Clark Sharks
Social Emotional Learning
Talking to Our Kids About Race
To our families of color, we want to you know that we are here for you and we stand with you. We will listen and amplify your stories if you are willing to share. If you are a family who is directly impacted by these injustices and are feeling emotionally exhausted by this conversation, please take time for self-care and healing.
We urge all of our families to please lean into these conversations and take the initiative and responsibility to do the hard work. We hope the resources below can support you in starting or continuing to do the work and address racism at home. We have pulled together multiple resources, created mostly by people of color, to support our community during this time. We hope these resources help guide the conversation with your children about racism and discrimination. Know that this work is ongoing and will not be solved by one conversation. Expect to make mistakes, be okay with being corrected. Focus on progress rather than perfection.
We are here to support all families in any way we can. Reach out out to your school counselor, Ms. Ballard, for support ballardm@issaquah.wednet.edu
Children's Books
*Please note, many of these books bring up themes of racism and discrimination, but it is important that our kids read a variety of books about people of color. All of our children deserve and need to see stories of characters who are BIPOC doing everyday things (I'll be posting a list with more books soon)
Something Happened In Our Town
by Marianne Celano Phd (Ages 4-8). This book contains a resource guide for both black families, white families, and teachers conversation starters and ideas on how to talk to kids about race.
Click the image above to link to a youtube video read-a-loud from the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center program and Atlantis School For Gifted Youngsters.
Daddy, There’s a Noise Outside
by Kenneth Braswell (Ages 6+)
This is the story of two children who are awakened in the middle of the night by noises outside the window of their inner-city home and spend the next morning talking to their mom and dad about the protests in their neighborhood). It explains the protests and rioting in a way that even young children can understand.
Video Read-a-louds
Below is a resource for immediate access to these books. The image below takes you to a page that has links to video read-a-louds of each of the books shown. Once you have followed the link just click on each book cover to access the read-a-loud.
AAIP Book Library
More book recommendations coming soon!
Family Resources
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race
Click on the image below to view full infographic:
There is no one right way to talk about race. But here are some tips and scripts -
Adapted by Jamilah Pitt’s and Betsy Brown Braun’s work, to offer some guideposts as you respond to your child.
Recognize their emotions. Validate. Show empathy -“You might begin by admitting to students that—like them—you are scared, frustrated, angry, confused, hurt or uncomfortable. Students at any age understand these feelings and will appreciate your humility, compassion and vulnerability, especially black and brown students. This is how you lay the foundation” (Pitts, 2016).
Listen. Then find out what they have heard or know. "Tell me what you heard about that." Repeat to be sure you've understood. “They don’t necessarily need you to understand certain aspects of the world. So if you feel that the conversation is too heavy or that the weight of having to end racism is in your lesson plan, humble yourself and relax. It isn’t. Your students need you to allow them space, not to fix the world” (Pitts, 2016).
Be honest and direct in addressing their comments or answering their questions. Be careful about saying too much. It's okay to say you don't know in answer to a question -- you can tell your student you need to research that question and you will let them know what you find out.
Give the basic facts. “An African American man tried to use some pretend (counterfeit) money to buy something at a store. The police were called, and when they came they did a terrible thing to the man. One officer kneeled down on his neck. The man could not breathe, and he died. And to make it worse, none of the other officers who were there stopped him. While the policeman was fired, he wasn’t charged with the crime of killing the man right away. People all over our country are really angry about this whole incident. They believe George Floyd was treated that way because he was African American. They believe that had he been White the police officers would have treated him differently. So, all over the country, people began to protest. They came together peacefully to show their anger. But these protests got out of control, and some people began to riot—breaking into stores and starting fires.”
When in doubt, read a book. When Kenneth Braswell's 6-year old son asked him about the protests surrounding the indictments of Freddie Gray's death, Braswell didn't know how to answer, even though he is a community activist. But he just began, and his explanation grew into a beautiful children's book, Daddy, There's a Noise Outside (this is the story of two children who are awakened in the middle of the night by noises outside the window of their inner-city home and spend the next morning talking to their mom and dad about the protests in their neighborhood). It explains the protests and rioting in a way that even young children can understand. I have listed a number of children's books on the topic of race, racism, and protests below. They often provide a springboard for powerful discussions. Navigating these discussions might be challenging, but they are important.
Utilizing Media to Rasie Anti-Racist Kids
10 ideas from Common Sense Media for how to use media to start and continue conversations about race and racism with your kids.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-white-parents-can-use-media-to-raise-anti-racist-kids
1. Diversify your bookshelf - Look for stories featuring and written by people of color
2. Point out racism in movies, TV, and games - Help your child develop critical-thinking skills
3. Watch the hard stuff - As kids get older, expose them to the realities of racism throughout history
4. Seek out media created by people of color
5. Broaden your own perspectives - Follow and read black and brown voices and media outlets
6.Discuss hate speech and harassment online
7. Understand the online landscape
8. Explore the power of tech tools - how has new technology affected our understanding of race a racism
9. Build news literacy - share news articles with different perspectives
10. Teach our children how to be an ally - Talk through scenarios, how will they stand up for what is right, when is it best to just listen, call someone out, amplify someone's voice? Share mistakes you've made around talking about race and racism so they know it's okay.
Podcasts, Books, Films, and TV for Adults to Broaden our Perspective of Race in the US
Podcasts:
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1619 (New York Times)
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Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)
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Seeing White (Scene on Radio)
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Talking Race with Young Children (Life Kit)
Books:
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So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
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How to Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
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Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
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The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
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White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
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Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Films and TV:
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13th (Ava DuVernay) –Netflix
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Dear White People (Justin Simien) – Netflix
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Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) – Available to rent (for FREE during the month of June to help educate on systemic racism)
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When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) – Netflix
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The Hate You Give (George Tillman Jr) - Hulu
Instagram accounts run by POC that provide parenting resources and a focus on social justice
How diverse is your social media? Are you receiving content from different perspectives and experiences than your own? Here are a few pages that use their platform to teach and inspire:
@theconsciouskid – for parents who want tools and advice for approaching racism
@themompsychologist – Dr. Jazmine posts content to help parents connect with their children and recently posted a video on white ally ship, privilege, and shame
@Latinxparenting – Trauma-informed workshops, social justice and intergenerational healing for Latinx families
@dr.annlouise.lockhart – Parent coach, author, speaker, weekly newsletters
@firstnamebasis – Jasmine Bradshaw (also has a podcast) gives parents the tools they need to teach children about race, religion, and culture
@thetututeacher – Kindergarten teacher, book influencer and presenter who shares amazing children’s book recommendations
@kidsrcapable – A page that focuses on child development, has great book recommendations and links to diverse toys
@inclusivestorytime - Shares amazing and inclusive children's books
Mrs. Connolly, a teacher at Sunset Elementary, created a Padlet with resources for parents, students, and teachers. Click on the image below
Articles
*If you are a white parent, and have children of color, this is not for your family. You should not ever process your racism towards people of color in front of children of color.
Resources for Black Families
Talking about race, racism, and injustice are not new topics for black families. Often, dealing with the trauma from these experiences can be overwhelming to navigate, especially if you are witnessing others respond, judge, remain silent, focus on the wrong things, or deny. This is not an exhaustive list of resources, but the message that the trauma, anger, anxiety, etc., that you are feeling is valued and heard.
Issaquah School District Webstie: https://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/family/equity/black-families
Tips For Self-Care: When What is Happening in the World Has You Questioning Humanity and Social Media Is Enough- http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/07/tips-for-self-care-when-police-brutality-has-you-questioning-humanity-and-social-media-is-enough/
Self-Care Tips for Black People Who Are Struggling With This Very Painful Week
1. Make sure you're meeting your basic needs
2. Let yourself feel your feelings
3. Find ways to connect with other black people
5. Change your media diet to the extent that you can
5. Set firm boundaries around engaging with people who are trying it right now
6. Repeat a mantra or affirmation that helps you stay grounded
7. Remember to consume Black art and celebrate Black joy
Radical Self Care - Angela Davis
The Road to Resilience
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx
"Luvvie Ajayi isn't afraid to speak her mind or to be the one dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you. "Your silence serves no one," says the writer, activist and self-proclaimed professional troublemaker. In this bright, uplifting talk, Ajayi shares three questions to ask yourself if you're teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down -- and encourages all of us to get a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable."
T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, founders of the health nonprofit GirlTrek, are on a mission to reduce the leading causes of preventable death among Black women -- and build communities in the process. How? By getting one million women and girls to prioritize their self-care, lacing up their shoes and walking in the direction of their healthiest, most fulfilled lives.
Here’s a roadmap for adapting to life-changing situations, and emerging even stronger than before. Click link above to view full article
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Build Connections
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Prioritize Relationships
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Join a Group
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Foster Wellness
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Take care of your body
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Practice Mindfulness
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Avoid negative outlets
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Find Purpose
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Help others
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Be proactive
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Move toward your goals
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Look for opportunities for self-discovery
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Embrace Healthy Thoughts
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Keep things in perspective
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Accept change
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Maintain a hopeful outlook
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Learn from your past
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Seek Help When You Need It
Racial Trauma
Coping While Black: A Season Of Traumatic News Takes A Psychological Toll
http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/07/02/419462959/coping-while-black-a-season-of-traumatic-news-takes-a-psychological-toll
How to talk about race and protests with children
https://centerracialjustice.org/resources/resources-for-talking-about-race-racism-and-racialized-violence-with-kids/
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/06/02/teach-talk-children-racism-violence-protests-race
Books:
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The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health; Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness and Get the Help You Deserve by Rheeda Walker
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Dear Black Men by Jewel Guy
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Healing Racial Trauma by Sheila Wise Rowe
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Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma by Dr. Parker
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Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
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Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin and Robert Bonazzi
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Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Iayla saad
Apps:
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Liberate app: "#1 meditation app for the BIPOC community. Listen to dozens of guided meditations to ease anxiety, find gratitude, heal internalized racism and micro aggressions and celebrate Blackness"
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The Safe Place: "a Minority Mental Health App geared towards the Black Community to bring awareness, education and hope"
*Many resources compiled from @latinxtherapy, Dr. Thema & Dr. Earl Turner's IGTV segment on Coping with Racial Trauma
Podcasts:
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The Breakdown with Dr. Earl: A Mental Health Podcast
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The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema
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Shaping the Shift by Thea Monyee, LMFT
Educator Resources
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race
Click on the image below to view full infographic:
There is no one right way to talk about race. But here are some tips and scripts -
Adapted by Jamilah Pitt’s and Betsy Brown Braun’s work, to offer some guideposts as you respond to your child.
Recognize their emotions. Validate. Show empathy -“You might begin by admitting to students that—like them—you are scared, frustrated, angry, confused, hurt or uncomfortable. Students at any age understand these feelings and will appreciate your humility, compassion and vulnerability, especially black and brown students. This is how you lay the foundation” (Pitts, 2016).
Listen. Then find out what they have heard or know. "Tell me what you heard about that." Repeat to be sure you've understood. “They don’t necessarily need you to understand certain aspects of the world. So if you feel that the conversation is too heavy or that the weight of having to end racism is in your lesson plan, humble yourself and relax. It isn’t. Your students need you to allow them space, not to fix the world” (Pitts, 2016).
Be honest and direct in addressing their comments or answering their questions. Be careful about saying too much. It's okay to say you don't know in answer to a question -- you can tell your student you need to research that question and you will let them know what you find out.
Give the basic facts. “An African American man tried to use some pretend (counterfeit) money to buy something at a store. The police were called, and when they came they did a terrible thing to the man. One officer kneeled down on his neck. The man could not breathe, and he died. And to make it worse, none of the other officers who were there stopped him. While the policeman was fired, he wasn’t charged with the crime of killing the man right away. People all over our country are really angry about this whole incident. They believe George Floyd was treated that way because he was African American. They believe that had he been White the police officers would have treated him differently. So, all over the country, people began to protest. They came together peacefully to show their anger. But these protests got out of control, and some people began to riot—breaking into stores and starting fires.”
When in doubt, read a book. When Kenneth Braswell's 6-year old son asked him about the protests surrounding the indictments of Freddie Gray's death, Braswell didn't know how to answer, even though he is a community activist. But he just began, and his explanation grew into a beautiful children's book, Daddy, There's a Noise Outside (this is the story of two children who are awakened in the middle of the night by noises outside the window of their inner-city home and spend the next morning talking to their mom and dad about the protests in their neighborhood). It explains the protests and rioting in a way that even young children can understand. I have listed a number of children's books on the topic of race, racism, and protests below. They often provide a springboard for powerful discussions. Navigating these discussions might be challenging, but they are important.
Utilizing Media to Rasie Anti-Racist Kids
10 ideas from Common Sense Media for how to use media to start and continue conversations about race and racism with your kids.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-white-parents-can-use-media-to-raise-anti-racist-kids
1. Diversify your bookshelf - Look for stories featuring and written by people of color
2. Point out racism in movies, TV, and games - Help your child develop critical-thinking skills
3. Watch the hard stuff - As kids get older, expose them to the realities of racism throughout history
4. Seek out media created by people of color
5. Broaden your own perspectives - Follow and read black and brown voices and media outlets
6.Discuss hate speech and harassment online
7. Understand the online landscape
8. Explore the power of tech tools - how has new technology affected our understanding of race a racism
9. Build news literacy - share news articles with different perspectives
10. Teach our children how to be an ally - Talk through scenarios, how will they stand up for what is right, when is it best to just listen, call someone out, amplify someone's voice? Share mistakes you've made around talking about race and racism so they know it's okay.
Educational Instagram accounts to follow:
How diverse is your social media? Are you receiving content from different perspectives and experiences than your own? Here are a few pages that use their platform to teach and inspire:
@apron_education and @readlikearockstar - they wrote a book together for teachers called "Unpack Your Impact." And post great book recommendations and share great social students lessons from their TPT site.
@LearningForJustice - Free resources for educators to help students be active participants in a diverse democracy.
@teachandtransform
@elementaryedventure - Page run by a 5th grade teacher and curriculum writer
@inclusivestorytime - Shares amazing and inclusive children's books
@thetututeacher – Kindergarten teacher, book influencer and presenter who shares amazing children’s book recommendations
@storytimemelange - YouTube children's story reader and recommends inclusive books
@kidsrcapable – A page that focuses on child development, has great book recommendations and links to diverse toys
@theconsciouskid – for parents who want tools and advice for approaching racism
@themompsychologist – Dr. Jazmine posts content to help parents connect with their children and recently posted a video on white ally ship, privilege, and shame
@dr.annlouise.lockhart – Parent coach, author, speaker, weekly newsletters
@firstnamebasis – Jasmine Bradshaw (also has a podcast) gives parents the tools they need to teach children about race, religion, and culture
Mrs. Connolly, a teacher at Sunset Elementary, created a Padlet with resources for parents, students, and teachers. Click on the image below