A big part of Gentle Parenting is to teach children how to empathize with others, question why we do things in certain ways, and to stand up for what’s right.
We don’t want children who just blindly follow the status quo, we want children who can work together to change the future of the world. This means, especially as white parents (who I wish to address here as I am also one), that we need to teach children to recognize injustice and to protect them from the racist perspectives they can be taught by society.
White parents – your Gentle Parenting approach should also be Anti-Racist Parenting to say it’s really Gentle Parenting.
On this website, there is absolutely zero tolerance for racism – overt and covert. I myself am willing to be called into accountability if I ever say or do anything that is considered racist and will take it to heart to continue to do better. I wish for this space to be a safe place for everyone.
If you’ve never considered Anti-Racist Parenting before there are amazing people doing this work – teaching about anti-racism and about anti-racism specifically how to pertains to parenting.
I am in no way qualified to teach anyone, anything on anti-racism, so I want to leave you with resources you can check out to equip you to incorporate anti-racism into your parenting.
Some of the resources are meant for kids, but the vast majority are for us parents, for our own understanding. Some of what these amazing people say might upset or trigger you especially if you are white and have not been exposed to the truth about racism before, but I urge you not to attack or invalidate them, but rather sit with it and ask yourself why what they’re saying bothers you so much.
* Resources marked with an asterisk indicates that the resources comes from a Christian perspective.
Anti-Racism Resources
These are not affiliate links
Books to Read to Equip Yourself in Anti Racism/Unpacking Bias Before Teaching Your Kids
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race
The Anti-racist Kid: Parents Guide on Teaching Children Respect for Color and Race
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
*Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation
*Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America
So You Want to Talk About Race
*The Cross and the Lynching Tree
Videos:
Dear White People by @readlikearockstar
What non-Indigenous Canadians need to know
An Indigenous Journey to Leadership | Eddy Robinson | TEDxStMaryCSSchool
Why Indigenous children are overrepresented in Canada’s foster care system
What is reconciliation? Indigenous educators have their say
How to change systematic racism in Canada
Indigenous Knowledge to Close Gaps in Indigenous Health
Podcasts:
*Pass the Mic
*Melanated Faith
*Truth’s Table
Code Switch
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
Instagram Accounts:
Instagram Posts:
Overt vs Covert White Supremacy
10 steps to non-optical allyship
8 lessons about racism that were helpful to me as a white person
Quote “Just because you did something wrong in the past…”
Are Your Kids Too Young to Talk About Race?
Structural Racism vs Individual Racism
Quote “Justice is not a trend…:”
Intellectualizing Racism
Performative Activism
Articles:
Welcome To The Anti-Racism Movement — Here’s What You’ve Missed
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism
No, We Won’t Calm Down – Tone Policing Is Just Another Way to Protect Privilege
10 Ways White People Can Stop Annoying People of Color on Social Media
The Importance of Listening as a Privileged Person Fighting for Justice
Dear white people, wake up: Canada is racist
23 historical black Canadians you should know
Black Canadian Heroes Who Have Paved The Way For Future Generations
8 Inclusive Shows for the Whole Family to Watch
*Theological Works by Black Theologians, Pastors and Scholars
Movies
The 13th (Netflix) Watch Trailer
Explained: “The Racial Wealth Gap” (Netflix)
I Am Not Your Negro Watch Trailer
Fruitvale Station Watch Trailer
American Son (Netflix) Watch Trailer
When They See Us (Series, Netflix) Watch Trailer
There’s a massive free catalogue of Indigenous films online
Kids Books to Address Racism
Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation
Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice
Kids Books with Racial Diversity:
Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
Green Is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader’s Edition
Please, Baby, Please Board book
The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway
*The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible
*The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
*Bible Storybook from The Bible App for Kids
*Children of Color Storybook Bible
*The Garden Curtain And The Cross
Miscellaneous
Understanding Cultural Appropriation
See Color Poster by @readlikearockstar
Classroom Posters by @readlikearockstar
A White Families Guide to Talking About Racism by @readlikearockstar and @apron_education
Native Lands: An Interactive Map Reveals the Indigenous Lands
