Raising Race Conscious Children

Welcome to Raising Race Conscious Children, a resource to support adults who are trying to talk about race with young children. The goals of these conversations are to dismantle the color-blind framework and prepare young people to work toward racial justice. If we commit to collectively trying to talk about race with young children, we can lean on one another for support as we, together, envision a world where we actively challenge racism each and every day. Many of the blog's posts are geared toward White people but a community of guest bloggers represent diverse backgrounds and the strategies discussed may be helpful for all.

It starts one conversation at a time.

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by Lori Taliaferro Riddick The day after the election, my seven-year-old told his class that we were moving out of the country. Now, on the eve of the inauguration, he continues to have a lot of fear and anxiety about…

Raising children who sparkle: Gender, patriarchy and interrupting Shame

by guest blogger Jardana Peacock What if our children were allowed to be who they really are? In Nina Benedetto’s book. About Chris, a children’s book that re-tells the true story of a pre-school transgender boy, Benedetto asks readers to…

Sharing the Injustice Boycott and Daily Action with my daughter in 2017

by Sachi Feris Since the conversation with my daughter the day after the election, I have found inspiration as an individual and as a parent by participating in the Injustice Boycott and Daily Action. Injustice Boycott describes itself as “relentless, principled, organized…

The Black Santa Claus at our local pharmacy

by Sachi Feris I am Jewish. I did not grow up with a Christmas tree, nor did I have Christmas tree envy, or wish for Santa Claus. Though Chanukah is often considered a “Hallmark holiday,” I have always loved watching…

White bias and dolls: Helping children create meaning around race and gender

by Sachi Feris A friend once told me the following story: She and her daughter, a blonde-haired, White, three-year-old, were surveying her large collection of dolls. “All of the dolls are blonde,” her daughter observed. “It’s true,” my friend affirmed,…

“Why are all the White dolls sitting together on the Target shelf?

Supporting kids to push back against racial injustice by guest blogger Melissa Giraud “I guess they only like White people,” my five-year old said the first time she noticed the Our Generation doll section at Target. Screeeech! I stopped our…

Road to Racial Justice board game: Opening up conversations with young people

by guest blogger Kesa Kivel Road to Racial Justice is a free downloadable, educational “board” game for ages 13+. Racism and white privilege are addressed through critical thinking, social analysis, and team-based discussion. Through the game, players become more aware that racism exists in many…

Stop profiling Muslims: How you can take action with your children

by guest blogger Alissa Wise As a White, Jewish family, we are inspired by the Jewish tradition to mark your doorposts with a mezuzah (a piece of parchment containing verses of Torah in a decorative case) by marking our home…

Interrupting White silence with my children

by Sachi Feris On Wednesday, November 9th, the day after Election Day, I picked up my four-and-a-half-year-old daughter from school with my fourteen-month-old in the baby carrier and told her that we were headed to Manhattan to a protest Trump’s…

Reading "Little House on the Prairie" to my children on election night

by guest blogger Kelsey Johnson Bedtime stories are a beloved tradition in our home. Recently, I’ve been reading aloud a few chapters from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to my children, ages 8 and 6. These…