Beyond Books: how white parents can help raise antiracist children
We have been inundated with requests for antiracist children’s book recommendations, and we are eager to help — helping readers find books is why we exist, of course.
Books are powerful, especially in the hands of our children and as catalysts for important conversations about racism and racial justice. But, there are a lot of lists out there already (go ahead, Google it), and while our booksellers culled together a few favorites, we hope this blog spurs action beyond building better home libraries and are including other resources to help.
Important note: many, if not all, of these resources are FREE but there was a cost to create them. Please ask yourself how you may be able to compensate the author or organization for their labor, especially Black authors and writers, and Black-led organizations, who are too often expected to educate the rest of us for free. This information is valuable and so is their time.
9 Tips for Antiracist Child Rearing by Shaya Gregory Poku and Shamaka Gregory
You can read the original post on Facebook here. If you want to honor the labor that created this resource, the authors request that you donate to Marcus Books, the oldest independent Black bookstore in the county. To learn more about Oakland’s Marcus Books, click here. And here. And here. Click HERE to DONATE.
Our Booksellers’ Recommendations
Board Books
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (coming out later in June)
Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara
Picture Books
Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
We’re Different, We’re The Same (Sesame Street) by Bobbi Kates
Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano
Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison
Little Legends by Vashti Harrison
It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr
The Kindness Book by Todd Parr
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
Middle Grade
The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz
1919: The Year that Changed America by Martin W. Sandler
Young Adult
Tyler Johnson was Here by Jay Coles
This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell (middle grade crossover)
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
We Are Not Yet Equal by Carol Anderson
Online Resource Lists
Antiracism Resources for White People Database
This document includes a section specifically for white parents who want to raise antiracist children, as well as articles, films, podcasts, books, and organizations to follow on social media.
Resources from the Center for Racial Justice in Education
Black-led organization whose mission is to train and empower educators to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in our schools and communities.
Robin DiAngelo’s resource list
The author of White Fragility has a whole bunch of links for white parents as well as handouts, a reading guide, and resources specific to white teachers.
A Few Articles to Read
The Top 5 Reasons Well Meaning White Parents Do Not Discuss Race With Their White Children (via Striving Parent)
Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books? (by Walter Dean Myers, NYT, 2014)
And a Couple More Book Lists
Black Excellence Children’s Book List (via Seattle Library)
A growing list of books for young people ages preK-2nd grade.
15 Books for Children and Teens that Center Black Characters and Black Experience (via Baristanet)
Books for early readers through YA.
