Kids aren’t born racist, so how do these biases get absorbed? What can you do to intentionally bring up anti-racist kids? Is it ever too early to start talking about race, and what are some ways to do so with your babies, toddlers, kindergarteners, and older children? Dr. Qadira Ali Huff has answers. Go listen.
What we talked about:
- What doe anti-racism mean?
- Celebrating our differences
- How are racist beliefs internalized
- Is it ever too early to start?
- Example of how to talk to toddlers and babies about race
- What about for older children?
- Teaching opportunities through art, books, food
- Do your work first
- Diversifying your social groups
- Holidays: who is being celebrated?
- School advocacy
- Speaking out against discrimination and prejudice
- What are you modeling for your children?
- There is no middle ground
- What if you already have children?
- Be critical of the businesses are you supporting in your baby registries and beyond
- Take-aways
Helpful resources & links*:
- Implicit Association Test (Project Implicit from Harvard University)
- Social Justice Resources, The Children’s Community School (including the graphic on “They’re Not Too Young to Talk about Race,” that I mention on the show)
- Anti-racism resources for white people (compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein)
- Talking About Race, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Embrace Race website
- Learning for Justice website
- Raising Race Conscious Children website
- Teaching for Change website
- Anti Oppression Resource and Training Alliance (AORTA) website
Books:
- For parents
- Me & White Supremacy, by Layla Saad
- How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram Kendi
- So You Want to Talk About Race? By Ijeoma Oluo
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander
- Between The World And Me, by Ta-nehisi Coates
- For small kids
- Hair Like Mine, by Latashia M. Perry
- Antiracist Baby, by Ibram Kendi
- A is for Activist, by Innosanto Nagara
- Books for school-age children
- A Kids Book About Racism, by Jelani Memory
- Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice, by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
- The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander
- Books for older kids
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Instagram accounts:
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About Dr. Qadira Ali Huff
Dr. Qadira Ali Huff, MD, MPH, FAAP, DipABLM is a double-board certified physician in pediatrics and lifestyle medicine. She practices primary care pediatrics in Washington, DC, with a slant towards preventive medicine. Dr. Qadira completed her medical training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and pediatrics residency at Children’s National Hospital. While at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she completed a Master of Public Health in policy with a research focus on food systems and health disparities.
In her practice, Dr. Qadira integrates lifestyle medicine into every visit through discussion on how lifestyle habits affect virtually every health concern. She loves coaching families on how to build healthy foundations through physical activity, nutrition, and stress management, among other strategies. In addition to her primary care role, Dr. Qadira founded a business – Sprouting Wellness – to coach families along the journey towards adopting healthier lifestyles.
Dr. Qadira is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). She is the founder of Hyattsville, Maryland Chapter of Walk With A Doc, a community-based walking program to encourage physical activity and health literacy. She serves on the board of Maryland MENTOR and Center DC. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters. Dr. Qadira loves to travel, riding her Peloton, and cooking new plant-based recipes.
Make sure you follow her on Instagram at @qadirahuffmd


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