Color.

First Steps to Raising Anti-Racist Children

 

How do we end racism? Is there something we can about it? Questions were running through my head while reading the news of current events. After learning more about racism, I honestly felt overwhelmed. So I talked with some close black girlfriends and started praying about how I could make a difference. I felt that I understood racism a little more after hearing their perspectives and received a little clarity on how I could do my part to help end racism. Then it hit me, I can help end racism by teaching my children how to be anti-racist from an early age.

Here are a few steps David and I are taking to raise our children to be anti-racist:

 

  • Introducing them to friends of other ethnicities and teaching them the truth of how everyone is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God (Psalm 139:14)
  • David is Chinese American and I am white, so our kids and our family already are culturally diverse. Spending time with Grandma Tang is pretty different from being at my parent's midwest farm.  Even so, it's important for us to have an ethnically diverse group of friends.
  • Using Crayola skin color collection crayons and colored pencils and talking about how amazing it is to have friends of all different colors. God created and loves all of the skin colors.

  • Talking about how skin tones are shades of brown. It’s like buying foundation, endless beautiful skin tone shades, like “chestnut” and “ivory.” 
  • Reading books with characters of different ethnicities. We love “God’s Very Good Idea” by Trilla Newbell, “Say Hello” by Rachel Isadora, and "When God Made You" by Mathew Paul Turner (check out my post "READ" for other great books)
  • Using M&Ms to explain skin color.  The colors are different on the outside but on inside it's the same chocolate! That's what counts, the chocolate!
  • “Traveling” the world by trying new cuisines from various ethnicities. As we eat, we talk about the culture and people of that location. “Mommy, what’s Chinese food? And why does Daddy eat so much rice?” are questions that were asked in our home.

Those are just some of our ideas. I believe we can all do our part.  What can you do to raise anti-racist little ones? Can’t wait to hear! Head to my Instagram and let me know!

 

 

Sending my love,

Gayle

 

I believe we can end racism by teaching our children how to be actively anti-racist from an early age.

 

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 

 

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:22-24