Talking About Race

Talking about race early and often with all kids is an effective way to reduce racism, encourage understanding, and help children of color to proudly celebrate and embrace their racial and cultural identities. Please reference our Adoptee & Foster Voices, Hair Care, and Transracial Parenting/Cultural Diversity pages for more resources.

Be sure to explore ORPARC's Culture Connection Collection, a library collection curated by experts to support kids of color in care and those caring for them!

Websites

Heritage Months

Asian Pacific American History Month - May
Black History Month - February
Hispanic Heritage Month - mid September-October
Native American Heritage Month - November
South Asian Heritage Month - July 18 - August 17

Recommended Books & Articles

Talking About Race-related Materials and Cultural Diversity/Transracial-related Materials in ORPARC's library and DIGITAL library plus the Culture Connection Collection, carefully curated to support kids of color in care, adoption, guardianship and/or kincare.

Many Caregiver Resources compiled by Oregon DHS & Partners
- ODHS Anti-Racism Resource List
Being Anti-Racist: A Critical Way to Support Children of Color in Foster Care and Adoption by NACAC
Cultural Humility Practice Principles by NCWWI
How Racism Can Affect Child Development, an infographic by The Harvard Center on the Developing Child
How to talk to your kids about racism and social justice by Dr. Abigail Gewirtz
How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race by Caroline Bologna for Huffpost
Levels of Racism: A Theoretical Framework and a Gardner's Tale by Dr. Camera Phyllis Jones - article recommended by ODHS Child Welfare Deputy Director Aprille Flint-Gerner!
#MarchMiniLessonsOnRace by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, author in ORPARC's library
Proactive Engagement: The Adoptive Parent’s Responsibility When Parenting a Child of a Different Race, Adoption Advocate Issue #146
Resources to Support Children's Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black Racism, Racial Violence and Trauma by Child Trends
Talking to Children About Racial Bias by Ashauanta Anderson and Jacqueline Douge
Talking to Young Children About Race & Racism by PBS
Ten Tips for Talking to Kids About Race by Embrace Race
Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books? by Walter Dean Myers, New York Times
Your 5 Year-Old is Already Racially Biased by Andrew Grant Thomas for Embrace Race

Videos & Podcasts

5 D's of Bystander Invention and Be a Super Ally! Bystander Intervention for Kids by Right to Be (formerly Hollaback) (videos)
Diaries of a Black Girl in Foster Care (podcast)
Guided Meditation for Cultivating an Anti-Racist Mindset
Hair Love super cute film short by Sony Pictures to go with the Hair Love book in our library!
How to Talk With Your Children About Racism by TCU and UNTHS
How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race by Michel Martin for NPR Audio
Is My Skin Brown Because I Drank Chocolate Milk? by Beverly Daniel Tatum for TEDx Talks
A Look at Race Relations Through a Child's Eyes by CNN, Anderson Cooper
Talk About Race with Your Kids: My Parenting Mistake and Talking to Kids About Racism by Raising Equity
Talking About Race by Sesame Street
Talking Race with Young Children from NPR Podcast
What is Systemic Racism? by Race Forward (article + videos)

New YA Book - Stamped

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You is in our Young Adults section in the ORPARC library!