Children’s Books About White Privilege
You might want to shield your child from the ugliness of the world. I do too on most days. However, having that choice is a privilege, and most often; White privilege. An alternative option for every caregiver is to choose to open the conversation so you can guide your children.
As early as 6 months, a baby’s brain can notice race-based differences. By ages 2 to 4, children can internalize racial bias and start assigning meaning to race. 5 to 8-year-olds begin to place value judgments on similarities and differences. Moreover, by age 12 children have a complete set of stereotypes about every racial, ethnic, and religious group in society.
Remaining Silent is an Act of Supremacy
White privilege is a day-to-day reality all children see. Meanwhile, they are making assumptions and forming world views. Unconsciously, they could possibly be forming bias solely because of what/who they are or are not exposed to each day. As a result, caregivers who don’t proactively talk about racial issues with their children are inadvertently teaching their children that race is a taboo topic.
Caregivers who want to raise children to accept individuals from diverse cultures need to counter negative attitudes. These attitudes are developed from exposure to the negative racial stereotypes that pervade our society.
Furthermore, small actions by caregivers send subtle, yet powerful messages. You may not even be aware that you are conveying ideas about race through your behaviors. But children are watching and learning. In this sense, when it comes to communicating with white children about racism, caregivers’ actions often speak louder than their words. In turn, this is how white supremacy is being upheld.
Children’s Books That Talk About White Privilege
My 8-year-old daughter Havana (@thetinydiplomat) recently stood up during Read Across America week to protest the racism and harmful stereotypes in Dr. Seuss books. Havana understands that white privilege is spending an entire week reading books and not even noticing that have zero girls of color in any of them.
White privilege is reading books all week that center White people as the main protagonists and non-White characters in a subservient role. White privilege is celebrating an author who based characters on Blackface. Her solo protest was ignored by the administration and the PTA. However, the shirt she wore each day forced the conversations to happen among her classmates and teachers. Baby steps ARE steps.
The list of books Havana and I have prepared below take a more intentional approach to breaking down barriers. Furthermore, they will navigate steps to take with children so their behaviors and attitudes do less harm to marginalized communities. However, you can use almost any book on your shelf to discuss the way White supremacy pervades any community.
Lastly, simply reading these books won’t be enough. Have these conversations with BIPOC people in your every day life. Have the courage to ask people in your life about how you might be unintentionally or unconsciously upholding a system of white supremacy. Above all, when they respond; really listen.
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness
NOT MY IDEA: A BOOK ABOUT WHITENESS is a picture book that invites white children and parents to become curious about racism, accept that it’s real, and cultivate justice. It’s one of the first picture books that provides an honest explanation for kids about the current state of racial tension in America.
Purchase NOT MY IDEA: A BOOK ABOUT WHITENESS on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
Race Cars: A Book About White Privilege
RACE CARS is a springboard for parents and educators to facilitate tough conversations with kids about race, privilege and oppression. This incredible book tells the story of 2 best friends; a white car and a black car. The two cars have different experiences and face different rules while entering the same race.
Purchase RACE CARS on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice
SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN follows two families — one White, one Black — as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. In almost every school, children are practicing intruder drills. Again, every day violence is plaguing marginalized communities because of the systematic oppression of White supremacy. The story aims to answer children’s questions about such traumatic events. Lastly, it will help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives.
*Note: It also includes an extensive note to caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues. I also highly recommend following Nelba Marquez-Greene on Twitter who lost her daughter Ana-Grace to gun violence in the Sandy Hook school shooting. She continually has great advice and resources to offer.
Purchase SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
Let’s Talk About Race
LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE shares the author’s own story as he explores what makes each of us special. This stunning picture book introduces race as just one of many chapters in a person’s story. This book helps children learn strategies and the vocabulary to discuss what they see. Most importantly, the book encourages kids to begin those courageous conversations in order to create a future that resolves differences.
Purchase LET’S TALK ABOUT RACE on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
Lila and the Crow
LILA AND THE CROW deals with the loneliness that often comes with dark skin. Bullying is a topic largely covered in schools. However, specifically being bullied for the color of your skin vs. not sporting the latest fashion trends is VERY different. In this book, Lila is mocked by others because of her dark skin and hair. At her lowest point of despair, a magical encounter with the crow opens Lila’s eyes to the beauty of being different. This revelation gives her the courage to proudly embrace her true self.
Purchase LILA AND THE CROW on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
Brave Ballerina
In BRAVE BALLERINA, Janet Collins wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and 40s. This was a time when racial segregation was widespread in the United States. Janet pursued dance passionately, despite being rejected from discriminatory dance schools. As a teenager, she was accepted into the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Janet refused the acceptance based on their condition that she paint her skin white for performances.
Janet continued to go after her dreams, never compromising her values along the way. From her early childhood lessons to the height of her success as the first African-American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera; this is the story of a remarkable pioneer.
Purchase BRAVE BALLERINA on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
A Scarf for Keiko
A SCARF FOR KEIKO is a great example of how standing up for what is right. The book uses a simple handmade give to show kids how to treat others with respect. In turn, they learn that it is only when kids are different, it leads to a validation of someone’s humanity.
It’s 1942. Sam’s class is knitting socks for soldiers and Sam is a terrible knitter. Keiko is a good knitter, but some kids at school don’t want anything to do with her because the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor and her family is Japanese American. A Scarf for Keiko leads kids through a tale of knowing what they should do vs. what others want them to do.
Purchase A SCARF FOR KEIKO on Amazon | Shop your local indie bookstore.
Middle Grade Book Recommendations
One Crazy Summer
Rita Williams-Garcia’s book ONE CRAZY SUMMER tells a story of three sisters who experience the Black Panther party firsthand and brings about a discussion on cultural and ethnic identity. Critical themes in this books are sisterhood, family, emotional abuse/neglect, activism, prejudice, history, and slanted/biased media coverage.
All American Boys
One of the biggest white privileges is the stereotype that comes to mind when you describe a person as “All-American”. Most will picture a white person with blond hair and blue eyes. In ALL AMERICAN BOYS, authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely’s wrote story of stereotyping and racial profiling that is one to be read, and read again.
Further Suggested Reading
White Supremacy in the Classroom– Tools and strategies from teachers of color to guide learning how to fight white supremacy and white privilege in the classroom to help raise empathetic global citizens.
Dear White Teacher: 13 Books to Read About Racial Literacy– Teachers, if there is time to put pictures of flair pens and color coordinated art bins on Instagram, there is time to research how to break the system of racial inequality in the classroom.
When Racial Bias is Taught Through Children’s Literature– Too often schools are the breeding grounds for racial inequality if they choose not to face it head-on. Racial conflicts based on white privilege amongst young kids often remain hidden. In turn, those who pay the price: students of color.
This post was first published on Pragmatic Mom.
Connect with Biracial Bookworms
Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Group | Facebook Page | Newsletter
Join us at Biracial Bookworms
Join us as we raise and teach children to be readers, activists, and leaders!
