read yet, but I’ve been told by people I love and trust to read these too:
- The New Jim Crow: Michelle Alexander
- Me and White Supremacy: Layla F. Saad
- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD
- Between the World and Me: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Books for your little kids
- Jambobooks: A book club that sends you two books every month that star a child of color.
- Zara’s Big Messy Day that Turned Out Okay: Rebecca Borucki
- Duke Ellington: Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Freedom Summer: Deborah Wiles
- Uncle Jed’s Barbershop: Margee King Mitchell
- Through My Eyes: Ruby Bridges
Books for your bigger kids
- The Hate You Give: Angie Thomas
- The Watsons Go to Birmingham: Christopher Paul Curtis
- A Friendship for Today: Patricia McKissak
Lists and Resources From Smart People
- This list is an excellent resource from our local library and it includes books for all ages.
- This list is incredible. It’s literally called “An anti-racist starter pack”! Check it out.
