PARENTING
Help Your Kids Take Action Against Racism
W
henever we see injustice, we all have a responsibility to confront it. Every day, no matter our background or our age, every single one of us has a role to play in taking on an unfair system while working to build a new one that truly works for all. Guiding our children in learning to recognize and challenge structures and practices that fuel inequality and cause harm helps them play an active role in creating the positive change our society needs. While we should be having conversations about race and racism regularly, checking in with your child is crucial when racist violence claims lives and sparks widespread protest, grief, and unrest around the nation. Kids of all ages, backgrounds, and skin tones are feeling a range of emotions in response. They’re sad, scared, angry, and confused. What’s the number-one thing that can help your child process these feelings? Talking with an adult she trusts and loves – you – and then finding ways to take positive action. It may be tempting to avoid the topic of race and racism altogether – especially
for those who were taught it’s something that isn’t polite to discuss – but statistics show that justice, health, and education systems aren’t fair in basic ways that can negatively affect a child’s life on a foundational level. A child’s family, education, safety, and well-being make these conversations a must for those who support a just and equal world for all children. • In every state, black girls are twice as likely to be suspended from school as white girls even though they don’t misbehave more frequently, according to a 2019 study by the National Women’s Law Center. These suspensions impact educational attainment and career prospects. • Children raised in Black, Latinx, and Native American households are more likely to live in homes with higher unemployment and lower incomes than white children. These inequities increase their risk for health problems and make it more likely they will receive less, and lower quality, education, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. • Youth of color are more likely to be incarcerated than white youth, disrupting their education, impacting their health
and emotional well-being, and limiting their options for the future. Having honest discussions about race is important for all families, and it’s vital to have them on a regular basis, even if you find it uncomfortable or you think your kids already know about racism and understand right from wrong. Yet while discussion is great, it’s only one part of it. It’s also important to look at how your child’s life is structured and lived every day. Who does she see in her neighborhood, at school, and in positions of power around her? So, how do you begin? Be straightforward, ask questions, and listen For starters, don’t avoid the topic. Pressing mute can make your children think that talking about race and racism is off-limits or that the status quo is acceptable, when real conversation on these topics is actually what they need most and what will help you all be part of the solution. In fact, “choosing” whether to talk to your kids about racism and its consequences is not a decision every family
2017
24
neafamily.com
NEAPOLITANfamily • July 2020
