Hello Riverside families,
As I have been reading, and listening and processing and learning in light of most recent events, I came across some resources I thought might be worth sharing with you.
- The first is an article from the Gospel Coalition with resources on how to talk to your children about racism.
In it are 5 books you can read with your children on the issue of racism. They cover the spectrum of ages. One book, is a workbook for kids ages 10 and up. Our family has decided we are going to work through it this summer. Note: it is currently out of stock everywhere, but the publisher has a pdf version you can download for about $10 (there is a student and parent guide-each $10). The link is in the article.
- Secondly are some thoughts from a Covenant Denomination Zoom panel I listened to recently.
I think one of the things I wrestle with is my desire to avoid talking about things I think my son is not emotionally ready to discuss. I realize now, that this is my privilege. The reality is that many other parents do not have that option. One of the men on the panel shared that his parents first talked to him about race and how he could not do things that other boys could do because he was black and it would be perceived differently when he was only 5. He then said, while he didn’t fully grasp everything at the time, he was thankful because his first experience with racism happened at age 6.
I also learned there is psychological research that shows that children form their beliefs about race and interactions with people of other races by age 7. This is so young. We need to be talking to our kids about the fact that all people were made in God’s image and that He made them different.
- Thirdly, the Covenant Denomination as a whole has been committed to speaking out against racial injustice for a while now, so they have some great resources for all ages. Here is a link to their resource page. Something to highlight, there is a discussion guide for the film Just Mercy (Rated PG-13) streaming for free on several platforms.
There are a plethora of resources out there, which is great but also overwhelming. I also think it is important to see our role as believers in Jesus, the true reconciler. This list is a starting point. I encourage you to share with each other, more resources and experiences you have found helpful.The most important thing is to lean into the hard. In my 12 years as a parent, I have learned that many conversations I dreaded having, turned out to be good and worthwhile. God is faithful to give us the tools and the words we need when we ask Him.