Stay Woke, Little Ones

It has been such a heavy time in this country, for so many reasons. One of the many reasons I love to be around children is that they have always given me so much reason for hope - their energy, their pure hearts, their endless love - makes me think that the world will be in better hands when they are in charge. My job has always been to try to be worthy of what they have to offer, and to guide them to be their best selves. Mainly, though, I've mostly felt my job has been to "let children be children," and to make sure that they are happy and joyful (and learning). 

Over the past few years, though, I've leaned into having more difficult conversations with children - even at these tender ages of 6, 7, and 8. This video has been around for a while, and most have probably already seen it, but I encourage you to watch it again. This is a conversation that every parent has to have with their black children, and it is heartbreaking. 

And in today's morning message, I talked about the murder of George Floyd and how activism can bring change.

Racism is rampant today - you don't have to look far to find it. It's always been here, of course, but it feels like it has taken a scary turn towards "normalcy." Again, if we are going to turn to our children as our future, we need to continue having these difficult talks. Empowering children to learn what is going on in the world, to have them look around and notice what they see, and to USE THEIR VOICE is more important than ever.

In the June 1st edition of Ann Arbor Family, Dr. Heidi Harris lays out specific strategies parents use do at home with even very young children in her article called Start Somewhere: How to Start the Conversation with our Children about Racism.

 

1. Identify racism and call it out. Read books about racism and ask open-ended questions to help your children understand and process the actions of others.
2. When children notice differences in others, do not shut down the conversation, rather talk about it. Allow children to discuss and ask questions in a safe space. Talk about differences and focus on what makes your own child unique. The goal is to celebrate differences in themselves and in others. 
3. Study and research history together from non-biased sources, which, admittedly, are difficult to identify these days. Look for causes of racism and patterns that continue to exist in society. Education is power.
4. Look for real opportunities to learn about past injustices and leaders who stepped up to push back against systems that oppressed black Americans. Make this a continuing exercise, NOT just on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. 
5. Reflect on your own biases. How do your upbringing, experiences, and family of origin impact your thoughts?
6. Create an anti-bias environment in your home that is rich with possibilities for exploring race/ethnicity. Materials offered to your children matter. Books, art materials, and dolls that show diversity in people of color and skin tones are great places to start.