In a world where conversations about race and diversity are increasingly pivotal, the need for resources that guide these discussions has never been more apparent. Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity stands out as a beacon of support for parents and educators. This blog post delves into the invaluable assistance this book provides in navigating these essential conversations and its role in laying the foundation for a more inclusive society.

A Resource for Meaningful Conversations

One of the most significant challenges parents and educators face today is addressing the sensitive topics of race and diversity with children. Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity offers a solution. The book presents these complex issues through engaging poems and stories, making it easier for adults to introduce these concepts in an age-appropriate and digestible manner. It equips them with the right tools and language to foster a healthy and open dialogue about diversity.

Guiding Young Minds with Empathy and Under...

In a world that is increasingly interconnected and diverse, the ability to understand and embrace diversity is crucial for the upcoming generations. Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity emerges as an essential tool in this endeavor, aiming to empower children with the knowledge and language needed to engage in discussions about diversity and inclusion. This article delves into how this influential book is shaping young minds to create a more inclusive and empathetic future. 

Educating Children on Diversity and Inclusion

One of the core strengths of Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity is its approach to educating children about diversity. The book uses age-appropriate language and engaging content to introduce complex concepts in a manner that is both understandable and relatable for young readers. By doing so, it helps children to not only learn about different cultures and backgrounds but also to respect and celebrate these differences.

The Role of Language in Understanding Diversity

Languag...

In today’s politically charged environment, where discussions on race and diversity often face challenges and controversies, finding a balanced and thoughtful approach is more important than ever. Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity emerges as a crucial resource in navigating these complex waters. This blog post will explore the significant role this book plays in providing a nuanced and empathetic approach to discussing race and diversity, particularly in settings where these conversations are increasingly scrutinized.

Understanding the Political Challenges

The current political landscape presents various obstacles to open discussions about race and diversity, especially in educational settings. From legislative efforts to limit the teaching of certain aspects of history to debates over what constitutes appropriate material for young learners, the challenges are multifaceted. In this context, Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity offers a pathway to engage with these topics in a manner that is ...

We're thrilled to announce the upcoming release of our new children's book, Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity, poised to hit Amazon on February 1, 2024. Set in a climate where multicultural education is increasingly challenged, this book uses captivating poetry to unravel complex topics, serving as a beacon of hope in these uncharted waters.

The Importance of Early Education in Antiracism

Drawing on the power of early education, Teach Me Antiracism: Diversity is more than just a book; it's a tool for change. By fostering empathy, compassion, and understanding towards diverse races, ethnicities, skin complexions, and cultures, our aim is to imbue children with the language of antiracism.

The early years of a child's life are crucial for shaping their worldview, and through this book, we hope to sow the seeds of understanding and acceptance. As they navigate through the colorful pages and compelling poems, children will not only be learning about the beauty of diversity but also developi...

My mother named me after her younger sister, my aunt Brandee. On the one hand, my name is a representation of my mother’s love for her sister. On the other hand, my name is also an alcoholic beverage, with a unique spelling. 

And for as long as I can remember, people have always misspelled it. 

I’ll never forget the day my kindergarten teacher, Ms. Berkowitz, scolded me for misspelling my own name. I explained to her that everyone else spelled my name with a “y,” so I was just going along with what everyone else did. Ms. Berkowitz told me that my mom gave me my name and spelled it “B-R-A-N-D-E-E” for a reason and to never misspell my name again. The reprimand left an impression and inspired me to always insist on people spelling my name correctly.

In addition to misspellings, some children have names that originate from other languages and cultures and have to deal with mispronunciations, unwanted abbreviations and nicknames. These microaggressions maintain White supremacy by sendin...

Research suggests that babies start to recognize racial differences between zero to three months old and begin to show signs of internalized racial bias as early as two years old. As parents and teachers, we must recognize that kids notice race and try to make meaning out of it—even if we avoid the topic. 

When we don’t talk to our kids about race, they are left to come to their own conclusions that may or may not be accurate.

Oftentimes, we adults don't know how to respond to our kids' questions and comments about race. This often leads to shushing instead of opening a meaningful and accurate dialogue about racial differences. For example, children tend to have misconceptions about skin color, especially those raised in predominantly White environments. When children internalize Whiteness as the default race, everything about People of Color becomes viewed as “other,” abnormal, and/or exotic, including our skin.   

In a PBS Teacher’s Lounge post entitled, “Unlearning: Who is the Ma...

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children begin to internalize racial bias as early as two years old and become set in their beliefs by age twelve. This bias shows up for White children as internalized White superiority that is reified by consuming all White books, media, and educational content. As a result, White children are raised to believe that they are race-less and that people of color are “others.” It also leaves them blind to the ways that society is set up to benefit them over Black, Indigenous and other People of Color. 

This is why it is vital that we talk to our kids about White privilege or the unearned advantages that White people receive because of their race.

Peggy McIntosh popularized the term “White privilege” in her 1988 essay entitled, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. In the essay, McIntosh uses the metaphor of an invisible knapsack to describe the unseen advantages that White people receive because they are White. 

This invisi...

Although we may think that kids don't notice race, they actually start showing signs of racial bias as early as two years old. Young children are constantly viewing, understanding, and processing the information they are bombarded with to retain for future use.

Your kid notices race and quickly absorbs information and experiences around them. Therefore, we cannot slack on educating our children about race as early as possible.

To shape the future leaders and problem-solvers of tomorrow, we need to build a strong foundation of knowledge. To help you on your journey to antiracist parenting, here are the top five reasons you should start speaking to your children about race today. 

#5: Kids notice race very early on

There is a common myth that children are too young to notice race; people often think that we develop conceptions about race as we become more critical thinkers.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children learn about race pretty quickly and develop bias...