The Most Important Lesson To Teach Kids About Antiracism

Photo by Simone Fischer on Unsplash

Adam and I are in the midst of a workshop series called Antiracist Parenting- From Learning to Action with the Brooklyn Public Library. This is the first time we included kids in a virtual workshop series and it's been so much fun hearing their perspectives. One kid led us in our breathing activity last week and I secretly wanted her to just take over for me in doing all the breathing exercises. She was so great! As we've been designing and planning this series, we were thinking a bunch about THE most important lessons we wanted the kids to leave with.

By far the most important,
the most necessary,
the most crucial thing
to teach kids about antiracism is that

It's a PROCESS.

Kids understand what it means to be in process. Ask any kid if they're learning something and they'll be excited to tell you about math or gymnastics or bridges, as one amazing kid shared in our last session. Antiracism is much like that. It's a process.

There is no destination where you land and you're like "OKAY! I MADE IT!!"

It's an ongoing commitment :

• To unlearn all those things we've been taught that center whiteness

• To learn how to center equity and justice and

• To take ALL of that and move it into action in your home and in the community

And the only way to do that is to come back to it again and again and stay consistent. That's how we make change. It's all well and good to follow the waves of social media but the kind of change that matters, the kind that'll help us raise brave, bold change makers is when they know antiracism is the bedrock of your family because it shows up at home over and over again. And it's ok if you slip up and get busy and fall off. Or maybe you just need to rest (10/10 recommend sleep). The important thing is to get back to it and be consistent. Your kids need you to be. We all need you to be. And together, we can raise kids that aren't afraid to identify, root out and get rid of racism, wherever they see it. 

ALL THE THINGS :)

What I'm writing:
March 13 marked two years since Breonna Taylor was killed by police in her home. Here's why white parents need to talk to their kids about Breonna. 

What I'm listening to:
If the only reason you're reading my newsletter is to get the latest Trinbagonian music, well, I can't really blame you. This song is for the adults but it's so sweet. I've been listening to Jolene from Kes The Band non-stop. 

What I'm reading:
I grew up VERY disconnected from my body and have had to be so intentional, especially in my work with antiracist parenting, to help my mind and my body play nice in the sandbox. I just started reading Resmaa Menakem's My Grandmother's Hands-Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies and it's changing my approach to trauma as it lives in my body. I've also been more intentional about including movement in Adam's and my work.


Okay, enough from me. I'm sending you good vibes as we maneuver these new mask guidelines. I hope you're able to be safe and kind to yourself. 

xo

Tabitha