Many Black parents recognize the importance of talking to their children about race, especially during the current racially charged climate filled with police brutality, divisive rhetoric, and hate crimes. However, despite understanding its significance, you may have questions regarding how to talk to your children about race, especially when your children are very young. This is due to a common misbelief that children this age, say three to eight years old, are too young or not emotionally prepared to handle the complexities of race.

Studies have found that racial-ethnic socialization (RES), the messages that Black parents provide their children to foster their sense of identity, self-esteem, and to prepare them for discrimination experiences or threats to their safety and wellbeing, have been positively related to academic and behavioral outcomes AND should be used with very young children (Reynolds, 2017).

Here is why it is important to talk to your young children about race, along with some tips on how to do so.

Sorry to break it to you, but we do not live in a color-blind world. Not only do our young children recognize racial differences, but studies have found that children as young as two-years-old begin to form preferences for those individuals of their same race and that they experience discrimination through experiences such as being excluded from playgroups (Hirschfield, 2008).

• Providing the appropriate vocabulary for racial or ethnic differences
• Modeling the use of inclusive and culturally sensitive language
• Being intentional about providing teachable moments while in public

Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney is a children’s book that you can use to help begin this important conversation:

Have you counted the number of questions your child asks daily? It can be overwhelming and many times a simple “hush” is the only thing we can stomach. However, answering your children’s questions about racial differences not only creates positive, open communication between you and your child, but it also demonstrates that you are comfortable tackling tough questions. Your children need to know that they can come to you with questions like “why is my skin dark?” or make statements such as “I wish I was white.” No more avoiding or telling them to “wait until you are older,” sit down, roll up your sleeves and engage with their questions in open, honest, and developmentally appropriate ways.

Studies have found that the RES messages that specifically focus on culture, heritage, and racial pride are associated with more positive child outcomes (Reynolds & Gonzales, 2017).

• If you have the means to do so, take them to see Michelle Obama’s portrait at the Smithsonian
• Visit Black Panther in Wakanda
• Read books with Black people as the protagonist such as I Know I Can by Veronica Chapman
• Expose them to their culture and heritage through food, music, artwork in your home, and family stories

These activities will begin to foster a sense of belonging and connection to positive representations of their racial and ethnic group, which is invaluable during this malleable developmental stage.

I know it is tempting to avoid the hard conversation about the harsh realities of life as a Black person, but don’t shy away from these conversations! It’s important for your children to know that they can come to you with questions if their friend at school says “I can’t play with you because you are Black”, or if someone yells “go back to your country” on the playground. If you are having trouble navigating this conversation, check out the following scripts and find what works for your family.

Jamica Holcomb, PhD

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Dr. Jamila Holcomb is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Holcomb obtained her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) from The Family Institute at Northwestern University, and her Ph.D. in MFT from Florida State University. Her dissertation was titled: Predictors of Ethnic-Racial Socialization Profiles in Early Childhood Among African American Parents. She currently works as a clinical counselor at Children’s Home Society of Florida, working with children and their families who have been victims of trauma. In addition to being a therapist, Dr. Holcomb provides educational workshops and presentations on trauma, culturally sensitive parenting practices, and race and ethnicity. She has also published several peer-reviewed articles on these topics. Dr. Holcomb also enjoys teaching at the collegiate level and has taught several courses at Florida State University in their Family and Child Sciences Department.

References:

Hirschfeld, L. A. (2008). Children’s developing conceptions of race. In S. M. Quintana & C. McKown (Eds.), Handbook of race, racism, and the developing child (pp. 37–54). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Reynolds, J. E., & Gonzales-Backen, M. A. (2017). Ethnic-racial socialization and the mental health of African Americans: A critical review. Journal of Family Theory and Review. doi: 10.1111/jftr.12192.

Reynolds, J. E. (2017). Predictors of ethnic-racial socialization in early childhood among African American Parents. The Florida State University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2017. 10258625.

This article is re-posted with permission from the American Psychological Association’s RESilience Initiative, which provides resources to parents and caregivers for promoting the strength, health, and well-being of children and youth of color. Learn more at www.apa.org/res.