Why Practicing Antiracism Should Be On Every Parent's Radar This Black History Month and Beyond

To learn more about how to model and practice antiracism at home with your family register to attend my FREE Antiracist Parenting Foundational Webinar.

-

Most parents want at least three things for their children:

• You want them to be self-aware
• You want them to be prepared for the world
• You want them to be safe

You’ll go to great lengths to ensure your child has the best and you’ll protect your kid by any means necessary. What if I told you about a parenting strategy that costs nothing that will help you accomplish all three developmental goals?

Antiracist parenting?is the act of instilling confidence, empathy, cultural consciousness, and conflict resolution skills in children through modeling antiracist behavior in the household.

If racism is a system of power that advantages (and therefore disenfranchises) individuals based on one’s racial identity, then?antiracism?describes the?actions?an individual takes to disrupt or dismantle this system of power to create equal opportunity for everyone. Regardless of your age, identity, political views, or social status, there are too many benefits for your kids not to apply this to your parenting. Here are three underrated reasons why practicing antiracism at home should be on your 2022 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. You Become a More Self-Aware Individual

The miracle of being race-conscious and employing antiracist practices in your home is you become more aware of yourself. In order to be receptive to the truth of racism’s impact on society and in our individual lives requires we take a deep look within. The everyday person doesn’t spend enough time evaluating their mindset. The journey to becoming an antiracist parent forces you to reflect upon your own upbringing, your habits, your values. It compels you to explore the reasons why you think the things you think and do the things you do. As the old adage goes, the more you know, the more you grow. Educating yourself makes you a more self aware individual overall. This heightened sense of self-awareness offers a new outlook on life: an opportunity to be grateful, and seek a greater purpose personally and as a family unit. It allows you to navigate conflict, be creative, and access new opportunities that would have been limited otherwise having a different mindset. Like a gift that keeps on giving, by practicing self-awareness, your child will mirror your habits too.

2. You Prepare Your Child(ren) for the World

Teaching your child how to recognize and respond to racism creates cultural competence at an early age. An adult who is culturally aware knows how to relate to others across lines of difference. They are empathetic to others’ lived experiences. They can assess a situation and be diplomatic in its resolution. The world is different from the world you grew up in and as long as our consciousness continues to elevate — and it will — you will be constantly preparing your child for a world that doesn’t yet exist. Seeing as we’ve never experienced a racism-free America in any of our lifetimes, the responsibility of prepping your child for the world is great for any parent to bear. Whether encountering racism while picking up your morning coffee at the local?Starbucks?or?taking a stroll in the park, your child’s local experiences navigating?and watching you navigate?race-related conversations will translate into the decisions they’ll make when they are faced with navigating the inevitable challenges of life as an adult.

3. Practicing Antiracism at Home Keeps Your Child(ren) Safe in the World

Let’s face it. People are stressed. Policy is gridlocked. The country is divided. Unfortunately, kids get caught in the crossfire of poor (and stressed) adult decision-making every day. Because of this country’s history, racism is embedded in every facet of society: schools, hospitals, even parks. In 2020, almost 4,000 people were victims of anti-Black hate crimes, nearly three times that of the second-most victimized population — White people. Every racial group was targeted more than once.

Especially in the country’s climate today, the likelihood that your kid will experience racial conflict is inevitable, and no person is immune to its consequences.?If your child is Black, teach them to recognize when racism is at play and how to navigate it safely and with dignity. If your child is a person of color, teach them to not be complicit in situations of racial conflict, especially when it benefits them. Teach them to be proud of their heritage, but also fierce when it comes to racial equity and justice. If your child is white, teach your child to be an agent of safety.

Teach your children when to challenge the status quo, and when to let their convictions go. Try as you might, you will not always be around to reason with, protect, or defend your child. The benefits of practicing antiracism increase your child’s intellectual capacity to identify and navigate race-specific conflict so you can be assured they are leading well, protecting themselves, and consciously resolving their own problems in the world.

How To Practice Antiracism at Home

Practicing antiracism is a journey, not a destination. There are no straight lines or silver bullets to becoming an antiracist parent. There are, however, ample opportunities along the parenthood journey to practice antiracist thinking and apply it to your parenting. No, you won’t always get it right — but having an antiracist mindset is about trying to. Below is a framework on how to practice antiracism designed to help guide you in your daily decision-making.

Download this framework by visiting our?Learning Hub.

Some things money can’t buy, like raising a confident, self-aware kid who can assess danger and safely navigate conflict while being a fierce advocate for racial equity. Black History Month welcomes another opportunity to be intentional about goal setting for your family. If you’re reading this,?you are a damn good parent. Keep it going this month, and beyond.

If you’re ready to begin your journey, or maybe dive a bit deeper into strategies that help you raise antiracist children, I have a webinar to get you started.

Click here to attend the FREE?Antiracist Parenting Foundational Webinar.

See my original post on my Medium page.