Last Updated on March 13, 2024
In February of every year, we celebrate Black History Month.
And over the last year, I feel like there have been more conversations happening than ever before about race in America. The topic has been all over our news, in our entertainment, the media, and our daily conversations with family and friends. (You can read more about having those conversations right here.)
But how do we discuss this topic specifically with our kids?
Recently on our podcast, Why or Why Not with the Watsons, we shared how we as an African American family are addressing race issues with our kids. It’s not perfect, and we’re still learning all the time. But every day we’re just asking God to give us grace and wisdom to continue having these important conversations as a family. Remember this mamas – If you aren’t teaching your children, something or someone else will.
If you aren’t teaching your children, something or someone else will.
Here are a few of the key things that God has been showing us through these conversations:
- Racism exists because of sin. We are all born with sin. And so racism is simply a manifestation of that. While only God can ultimately change people’s hearts and minds, the best thing we can do is point our kids and other people to the Lord. He is the only one who can free us from the bondage of our sinful natures.
- We all have biases. No matter what race you are, it’s so important that we as parents check our own biases. We often don’t even realize our own prejudices and the stereotypes that we carry, but we pass them down to our kids. There’s danger in those. Anytime we have a single story about an entire group of people, that’s dangerous.
- Diversity is important. Diversity is so important in every area of life. Teach your children about having a global viewpoint. There are people throughout the world, throughout history, and in current times who are part of the body of Christ. And many of those people look different than them, yet have done courageous and amazing things for God and the church.
- Get to know families who are different. If we’re going to try to understand each other better and understand our brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to know about them. We need to know their histories, so we can love them better in the days going forward. Get to know other families who are different than you, whether it’s your neighbors or people in your church. You will all be better for it.
Have you talked about race with your kids? How have you introduced and worked through those conversations? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
