by Sira Williams
We all want a brighter future for our children, but in order to get to the other side of where we are today, we need to listen to one another, ask questions, and engage in uncomfortable conversations. As adults we should do this with our friends, families, neighbors and coworkers. But we must also do it with our children. Normally, parents want to protect their kids from unsettling events in the news. We want to shield them from the ugly realities of our society for as long as possible. That’s why racism and police brutality are subjects rarely discussed in the classroom or at the family dinner table.
In fact, it may never occur to some who are personally unaffected by these issues to talk to their kids about them at all. Sadly, that’s not the case for people of color. Most black and brown children are introduced to these concepts early and often by their parents and caregivers in order to prepare them for situations they will surely encounter. Ready or not, and often sooner rather than later, the day will come when they will have their own experiences to draw from. So don’t be fooled into thinking your children are too young to talk to about these matters. They’re not, but they do need tools and guidance in order to learn and grow.
If you’re hesitant to start such a conversation, reading with your child is one way to do it. Regardless of their age or maturity level, there are books that can help introduce the issues of race, diversity and justice to your child. Books that include black characters or stories told in their voice may be eye-opening, thought-provoking, and inspiring. You can find such stories at all levels and genres from picture books, junior fiction, and graphic novels to biographies and nonfiction.
Be prepared to answer questions and share your own experiences and ideas about prejudice, privilege, discrimination and fairness. Fairness is a concept that all children understand. “That’s not fair!” has probably been uttered by every single child on the planet. Knowing that feeling of being wronged may give them insight into how people of color feel today as a result of a long history of unfair treatment. See how this can lead to a conversation about one or all of the above-mentioned topics?
Depending on your own level of knowledge, you may find yourself learning together with your older kids, and that’s okay. Be honest and admit when you don’t know something. There are so many subjects to explore. Slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Black Lives Matter Movement are just a few. Remember, Black history is not only about suffering and oppression but also about dignity, creativity, inventiveness, and brilliance. This exceptionalism should be emphasized as well.
“At this point, there’s no correct place to begin – just begin. ”
The following list includes books for a range of ages that can help start the discussions you need to have about racism and social justice. There are many lists circulating online, too. At this point, there’s no correct place to begin – just begin. Read with your children. Read on your own. If they can read, encourage them to. Answer their questions. Ask them questions. Engage. We will all be better for it. The Red Bank Public Library will also be posting a series of Family Story Times on Race & Diversity on Saturday mornings at 11:30 in June. These are meant to be conversation starters for families with children ages 7 and up. They will be posted on our Facebook Page and our YouTube Channel. We encourage you to follow us and participate.
Let's Talk About Race – Julius Lester
Something Happened in Our Town – Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins & Ann Hazzard
Sulwe – Lupita Lyong’o
Martin's Big Words – Doreen Rappaport
Black is a Rainbow Color – Angela Joy
Hey Black Child – Useni Eugene Perkins
The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson
Dreamers – Yuyi Morales
Henry's Freedom Box – Ellen Levine
I Like Myself – Karen Beaumont
All Are Welcome – Alexandra Penfold
The Case For Loving – Selina Alko
Hair Love – Matthew Cherry
Tar Beach – Faith Ringgold
If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King –Ellen Levine
The Story of Ruby Bridges – Robert Coles
Mae Among the Stars – Roda Ahmed
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race – Margot Lee Shetterly
Ghost Boys – Jewell Parker Rhodes
Tight – Terry Maldonado
My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich – Ibi Aanu Zoboi
Black Brother, Black Brother – Jewell Parker Rhodes
Some Places More Than Others – Renée Watson
The Crossover – Kwame Alexander
Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson
Stars Beneath Our Feet – David Barclay Moore
Genesis Begins Again – Alicia Williams
Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge - George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away – Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Sira Williams is the head of the Red Bank Public Library’s Children’s Room.