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Racism is more than people being mean
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Hi Reader, Figuring out how to talk to kids about racism isn't easy. A lot of times when adults try, we only talk about the words and actions of individual people. It can be easy for kids to get the false impression that racism is just something “mean people” do. No matter what age children are, caregivers and educators can help them understand that racism is also about systemic injustice. One definition of racism I use with younger kids explains that racism is about patterns - it's all the beliefs, behaviors, rules, and laws that hurt Black people, Latine people, Indigenous people, and Asian people. (You can also find a more sophisticated definition for middle and high school in my kid-friendly race glossary in your free resource library.) But even better than sharing definitions alone is using concrete examples of how racism is a pattern that's bigger than individual people. Head to the blog to discover 14 examples of systemic racism that you can use with kids and teens. In the post, you'll find talking points for each idea, with additional resources like children's books and specific instances you can refer to. Early in the blog post, you'll find examples that can work with any age, while the final few examples are best for tweens and teens. Here are a few of the examples you'll find: 💡How Black and Brown authors are more likely to see their children's books banned (and how this impacts students.) 💡How a history of redlining and present-day housing discrimination affect where people live and the resources their neighborhoods receive 💡How the racial difference in who teaches in public school vs. who the students are can lead to kids of color rarely having a teacher who looks like them. 💡Why the closing of hundreds of polling places over the past decade means longer lines to vote in many Black and Brown communities.
And speaking of voting, my Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights activity pack is on sale until Wednesday night at midnight. The rollback of voting rights set in motion by the Supreme Court is already impacting Black voters. The effects on Black communities and our democracy are going to continue to grow. If you need resources and activities to help you understand and teach about what's happening, that's exactly what the activity pack is designed to do. xo, Rebekah Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice |
Raising antiracist kids
Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Hi Reader, There are just 20 days left until the midterm elections, but that's plenty of time to do a few voting related activities at home or in your classroom. Been thinking about getting my Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights Activity Pack for Kids and Teens? Save 20% for one week only! Here are four activities to try at home, and four activities to try in the classroom. A star next to the activity indicates that my voting rights pack has resources to help. Activities to try at home...
Hi Reader, My teen has loved Greek mythology for a long time. Many of the fantasy series he's enjoyed have characters who are living out aspects of Greek, West African, and Indian mythology. So when it was time to think of electives for his first year of high school, I asked how he'd feel about a world mythology class. He was all for it, but unfortunately I couldn't find a curriculum for world mythology. (Only Greek mythology stuff was available.) That meant I spent a lot of time pouring...
Hi Reader, Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about changes to my language that I was working on in my effort to be an antiracist parent. One of the language shifts I focused on was abandoning the phrases "good schools" and "bad schools." Kids do pick up on these labels, even if they only hear adults use them when talking to other adults. From there, they form ideas about the children who attend these schools and the neighborhoods the schools are located in. Today, I want to expand on...