Raising Good Humans Ep 46: Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith: How we talk about race, raising anti-racist kids and the science of hope.
Jun 12, 2020
Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, a professor and trauma and racism expert, dives into the complexities of teaching children about race. She explains how kids as young as six months are aware of racial differences and why silence from adults can be harmful. The conversation covers the challenges of raising anti-racist kids in predominantly white communities and highlights the importance of open communication about community trauma. Dr. Briscoe-Smith emphasizes embracing vulnerability while discussing difficult topics, encouraging parents to prepare kids for societal realities with empathy.
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Begin Early And Narrate Differences
- Start talking about race with young children by listening to what they notice and narrating differences in books.
- Point out skin tone in simple phrases and encourage flexible categorization across many attributes.
Kids See Race Before We Teach It
- Children notice race as early as six months but do not yet carry adult baggage.
- Silence from adults creates a vacuum that leaves kids without scaffolding to understand social patterns.
Normalize Difference With Positive Language
- Teach children that difference isn't bad using small, positive remarks when noticing diversity.
- Use family values like "variety is the spice of life" to normalize and celebrate differences.
