UNICEF's Guide to Talking to Your Kids About Racism
February 21, 2022
Quote of the Week
"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." -- Audre Lorde
UNICEF's Guide To Talking To Your Kids About Racism
"It can be hard to talk to your children about racism. Some parents worry about exposing their children to issues like racism and discrimination at an early age. Others shy away from talking about something they themselves might not fully understand or don’t feel comfortable discussing. Yet others, especially those who have experienced racism, simply do not have such choices.
Conversations about racism and discrimination will look different for each family. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, the science is clear: the earlier parents start the conversation with their children the better.
Babies notice physical differences, including skin colour, from as early as 6 months. Studies have shown that by age 5, children can show signs of racial bias, such as treating people from one racial group more favourably than the other. Ignoring or avoiding the topic isn’t protecting children, it’s leaving them exposed to bias that exists wherever we live. Children who encounter racism, can be left feeling lost while trying to understand why they are being treated a certain way, which in turn can impact their long-term development and well-being."
This week's featured article from UNICEF highlights how we can start the conversation about racism with our children and keep it going. [Read Article]
Reading Corner
Title: Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice
By: Bryan Stevenson
Ages: 12-18
"In this very personal work--adapted from the original #1 bestseller, which the New York Times calls "as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so"--acclaimed lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson offers a glimpse into the lives of the wrongfully imprisoned and his efforts to fight for their freedom.
Stevenson's story is one of working to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society--the poor, the wrongly convicted, and those whose lives have been marked by discrimination and marginalization. Through this adaptation, young people of today will find themselves called to action and compassion in the pursuit of justice.
Proceeds of this book will go to charity to help in Stevenson's important work to benefit the voiceless and the vulnerable as they attempt to navigate the broken U.S. justice system." -- Publisher
Be the Change
Explore this collection of anti-racism resources for parents by Harvard University and take one step towards educating your family about racism.