The Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted the importance of proactively raising children who understand racism, discrimination, and what it means to be anti-racist. Families of all backgrounds have the opportunity to raise the next generation of changemakers.
Human rights lawyer, writer, and organizer Derecka Purnell sat down with Ibram X. Kendi, bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist, to discuss practical steps for families to raise actively anti-racist children.
You can watch the full webinar for free online.
More from Ibram X. Kendi
In addition to being a bestselling author, Kendi is the Director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University, an Ideas Columnist at The Atlantic, and a correspondent with CBS News.
If you’d like to read or watch more from Ibram X. Kendi, check out:
- How to Be an Antiracist
- Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
- STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You
- Antiracist Baby (Picture Book)
- TED Talk on being antiracist
- Podcast with Kendi and Brené Brown
Equity and SEL
Conscious Discipline believes that trauma-responsive social and emotional learning (SEL) is a lens through which transformational change in the areas of racial equality, equity and inclusion is not only possible, but essential.
SEL can be a powerful lever for advancing equity. Empathy, inclusion and unity are built into the foundation of Conscious Discipline. Conscious Discipline helps adults build healthy, connected communities that support every individual in fulfilling their maximum potential. Both adults and children who practice SEL skills learn to manage their feelings, improve their communication and problem-solving skills, and examine other perspectives.
In schools, SEL implementation fosters an equitable environment where students from all backgrounds feel welcome, accepted and valued. Conscious Discipline empowers adults to help every child feel safe and connected enough to learn and thrive. SEL helps to close opportunity gaps and level the playing field.
SEL advances equity and inclusion, but Conscious Discipline recognizes that SEL alone isn’t enough to resolve longstanding inequities. We must directly promote equity, listen and learn from one another, and have conversations that feel challenging or uncomfortable. Read more about Conscious Discipline’s organizational next steps here.
We hope that this resource—and the others we will continue to share—will support parents and teachers in leading essential conversations about anti-racism.
Conscious Discipline
Embraced in 73 countries and 22 languages, Conscious Discipline’s evidence-based and researched-backed social and emotional learning foundation of safety, connection and problem-solving is leading a revolution of the heart as concepts initially applied in the classroom extend to every facet of our lives.
