How To Raise An Antiracist

Parenting/adult nonfiction 

     When my parents were raising me they vaccinated me against diseases like smallpox and polio.  They didn't vaccinate me against the lethal pandemic of racism.  I guess then it surrounded us so completely we could see it about as much as fish see water.

     By the time I was raising children more of this disease was visible.  And I did more vaccinating than my parents could see to do.  What those of us parenting then could see and react to was more like the part of the iceberg visible to the Titanic passengers--the part above the water line.

     Recently we've traveled light years in what we know.  Scholars and activists are setting the stage for enlightenment and change.  My advisor, who has made anti racism vaccination a priority in raising her child, has exponentially more resources than my mother or even me.  

     But she's also fighting new battles.  White supremacists and their allies are portraying a quest for racial justice as a reverse racism that will make white children feel shame and inferiority.  They're dictating what can be taught in schools and what books can even be allowed in public and school libraries.  They're trying to bring America back to a time of "greatness".  Maybe the I Like Ike 1950s?

     In other words, we need Ibram X. Kendi's How To Raise An Antiracist more than ever.

     Kendi is out to educate, not humiliate.  If he walked through the library I discovered his book at he wouldn't be sorting the patrons into racists beyond hope and antiracists deserving of wokeness medals.  He would be seeing fallible human beings capable of committing racist actions, capable of committing antiracist actions, and capable of doing both within the same day.  All of us have fallen short; all of us are capable of doing better.

     Kendi skillfully blends two strands of narrative into a truly eye opening volume.  The first strand is his personal experiences as a Black husband, father, child, and brother.  His wife almost gave birth perilously prematurely because a medical professional refused to take her symptoms seriously.  He's spent his adult years unlearning the racist garbage he absorbed as a child and teen.  His brother was put in not double but multiple peril by being not only black but disabled.

     The second strand is his very much research based advice on raising antiracist children and teens.  Under the term caregivers he includes not only parents, but also all who formally or informally play roles in children's and teens' lives.  Even though my kids are independent professionals with no intention whatsoever of making me a grandmother I have a huge impact on children as an engaged volunteer at Orono's community garden and library, a friend of parenting women, and a church member and on teens as a graduate student in UMaine's higher education program.

     Just as the pool of caregivers is bigger than you'd think so is our mandate.  It isn't enough to educate our own children.

     "The ultimate way to protect our children from racism is to protect all children from racism.  The ultimate way to protect all children from racism is to eliminate racism.  And to do that, we have to do more than raise antiracist children, we have to raise an antiracist society."

     This book needs to be in every public library in this nation in multiple copies.  Take it up with whoever does purchasing for yours.  It would make a great baby shower gift.  You know that that cute little onesie will be outgrown in a few months.  Put it on the agenda for your book club, your place of worship, or your parent teacher association.  Spread the word...

     ...because none of our kids are safe until all of our kids are safe.

Jules Hathaway 

     

     

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