Anti-Racism and Social Justice Resources for Parents, Children, and Educators
At Berkwood Hedge School, we talk about the values for which we stand. We stand for compassion. We stand for kindness. We stand for empathy. And, we stand for justice. Sometimes, people question whether social justice is an appropriate part of the curriculum in elementary school. We believe that it is not only appropriate, but an ethical imperative and critical to our future to have these difficult conversations.
Every day our teachers provide space for the children to talk about what is happening in our country in a way that honors their development and meets them where they are. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home, even if it seems daunting. Growth in social justice, like any other subject area, requires study, reflection, practice, and application. Below are some resources to help facilitate discussions with your children.
Ideas for Learning and Action
Video: Is My Skin Brown Because I Drank Chocolate Milk? TEDxStanford Talk by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Do Not Look Away! by Rev. Dr. Ron Bell
Don't Understand the Protests? What You're Seeing is People Pushed to the Edge by Kareem Abdul-Jabar
75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice by Corinne Shutak
5 Ways to Show Up for Racial Justice Today by Nastia Voynovskaya
How to Make This Moment the Turning Point for Real Change by Barak Obama
How White Parents Can Talk to Their Kids About Race from All Things Considered
Can We Talk?: Talking to White Kids About Race and Racism from Safespace Radio
The Difference Between Being "Not Racist" and Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
What is "The Talk" White Parents Should Have With White Children? by Madeleine Rogin
Nice White Parents podcast from The New York Times
What You Can Do to Fight Violence and Racism Against Asian Americans from PBS
How to Talk to Kids About Anti-Asian Violence from Parents
How to Talk to Kids About Anti-Asian Racism from Parents Together
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race from Embrace Race
How to Talk to Kids About Anti-Semitism and Why It's Important from Parents
Talking to Young Children About Bias and Prejudice from the Anti Defamation League
Addressing Antisemitic Hate with Students from Learning for Justice
Resources for Educators
Vanessa Siddle Walker
Segregation-era black educators set the groundwork for an equitable and aspirational education system for all. How can we get back to their vision?
How to Be an Antiracist Educator
Dena Simmons
Educators have an obligation to confront the harm of racism, says one social-emotional learning expert. She shares five steps educators can take to teach for an antiracist future.
Webinar: Effective School Leadership During a Global Pandemic and Social Unrest
Baruti Kafele
Baruti Kafele provides attendees with strategies for maintaining leadership effectiveness during what will likely be the greatest challenge that they will ever encounter in their leadership careers.
Widening the Lens: A Conversation with Beverly Daniel Tatum
Anthony Rebora
Educators need to ensure that students of color see themselves as part of the picture, says the renowned psychologist and author.
Avoiding Racial Equity Detours
Paul Gorski
Students experiencing racism can't wait for schools to move at their own pace and comfort level.
Fighting the Jeffersonian Dismissal
Matthew R. Kay
A founding father's short-sided views on race challenges educators to consider how black people are reflected in curricula.
Why We Can't Afford Whitewashed Social-Emotional Learning
Dena Simmons
Students live in a world wrestling with injustice. By designing social-emotional learning experiences that question and confront inequity, educators give students the skills to navigate (and ultimately change) an unjust world.
Taking the Long View to Eliminate Systemic Racism: A Systems Thinking Approach
Donna Orem
Systems thinking can be a powerful tool in addressing systemic racism because there are so many formal and informal systems, structures, relationships, norms, and behaviors that have conspired over time to create systems of oppression.
Video: Equity and Inclusion: Bringing About Systemic Change from the Inside Out
National Association of Independent Schools
2020 NAIS Annual Conference workshop presenters Debbie Bensadon and Stephanie Wright talk about why school culture is so important in equity and inclusion work, and how can schools build capacity for these efforts. Bensadon and Wright presented the workshop "Equity and Inclusion: Bringing About Systemic Change from the Inside Out" along with Merissa Reed at the 2020 NAIS Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Schools and titles listed in the video are as of the time of the interview.
Helping Students Make Sense of New Stories About Bias and Injustice
Anti Defamation League
When there are national news stories that involve incidents of bias and injustice, young people want to be part of the conversation. Even at a young age, they hear adults talking about what’s happening, read about the story on social media or learn about it through television. Rather than protect children and youth from what’s going on in the world, there are age-appropriate and constructive ways to engage them in understanding the situation.
Organizations With Resources for Educators and Parents
Raising Race Conscious Children
The Center for Racial Justice in Education
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
California Department of Education--Bay Area LGBTQ+ Resources
Reading Lists
An Anti-Racist Reading List by Ibram X. Kendi
Anti-Racist Reading List by Napa Bookmine
Talking to Kids About Racism and Justice by the Oakland Public Library
Children's Books to Support Conversations on Race
Inclusive Reads from the Conscious Kid
Social Emotional Resources
Suggestions for calming/grounding activities for kids, some are for younger school aged children but most can be adapted for all ages:
https://copingskillsforkids.com/calming-anxiety
Child Mind Institute: a great resource for families providing guidelines about conversations with a lot of room to adjust to fit individual families:
https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
Great Good Science: Resources for how to support families during this time:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/greater_good_guide_to_well_being_during_coronavirus
Common Sense Media: A list of resources including a family media agreement.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/family-media-agreement
Article by Teresa LaMendola Kabat-Zinn, Asa/FIRE