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This year has been riddled with so much unrest and instability.
Covid19 changed the way we normally live our lives and brought many challenges.
The resultant lockdown meant we spent more time in virtual spaces and social media.
This was a time of reflection for many and also a time where the plights of marginalised groups were magnified.
Deprivation, inequality, racism and social injustice became a talking point leading to many protests around the world.
The death of George Floyd instigated protests in America. This quickly spread to different parts of the world.
Black people’s experiences of racism became a talking point alongside the Black lives matter (BLM) movement.
There was the #EndSars protests in Nigeria, my home country. The mass protests demanded a reform of the police force, and an end to bad governance and corruption.
There was the brilliant BLM performance by Diversity, which received about 24,500 complaints. And recently the fury over the Sainsbury Christmas advert featuring a black family.
Both, were a realistic representation of events. However received a lot of condemnation and racial backlash on social media.
My children had many questions about these issues and the impact on their lives as black British children.
Even though we have open conversations with our children about race. I realised that talking to them about deep-rooted racism is hard. But it must be done!
By the end of this article, you will discover some child friendly ways of talking to your black British children about racism and social injustice.
This will help in empowering them for the future. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Why the conversation must start now
An October 2020 research by YMA showed that young black people experience racism at work and in school.
Statistics highlighted that 95% of young people heard and witnessed the use of racial language in school and 78% in the workplace.
The research also looked at the negative effect of racism on black young people’s education, employment, crime, health and finances.
African parents living in diaspora can be hesitant about having race conversations with young children, in order not to frighten, upset, or overwhelm them.
This often leaves our children ill-equipped with dealing with matters of racism and social injustice.
This can create anxiety, lack of self-confidence/ low self-esteem when they face the hate which comes with racism or any form of injustice.
In order to avoid this, conversations about race must start now.
Self-care
You have to be emotionally ready to start this conversation with your child.
If you have experienced racism or injustice and are still dealing with the resultant trauma. It will be counter protective to have this conversation with your child, if it is coming from a place of hate or bitterness.
Consider seeking professional help or speaking to someone close to you about your fears and anxiety.
Looking after your emotional and mental wellbeing first will ensure that you are in a better place to help your child.
Be a role model and advocate for change
Research has proven you are your child’s first teacher and role model. How a parent behaves usually affects a child more than what they say.
Aim to lead by example by being kind when interacting with people from other races and cultures.
Advocate for change and challenge acts of racism and injustice appropriately.
One way of doing this is getting involved in community work and raising awareness for the rights of marginalized groups.
Engage in action which affirms your commitment to social change. You can do this by engaging in peaceful protests or raising awareness on social media.
Your action or inaction usually speaks volumes to your child and will help in educating and empowering them for a change.
Tailor the conversation to the age of your child
The age of your child will determine what approach you take.
Younger children
Younger children may require a more subtle approach like reading a book, watching a movie or through arts/craft.
When my first daughter was younger, she wanted straight long hair like her peers in school.
Her school was pre-dominantly white so naturally she wanted to fit in with her peers. I explained how we are all beautiful in the eyes of God, but he created us all differently with unique qualities.
We read a book about black hair, which broadened her understanding of her hair.
I saw this as an opportunity to celebrate diversity and reaffirm individuality as a strength.
These conversations led nicely onto issues of equality, fairness and standing up to bullies.
I also taught her to stand up for others who are vulnerable. These conversations were ongoing throughout her primary school and has developed now that she is in secondary school.
Older children
The approach for older children will be slightly different because of their developmental age, understanding and access to technology.
- It is best to find out what they already know about racism and social injustice and how they feel about it.
- Provide some historical context and look at different scenarios which involve racial stereotypes and bias.
- Talk to them about ways of challenging racism whilst keeping themselves safe from harm.
- These conversations would earn your child’s trust and they can come to you with questions.
Encourage action on social media if this is what you child wants
Encourage action on social media if your child is old enough and if this is what they want. Social media activism can be a way of giving them a voice.
My oldest daughter wanted to engage in social media activism by putting up a BLM status update on TikTok.
She also did some research to broaden her knowledge in order to educate her peers about racism.
As, a Christian family, we found solace in prayers. Our children prayed for world peace, an end to inequality and stability for Nigeria.
In conclusion, talking to Black British children about racism and social injustice at a young age is very important.
We can achieve this using appropriate ways and resources.
Here are some 7 useful books from Amazon to help you in talking about race.
- Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World by Uju Asika
- Emi’s Curly Coily, Cotton Candy Hair by Tina Olajide
- Black and British: a short essential history by David Olusoga
- Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Freeman, Laura, Shetterly, Margot Lee
- Little Leaders Collection 3 Books Set (Bold Women in Black History, Exceptional Men in Black History, Visionary Women Around the World) by Vashti Harrison
- Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson
- I Am Enough by Grace Byers
