Bringing Up Race

Starred review from April 5, 2021
Babes About Town blogger Asika debuts with a powerful take on an attentive, thoughtful, and anti-racist parenting philosophy that supports children’s empathy and addresses painful realities head-on. She encourages parents to have conversations with kids about racism, as keeping silent is itself a strong message. Asika offers advice for facilitating multicultural appreciation from an early age (be intentional about who kids play with), talking about microaggressions, openly discussing incidents of intolerance that appear in the media, and empowering kids to call out injustice, even from adults. Along the way, Asika shares moving anecdotes of raising two boys of mixed heritage in London. Q&As round out several chapters and offer a wide array of parental perspectives and talking points. Asika’s openness and wide range of sources (she cites psychologists, journalists, and friends) provide the groundwork to build conscious communication skills, and she makes a strong case that honest dialogue and a sense of affirmation are key to raising children who are prepared to create a better future. This is a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone looking to raise kinder children. Agent: Rachel Mills, Rachel Mills Literary.