Talk with your children about racism
As disturbing events unroll in the US, it’s become increasingly clear how important it is to have a conversation about race and racism with our children (if we haven’t already). We can all help to better identify and challenge racism – and reflect the Scouts values of care, integrity and respect – is if everybody has these conversations.
Below are our five top tips, along with some resources to explore.
1. Like all forms of discrimination, racism should always be challenged. Look up definitions of racism together, and think about how you could challenge them.
Books for you to read:
Why I’m No longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Diversify by June Sarpong
How To Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch
Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla
Books to read with your children:
A Is For Activist by Innosanto Nagara (picture book)
Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbour
Brick by Brick by Giuliano Ferri (board book)
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch (6–8 years)
Don't Touch My Hair! By Sharee Miller
A Change Is Gonna Come by various (Young adult)
The Skin I’m In by Pat Thomas
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz, illustrated by AG Ford (6–10 years)
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (4–8 years)
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin (4–8 years)
You can find more recommendations here.
2. White privilege doesn’t mean someone’s life hasn’t been hard, it means their skin colour hasn’t made it harder. Have you or someone else benefitted from white privilege?
People and organisations to follow:
3. Explore how systemic racism exists at every level of society. We all have a part to play in ridding our communities of racism.
Charities and funds you can support:
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust
Stand Against Racism & Equality (SARI)
4. Find examples (past and present) together of how people have overcome discrimination peacefully.
Petitions to sign:
Videos to watch:
The Urgency of Intersectionality, Kimberlé Crenshaw
Let’s Get To The Root of Racial Injustice, Megan Ming Francis
What Beyonce Taught Me About Racism, Brittany Baron
Being Black, Jane Elliot
How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion, Peggy McIntosh
The Power of Privilege, Tiffany Jana
No. You Cannot Touch My Hair! Mena Fombo
5. Agree to be more than ‘not racist’ – be actively ‘anti-racist’. Read books and follow social channels about anti-racism.
Resources on anti-racism:
Angela Davis on intersectional anti-racism (via Roshni Goyate)
Anti-racism resources for white people (via Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein)
75 things white people can do for racial injustice (via Medium)
Ways to help (via Black Lives Matter)
Know your rights (via @initialola on Twitter)
Free flyer printing (via The Photocopy Club also here)