“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou.
By now I hope you feel confident addressing racism and being an anti-racist with your kids using the resources provided in part one and part two of this series of posts.
This final installment focuses on the people out there, doing the hard work, and letting you peer into their lives while they do.
If you’re at all like me, I’d imagine the accounts you follow on Instagram bloomed into a much more diverse and educational feed sometime during the summer of 2020. Here are some of the fantastic accounts I’ve been following that I’d highly encourage you to check out.
@monicajsutton
Ms. Monica keeps preschoolers entertained with morning circle time videos and other educational enrichment. While not specifically about racial equity, Ms. Monica is a woman of color and an excellent model of diversity in education for even the littlest learners.
@theconsciouskid
The Conscious Kid helps parents consider their parenting and their children’s education “through a Critical Race Lens.” Since following this page, I personally have been confronted with some hard truths and concepts I previously took for granted reframed to put a spotlight on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
@kidsrcapable
This is a general early education and child development page to follow, but diversity is always front-of-mind with its recommended resources.
@rachel.cargle
A powerful voice that questions and educates while compelling action and challenges each of us to be anti-racist rather than simply not racist.
@rubybridgesofficial
Ruby Bridges, the young girl who bravely integrated her elementary school, is still an activist with a powerful voice.
@privtoprog (Privilege to Progress)
Tackling the uncomfortable conversations and encouraging the anti-racist movement.
@emmanuelacho
Emmanuel Acho began the “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” series in the summer of 2020. I have appreciated his honesty, his approachable nature, and his willingness to engage in tough conversations. His book of the same name recently came out and is sure to be a good read.
Our three-part series on racism and anti-racism may be closing out, but that doesn’t mean the work is anywhere close to over. In fact, it’s just beginning.
While the resources I’ve suggested through these three posts have been carefully curated, I am sure I’ve missed some that may have helped you in your journey. Please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram with your suggestions for books, visual media, podcasts, people to follow, or any other resource you’ve loved.
Love your kiddos hard. Teach them how to love others and fight for what’s right.
Good luck – I’ll be with you.