How to talk about racism at home

With the health concerns spurred by COVID-19, the economic losses experienced by many families, and the growing racial tension in the United States and Canada, it’s hard to talk about these heavy subjects at home.

In particular, the recent events surrounding the Black Lives Matter protests have sparked a renewed interest to bring conversations about racism, it’s history, and lived experiences home. Recently, we’ve seen a lot of people ask: “Where can I start with my kids?” and “What resources are available?” As a result, we’ve decided to compile a list of podcasts, books, and articles that you can use to educate yourself and your family about different cultures, inequalities, and historical events and figures. We also wanted to recognize that it’s National Indigenous History Month in Canada, so we’ve also recommended some resources made by Canadian Indigenous authors.

Many experts have repeatedly said that education is the key to a more inclusive society. And, through practicing your reading, oral communication, listening, and thinking skills, you’ll also be improving your essential skills.

If you’d like to have a quick overview on the topic before getting started, we suggest watching “How to Talk to Kids About Race” by the Atlantic or reading “Your Age-by-Age Guide to Talking About Race” by Explore Parents.

Below is a list of resources grouped together by their delivery method and age range:

Books, young children:

• Dear Baobab (Cheryl Foggo)

• Dream Big, Little One (Vashti Harrison)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KFPIZjv7B8

• Hair Love (Matthew A. Cherry)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Iw3gmX39Y

• Happy In Our Skin (Fran Manushkin)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8WrScDZVes

• I Am Enough (Grace Byers)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4jZxWiCxrY

• Lailah's Lunchbox (Reem Farugi)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDy733cgrcc

• Let the Children March (Monica Clark-Robinson)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnptqGnM4xQ

• Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story (Paula Yoo)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CCDyr3dSn8

• Sweetest Kulu (Celina Kalluk)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9bKx_8qqMM

• The Elders are Watching (David Bouchard)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBRJx9pA29o

• The Polar Bear Son (Lydia Dabcovich)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7rxPkwMfy8

• The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmZCQfeWjeQ

• Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement (Carol Boston Weatherford)

• We Are Grateful (Traci Sorell)

• Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLD5YbPXSl8

• When We Were Alone (David Robertson)

• ​Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeaS6vlPUSk

Books, adolescents and adults:

• Becoming (Michelle Obama)

• Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun (Paul Seesequasis)

• Bones (Tyler Pennock)

• Born a Crime (Trevor Noah)

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou)

• Persepolis Series (Marjane Satrapi)

• Room for All of Us (Adrienne Clarkson)

• The Color Purple (Alice Walker)

• The North-West is Our Mother (Jean Teillet)

• The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead)

• To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

Films and Videos:

• "American Son"

• "For Angela" (Nancy Trites Botkin and Daniel Prouty)

• Watch: https://www.nfb.ca/film/for_angela/

• "Hair Love" (Matthew A. Cherry)

• Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V_Fkw28

• "How to Talk to Kids About Race" (The Atlantic)

• Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNEKbVq_ou4

• "Journey to Justice" (Roger McTair)

• Watch: https://www.nfb.ca/film/journey_to_justice/

• "Remember Africville" (NFB)

• Watch: https://cupe.ca/remember-africville-nfb-film

• "The Hate U Give"

• "Two Canadas: My Story of Generosity and Systemic Racism" (Honourable Ahmed Hussen, TEDxToronto)

• Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9EXoKb7el4

• "Unwanted Soldiers" (Jari Osborne)

• Watch: https://www.nfb.ca/film/unwanted_soldiers/

Podcasts:

• 1619 (NY Times)

• Listen: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-new-york-times/nyt-1619

• Code Switch (NPR)

• Listen: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch

• Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo (CBC)

• Listen: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/missing-murdered-who-killed-alberta-williams/

• Secret Life of Canada (CBC)

• Listen: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada

• Still Processing (NY Times)

• Listen: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-new-york-times/still-processing​