Resources for white parents to raise anti-racist children

There many resources being shared these days aimed at assisting white parents in raising anti-racist children. Below I have reproduced one that I came across recently. As someone who greatly enjoys finding the “right book” for people (especially young learners!), I have marked a few that I personally recommend highly:

  •  ‘The Undefeated’ by Kwame Alexander, illustrations by Kadir Nelson (*highly recommend*) (age 6+) A poetic tribute to African American heroes and struggles. (2019)

  •  “New Kid” by Jerry Craft (age 8+) Funny, heartfelt middle school tale explores race and class. (2019)

  • “Sulwe” by Lupita Nyong’o (age 4+) Girl learns to embrace her dark skin in magical tale. (2019)

  • “What Is Given from The Heart” by Patricia C. McKissack (age 4+) Lovely art, heartwarming story about the joy of giving. (2019)

  • “Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: Tristan Strong, Book 1” by Kwame Mbalia (age 8+) Teen connects with African folklore in exciting fantasy. (2019)

  • “Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks” by Jason Reynolds (age 10+) Moving, interwoven stories of Black middle schoolers. (2019)

  •  “Genesis Begins Again” by Alicia D. Williams (age 11+) Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits. (2019)

  • “The Stars and the Blackness Between Them” by Junaudan Petrus (age 14+) Teen girls fall in love, face death in breathtaking tale. (2019)

  • “The Stuff of Stars” by Marion Dane Bauer (age 4+) Poetic book introduces big cosmic concepts to little humans. (2018)

  • “Finding Langston” by Lesa Cline-Ransome (age 8+) In lovely, moving story, boy who lost mom discovers poetry. (2018)

  • “Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly, Winifred Conkling (age 4+) Picture book introduction to an important, inspirational story. (2018)

  • “The Parker Inheritance” by Varian Johnson (age 8+) Kids investigate past racial incident in thrilling memory. (2018)

  • “The Season of Styx Malone” by Kekla Magoon (age 8+) Heartwarming story of friendship and adventure. (2018)

  • “Monday’s Not Coming” by Tiffany D. Jackson (age 14+) Gripping thriller about a girl disappearing without a trace. (2018)

  • “Crown: An Ode to The Fresh Cut” by Derrick Barnes (age 5+) Joyful, foot-tapping celebration of fresh haircuts and culture. (2018)

  • “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas (*highly recommend*) (age 13+) Powerful story of police shooting of unarmed Black teen. (2017)

  • “Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds (age 12+) Gripping, unnerving story of a teen boy contemplating revenge. (2017)

  • “Piecing Me Together” by Renée Watson (age 13+) An insightful tale of self-awareness and the power of art. (2017)

  • “The March Series” (Books 1-3) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin (*HIGHLY RECOMMEND*) (age 12+) The first-hand tale of the civil rights movement told through former Senator John Lewis’ memories through his storied career and work with Martin Luther King Jr. (graphic novel format) (2016)

  • “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought To Life by Ashley Bryan” by Ashley Bryan (age 6+) Document inspires vivid, moving portraits of slaves’ lives. (2016)

  • “As Brave as You” by Jason Reynolds (age 10+) Poignant summer adventure brims with family love and hope. (2016)

  • “Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat” by Javanka Steptoe (age 6+) Exuberant bio celebrates the artist who has success when young. (2017)

  • “Freedom in Congo Square” by Carole Boston Weatherford (age 5+) Slaves’ lives, jazz roots shown in stunning non-fiction book. (2017)

  • “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña (*highly recommend*) (age 3+) Tender story of Nana showing her grandson city beauty via bus.

  • “Trombone Shorty” by Troy Andrews (age 4+) Fun, upbeat story of a boy, trombone, and jazz. (2016)

  • “The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (age 7+) Lively tale of a store that aided the civil rights struggle. (2016)

  • “Gone Crazy in Alabama” by Rita Williams-Garcia (age 8+) Harrowing tale of the Gaither girl’s summer in the South. (2015)

  • “Hoodoo” by Ronald L. Smith (age 10+) Creepy chills galore in Southern supernatural thriller. (2016)

  • “Voice of Freedom” Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement” by Carole Boston Weatherford (age 9+) Frank, poetic picture book bio has dazzling art. (2016)

  • “The Boy in the Black Suit” by Jason Reynolds (age 12+) Soul-gripping story of teens’ grief and hope. (2016)

  • “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely (age 12+) Haunting tale of two boy’s lives changed by police assault. (2015)

  • “Firebird” by Misty Copeland (age 5+) Soaring, rhythmic story for dancers with big dreams. (2014)

  • “My People” by Langston Hughes (age 5+) Photos bring a sparkling tone to a simple poem of celebration.  (2010)

  • “Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave” by Laban Carrick Hill (age 6+) Amazing award-winning historical story told in free verse. (2011)

  •  “I Have a Dream” by Kadir Nelson (age 6+) Stunning art amplifies the meaning of King’s words for kids. (2013)

  • “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes (age 6+) Words and watercolors sing in a voice as deep as the river. (2010)

  • “Nelson Mandela” by Kadir Nelson (age 6+) Stellar art portrays key aspects of Mandela’s life for children. (2013)

  • “When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop” by Laban Carrick-Hill (age 6+) Insightful, kid-friendly intro to the history of hip-hop. (2013)

  • “Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves” by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (age 9+) Lively profile of a brave man living in a dangerous time. (2010)

  • “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander (age 9+) Soaring, poignant novel in verse that hits all the right spots. (2014)

  • “Elijah of Buxton” by Christopher Paul Curtis (age 9+) Funny, powerful, masterful tale of escaped slaves. (2007)

  • “Hand in Ten: Ten Black Men Who Changed America” by Andrea Davis Pinkney (age 9+) Captivating storytelling makes these heroes relatable. (2013)

  • “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans” by Kadir Nelson (age 9+) Beautifully illustrated account of African American history. (2011)

  • “P.S. Be Eleven” by Rita William-Garcia (age 9+) Tween coming-of-age set amid shifting family dynamics in the 1960’s. (2013)

  • “We Are the Ships: The Story of Negro League Baseball” by Kadir Nelson (age 9+) American paintings + compelling history = a grand slam! (2009)

  • “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson (*highly recommend*) (age 10+) Captivating poems depict coming-of-age in tumultuous 1960’s. (2014)

  • “How It Went Down” by Kekla Magoon (age 14+) Haunting look at killing of unarmed African American teen. (2015)

  • “Ninth Ward” by Jewell Parker Rhodes (age 10+) Gripping story of a girl’s bravery during Hurricane Katrina. (2011)

  • “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia (age 11+) A gem, with strong young female characters; 1960’s Black history setting. (2010)

  • “How I Discovered Poetry” by Marilyn Nelson (age 12+) Poet’s moving memoir in free verse charts ‘50’s childhood. (2015)

  • “Darius & Twig” by Walter Dean Myers (age 13+) Quiet, sometimes poetic story of teens’ scholarship quest. (2013)

The above list was compiled by Common Sense Media, derived from past winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Award. The CSK Book Award is a project of the American Library Association’s Ethnic Materials Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). As the ALA’s EMIERT website explains, the CSK Book Award is given annually “to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.”

EMIERT has a list of all 300+ CSK Award winners from 1970 - present, in reverse chronological order. The African American Literature Book Club has a nice page listing the same works, optimized from printing.

A good list of additional resources beyond these books is being shared (at least in one form) in a Google Doc, credited to Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein.

Of course, there is much more to successfully raising an anti-racist child beyond giving them some books, even ones as great as these. The intention is that opening the books can in turn open a conversation and help begin this crucial lifelong process as a family.

Amber Lamprecht