Our community has struggled with racial discrimination, stereotypes about us that are not always true, and internalized self-hate that caused us to not embrace our racial identity at times. As parents of color, we must raise our children to be secure in who they are so that they can grow up to be confident trailblazers in the world. The first step is for us to confront our insecurities about ourselves and heal from any traumas that caused us to not love ourselves as we are. From there, we can teach the children to be comfortable with who they are. Here is how you can raise children of color with a strong racial identity.
Teach Black History All Year Round
You don’t have to wait until black history month to teach your cultural heritage to your children. When your children learn about the many accomplishments and hurdles that people of color endured to leave a rich legacy, their confidence will grow as they become adults. There are numerous kid-friendly books about black history you can find in libraries, online, and at local minority-owned bookstores. Another idea is to connect the past to real life. When you’re at the traffic stop with your child, talk with him about how black inventor Garrett A. Morgan invented it along with a gas mask that protected firefighters from smoke inhalation.
Start A Family Reunion Tradition
If you have a large family, get together with your siblings and other relatives to start a family reunion tradition. Family reunions have wonderful benefits for children of color. They learn about how certain family members contributed to black history, and they learn valuable lessons about life that instill character and a sense of pride in them. If your grandmother participated in voting rights campaigns in the 1950s and is still alive, your children get an insider’s look at the impact of the civil rights movement.
Have An Honest Talk About Racism
You’ll need to talk about the history of racism in the United States and how this racism impacted people of color over the years. If you and your spouse experienced racism personally in different situations, don’t hide it from your children. Discuss how you dealt with the offenses and became a stronger person because of it. Advise your children how to deal with racially charged situations on their own and how to advocate for themselves when needed. Discuss the current events that relate to race relations with your children and ask their opinions on what they heard.
Sign Up Your Teen With Mentorship Programs
Your teen is almost an adult, and a neat way to instill a strong racial identity is to sign him up for a mentorship program with a nonprofit organization that serves communities of color. A mentor who is the same race as your child can encourage him as he prepares for college and the workforce. The mentor can also give him pointers on how to maintain his confidence and cultural identity in a world that will not always value him as a person.
Visit Local Black-Owned Businesses
Your child needs to see examples of success in communities of color because this helps him build a strong racial identity. Research local black-owned businesses and spend a weekend visiting and shopping from them. Have your child ask the owners what motivated them to start their businesses and have him record the answers with a voice recorder. When you get home, your child can write summaries on the businesses.
Make A Scrapbook With Your Child
Another fun idea is to make a scrapbook with your child. Gather your favorite photos of your child and work with him to paste pictures into the scrapbook. While making the scrapbook, talk about what happened when those pictures were taken and how they helped you appreciate and understand him more. Write those thoughts as positive affirmations in the scrapbook. This lets your child know how special and loved he is.
Host A Storytelling Dance Party
Invite your relatives over for a storytelling dance party. Prepare snacks that everyone will like and create a music playlist featuring your relatives’ favorite songs on your phone. As each song plays, a relative who was younger during the era when that song came out will share memories of his life with everyone. This is a fun way for your child to learn about his heritage and be proud of it.
Family Prayer Meeting
Once or twice a month, gather everyone in the living room and have a prayer meeting. During the prayer meeting, read select scriptures from the Bible that pertain to any issues the family is dealing with. Ask family members to volunteer prayers about whatever they wish to pray about. Faith is a huge aspect of life for people of color and it played a part in how they overcame the toughest obstacles.
Build Your Confidence
Your child needs to see that you’re confident in yourself and that you’re proud of your racial identity. Talk about how you love yourself and how you embrace your body just the way it is. Walk confidently and show your resilience during adversity in front of your child. As your child sees this, it inspires him to follow in your footsteps.
Children of color need to know that their racial heritage is beautiful and that it’s something to be proud of. With these helpful tips, you can give a strong racial identity to them.
