So I went on a quest for info online about how to teach children about race. I probably should have searched differently, but I did find three really good sites. (along with more not-so-good sites)
Talking to Your Kids About Racism - Advice for all ages but mainly middle school and high school ages.A Lesson In Color - What to do when your child announces "I don't like black people."
Raising Kids without Bias - I really like this one... it has good practical advice.
So what did I learn from all of these? Each approach was different... some parents made "diversity" a very high priority, making sure they had plenty of friends of other races around, putting their kids in "diverse" preschools, and teaching them at insanely young ages about slavery and such. Others lived their normal lives, and crossed the "race" bridge when they got to it, with love and respect for all cultures.
I learned that all kids, at some point, notice race and comment on it. That does not make you a racist, it just means your kids are observant.
I also learned that each family's approach to the issue of race will be different. As long as you are open to talking to your kids about it, and non-judgemental about the things they say, (not flipping out because they say "I don't like brown people", but instead discussing it to find out why and address it, etc.), and such... life will be good. Your kids won't require gnormous amount of therapy, (from that, at least lol) and will grow up to be happy healthy tolerant kiddos.
What do YOU think? If you have kids, how did you teach them about race? If you don't, how would you teach them?
2 comments:
Actually, my boys are very aware that they are half and half, get it? hee...okay, okay. I am Hispanic and my hubby is Caucasian. Our neigborhood is predominantly black, so race is definitely not an issue with them. They play with everyone.
Plus, they know that God created all of us and no one is better than anyone else. And Jesus is to be loved above all.
My grandson is half black (and part of a huge family on that side that gets together every year for a reunion) and half white (we're kinda small in numbers on this side but big in love). He is 6 and I haven't heard anything from him or his Mom yet on problems with the color line. What I want to know is: why, if he's half and half, is he considered just black? Daughter went to a majority black high school and I can tell you without any doubt there were young "black" women there who were by color lighter than her - and she's got milky white English skin. Where does that put "color" in the equation?
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