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Throughout history, people around the world have been shamed, tortured, or even killed because of the color of their skin. Although we are in an age where the thought process and behavior are classified as “modern”, we still grapple with recurrent incidents of racism. It is shameful, but it is also very real. As adults today, it is our responsibility to educate our children about it because they are the tomorrow.
Racism is clouded with pain, anger, and injustice. These are all powerful emotions, so explaining them to your child may be difficult. You can’t sugarcoat it, nor must you, because your child has to know the seriousness of it. But you can’t shy away from the responsibility of making your child aware of racism. You can deal with it smartly, and we’ll tell you how. With the proper understanding and care, you can teach your child what racism is and why they need to stand against it and not for it.
Tips To Talk To Your Child About Racism
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Racism is an ongoing reality for most, and if we don’t do our part to put an end to it, it will continue to rage. One way to pitch in to put a stop to it is by making sure the future generation knows and agrees that it is ugly. Here’s how you can teach your child about it:
1. Understand It Yourself
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Before you begin talking about racism to your child, spend some time trying to understand it. Most of us only know about racism superficially. We are fully aware that it involves discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and skin color, mainly of a marginalized group. But what most of us don’t know is that there’s more to racism than just calling a dark-skinned person “black” in a shameful way. It can also creep into daily activities in the most subtle ways, such as stereotyping a friend as “shrewd and untrustworthy” just because they belong to a certain ethnicity or group. We may not realize it, but there may have been moments when we’ve been racist without knowing. This is your time to fix that.
2. Understand What They Know
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Children know more than you think they know. With access to social media and information at their fingertips, the chances are that they already know what it could be. But the problem is, the information they have gathered could be false, unreliable, and inaccurate. Before you begin to teach them, figure out what they know already, so they can unlearn it if it is wrong.
3. Teach And Clarify Terms
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There are certain terms associated with racism, such as diversity, ethnicity, and privilege. It may be a lot for your child to understand, but you could give real-life examples to help them. For example, talk about diversity at your child’s school. Tell your child how the school is so vibrant and culturally diverse, thanks to all the different ethnicities that it comprises.
4. Emphasis On The Importance Of Racial Justice
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Talking to your child about singular or multiple incidents of racism is essential, but that is not all. It would help if you also reinforced the importance of racial justice. For example, if you witness a case of police brutality as a form of racism, talk to your child about it. You don’t have to go into the gory details, but let them know that a police officer unfairly treated another individual because of their ethnicity or skin color. Tell your child that this is wrong, and the police officer will have to be accountable for their actions. Go on to tell your child that we all need to stand in solidarity with those subjected to such unfair treatment. While you’re at it, it may help to tell your child that just because one police officer behaved a certain way, it doesn’t mean that everyone is the same.
5. Expose Them To Cultural Diversity
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Make an effort to get your child a book that has (and glorifies) black or brown-skinned characters. Talk to them about the accomplishments of people from different races, not just yours. Watch feel-good movies in which the minority plays a significant role. When choosing a toy, encourage them to pick the one with brown skin. Similarly, get them to mingle with children from all backgrounds in school. And when they witness racial injustice, ask your child to stand up for the one who is at the receiving end of it.
While you talk to them about racism, there may be times when you don’t have all the answers to their questions. Tell them that you don’t know it all, but together with your child, you can find out. Show them reliable resources, and help them look for answers. Have you spoken about racism with your child? How did you approach this topic with them? Let us know in the comments below!
