Now a New York Times Best Selling Book
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America
Powerful conundrums exist when it comes to raising white children in a society full of racial injustice.
Should we teach white kids to be “colorblind” or to notice race (and if so how)? What roles do we want them to play in addressing racism when they encounter it? How do we do that? Talking about race means naming white privilege and hierarchy. How do we do this honestly, without making children feel bad about being white?
A great deal of public discussion exists about the impact of race and racism on children of color, but meaningful dialogue about and resources for understanding the impact of race on white children are woefully lacking. Raising White Kids steps into that void. It offers accessible pathways that point us toward the collective and urgent work of nurturing anti-racism among white children and youth.
Praise for the Book
“Required reading. This astounding book has a real shot of changing the conversation on race in America. If you’re white and have a kid (or have ever been a kid), please read this book.”
“Buy this book for yourself, for your children’s teachers, for all parents and grandparents of white children who you know. Raising White Kids is both an antidote to the racial ignorance and fear most white families unknowingly pass along to their young and a powerful way to call white adults into the process of racial awakening in the name of creating more just and functional communities for all.”
“With Raising White Kids, Harvey offers a much-needed roadmap for white parents who realize that racial injustice isn’t just a problem for kids of color. This insightful and practical book is a must-read for white parents who want to raise surefooted, self-aware kids in an increasingly diverse America. There are few things more important to the future of our democracy.”
“Finally! Jennifer Harvey provides a long-awaited and much-needed answer to a question often posed by white anti-racist allies: How do we raise our children to be allies in the struggle against racism? Raising White Kids provides practical advice and examples for parents that are well-grounded in the scholarship on racial identity and racial socialization. It would be a mistake, however, to think that this book is only for parents of white children. It is a critical resource for educators whose efforts to teach about racial oppression are routinely hampered by the wide knowledge gap between white students and students of color.”