6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children
Photograph; iStock Image | First Book.
By Bree Ervin | Originally Published at Everyday Feminism and re-published at EmpathyEducates with their permission. August 30, 2014
By Bree Ervin | Originally Published at Everyday Feminism and re-published at EmpathyEducates with their permission. August 30, 2014
Talking about race is challenging for many parents, especially White parents.
There is a lot of fear and uncertainty about this topic – from worrying that by pointing out race we are contributing to racism, to believing that by ignoring race we are creating a “color-blind” and therefore more equal world; some simply don’t know how or where to start.
And we need to get over it.
As discussed in part one of this article, remaining silent on the topic of race isn’t helping our children, and it isn’t moving the needle any closer to equality. In fact, science shows that it may be doing the exact opposite.
Children experience race. They need our help to understand and contextualize it, to understand what it means, how it is used and misused, and how America’s current and historical racial constructs either benefit or harm them and their friends.
I think most parents have similar goals when it comes to how they want to raise their children to handle issues of race.
First, we want to raise children who judge and assess the individuals they meet based on behavior, likes and dislikes, commonalities, and values – not the color of their skin or the origin of their recent ancestors.
Second, we want to raise children who understand that their ability and willingness to see people as people is not universal. We want to raise them to see and to call out racism and bigotry in the world around them. We want them to refuse to accept it or give it a pass.
Last, we want to raise children who understand the difference between being a supportive ally and being a empathyeducates – 6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children:
9-3-14 empathyeducates - Keeping Children Back a Year Doesn’t Help Them Read Better
empathyeducates: Keeping Children Back a Year Doesn’t Help Them Read BetterVery high stakes. Holtsman, CC BY-NC By Paul Thomas, Ed.D., Furman University | Originally Published at the The Conversation. September 3, 2014 If you’re an eight-year-old living in Charleston, South Carolina, you’re soon going to need to study extra hard at reading. The US state has joined […]20 by empathy / 2h hide // s
