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The key to talking with your child—or anyone—about race is the same key to discussing any complex subject: openness. Start an open dialog with your child about race early in their life. Make it a comfortable subject of conversation—for you, and for your child.
Find descriptive words you are comfortable using. Check out the MultiracialSky Glossary for expanded definitions of 60 race-related terms, including 30 heritage-affirming words used today to describe people with a variety of racial and ethnic heritages. Start with words describing color such as brown or tan, or the colors of foods. The Colors of Us [below] has wonderful descriptive color words. Teach your children words they can use to identify themselves, and terms people with other heritages use to identify themselves. (Examples: multiracial, Amerasian, Latina.) Talk with your child about names for different racial and ethnic heritages. The descriptions and words you use may evolve and change over time, or as the socially predominant terms evolve. (Examples: African American, Black American, Native American, European American, Asian American, Mexican, White, Black, Cuban, Irish) When talking about race in scientific terms, the fact remains that there is only one human race. This is a fact and statement we should equip our children with. However, especially as parents, we must also recognize that the societal construct of different and distinct races affects everyone. |
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![]() For thinking and talking about race and racism |
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A People’s History of the
United States
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Everyday Acts Against Racism
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Some of My Best Friends
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![]() About Skin Color and Race |
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The Colors of Us
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Skin Again
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All the Colors We Are:
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All the Colors of the Earth
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Shades of Black
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Amazing Grace
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Anti-Racist Parent
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Race: The Power of an Illusion
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RACE: A Project of the American Anthropological
Association
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