The other day I read this quote that got me thinking about our racial justice work:

“If there aren’t babies and grandmas, it’s not my revolution.”

I have heard from a couple of parents in the congregation that their children are beginning to pick up on the conversations we are having about race and are asking some really thoughtful questions.  All of us have children in our lives in some capacity, so how can we all equip ourselves to talk with children about race?  How can we be ready to answer those tough questions or respond to honest comment that sometimes just spill out of their mouths? 

I think we are doing some really great work to bring adults (and grandmas) into the conversation, but how do we help create a movement that includes children (and babies) too?

As someone who interacts with children and babies only a couple times a week, I know that I am woefully inadequate to take any kind of lead on answering these questions.  Instead, I would like to point you to some resources I’ve found that look like they would be helpful.  And I’d love to hear from those of you who are already doing this kind of work about what wisdom you have to share (and perhaps find a way to pass along that wisdom).  

[I have done my best to peruse and preview the following links and think they could be helpful, but this is certainly not a blanket endorsement of everything they contain.]

HERE is a link to a list of books for children and youth (separated by age appropriateness) put together by Oakland Public Library.  It also includes links to resources for parents, teachers, and other caregivers.

HERE is a link to “60+ Resources for Talking About Race with Children,” which includes both books, other media, and activities that can be used with different ages. 

HERE is a link to a blog titled, Raising Race Conscious Children, which focuses on moving beyond a color-blindness approach to talking about race.  The “Strategies” tab at the top of the page is an especially helpful overview of the many strategies used throughout the different articles on the website.

[Update: additions and suggestions from those in the congregation below]

The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton