What do I tell my daughter when she asks me why her friend of a different race is being treated differently, and how can I help her understand the complexities of racism?
user
I can use this moment as a tool to talk to her about empathy and understanding. I can share my thoughts on how racism is an established system of privileges and oppression, that not everybody gets the same opportunities or treatment because of race. Then, I could provide an honest conversation grounded in facts to open her eyes to how deep the root of this issue is. There are many good resources out there that explain racial injustice better than I could -- books, news articles, talks, etc -- so she can explore more with questions and get a larger perspective of the complexities around us.. With patience and practice dialogue, empathy may blossom for both me and my daughter. As we educate ourselves we become empowered advocates for change with our children.
assistant
What do I tell my daughter when she asks me why her friend of a different race is being treated differently, and how can I help her understand the complexities of racism?
user
It can be difficult to have conversations with your children about racism and why a person of a different race may be treated differently. Let your daughter know that not all people are treated the same, unfortunately because of the history of racism and inequality in our society, people of certain backgrounds or ethnicities may have different experiences than others. Explain to her that it is important to respect every individual person regardless of the color of their skin, and that standing up for what’s right means having empathy, speaking up when you see something unfair happening and learning more about other cultures. Help her find activities or books on racial equality that can help start meaningful conversations about equity in our society.
assistant
What do I tell my daughter when she asks me why her friend of a different race is being treated differently, and how can I help her understand the complexities of racism?