Resources for Families
to Support Conversations on Race, Racism and Resistance
to Support Conversations on Race, Racism and Resistance
As parents and caregivers, we have a responsibility to teach tolerance and raise race conscious children. The conversation about race needs to start early and keep happening. Not sure where to start? We've gathered resources from educators, activists and experts:
Recent Events for Families
How to Raise and Teach Anti-Racist Kids, by the International Literacy Association: More than 25 children's book authors, artists and publishers for this livestream event hosted by authors Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds. Click to watch the recorded video here.
Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism, by CNN and Sesame Street: This 60-minute special, moderated by Big Bird, CNN commentator Van Jones and CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill, kicked off conversations with kids about racism and the nationwide protests. Viewers learn ways to develop empathy and embrace diversity. Click to watch Part 1 and Part 2 here.
Available Talks for Parents
Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News by Child Mind Institute
This recorded Facebook Live event brings together two experts from the Child Mind Institute as they discuss supporting children through this difficult time.
How to Talk To Kids About Racism by Raising Equity
This recorded conversation between Dr. Kira Banks (a psychologist, professor, and mother) talks with other diversity experts who share knowledge from their careers as well as personal stories as parents.
Books for Young Children
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga (Ages 3–7)
Last Stop On Market Street (Ages 3 – 5)
Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock (Ages 3–8)
The Day You Begin (Ages 4–8)
Something Happened in Our Town (Ages 4–8)
My Hair is a Garden (Ages 5–8)
Find more children's book suggestions for older children at Embrace.org and RaceConscious.org
Recommended Online Resources
The Conscious Kid - an organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth with book recommendations and conversations on important topics related to racial justice.
Raising Equity - a YouTube channel by Dr. Kira Banks — a psychologist, professor, and mother — specifically created as a resource to help adults help children better navigate racism and other social issues in order to create a more equitable world.
Raising Race Conscious Children - a resource to support adults in talking about race with young children with the goal of preparing them to work toward racial justice.
Further Reading
How to Raise and Teach Anti-Racist Kids, by the International Literacy Association: More than 25 children's book authors, artists and publishers for this livestream event hosted by authors Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds. Click to watch the recorded video here.
Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism, by CNN and Sesame Street: This 60-minute special, moderated by Big Bird, CNN commentator Van Jones and CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill, kicked off conversations with kids about racism and the nationwide protests. Viewers learn ways to develop empathy and embrace diversity. Click to watch Part 1 and Part 2 here.
Available Talks for Parents
Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News by Child Mind Institute
This recorded Facebook Live event brings together two experts from the Child Mind Institute as they discuss supporting children through this difficult time.
How to Talk To Kids About Racism by Raising Equity
This recorded conversation between Dr. Kira Banks (a psychologist, professor, and mother) talks with other diversity experts who share knowledge from their careers as well as personal stories as parents.
Books for Young Children
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga (Ages 3–7)
Last Stop On Market Street (Ages 3 – 5)
Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock (Ages 3–8)
The Day You Begin (Ages 4–8)
Something Happened in Our Town (Ages 4–8)
My Hair is a Garden (Ages 5–8)
Find more children's book suggestions for older children at Embrace.org and RaceConscious.org
Recommended Online Resources
The Conscious Kid - an organization dedicated to reducing bias and promoting positive identity development in youth with book recommendations and conversations on important topics related to racial justice.
Raising Equity - a YouTube channel by Dr. Kira Banks — a psychologist, professor, and mother — specifically created as a resource to help adults help children better navigate racism and other social issues in order to create a more equitable world.
Raising Race Conscious Children - a resource to support adults in talking about race with young children with the goal of preparing them to work toward racial justice.
Further Reading
- Talking to Children after Racial Incidents from the Penn GSE Newsroom
- Supporting Kids Of Color In Wake Of Racialized Violence from EmbraceRace
- Tips for Parents on Media Coverage from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Talking to Children about the Shooting from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- An Activity Book For African American Families: Helping Children Cope with Crisis from the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- 10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books For Racism and Sexism, Council
on Interracial Books for Children - Talking to kids about discrimination, American Psychological Association
- What White Children Need to Know About Race, Ali Michael and Eleonora Bartoli
- Talking to Kids about Racial Stereotypes – Tip Sheet, Media Smarts
