Talking to Kids About Racism, How & Why

I had another enlightening conversation about race with Special Education teacher and IEP coach, Jamilah Bashir. I came away with the importance of talking to our kids about the racism that we see today because it affects us all. Our children will see it, hear it, witness it—they may succumb to it, they may be victims of it, they may benefit from it. Racism is a thread so tightly woven into the tapestry of this country, it is difficult to find the beginning, or separate it from the others. We are all in this together. Whatever political leaning, whatever social morals, we are here together trying to find our way through. And we have something in common...we love someone, or many people, with special needs. People who have traditionally, historically, and repeatedly been marginalized in society, people discarded and denied the decency of humanity. Thankfully, our children now live much safer, fuller, happier lives because people have stood up for them, for their needs and their rights. People have demanded they be treated decently. Now is the time to have these tough conversations. We must talk to our children, help them find the tools to fight against racism and discrimination whenever or wherever they encounter it, be the examples of inclusion before them. We must teach them how to stand up for each other. If not now, when? If not us, who?