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We asked our diverse group of members:
How do you tackle racism in your everyday life?
We hope the answers will inspire you to take action every day to create a fairer world for all!
- Nelson Mandela said if we can learn to hate, we can learn to love. Those lessons come in little moments in life. Use every opportunity to talk about empathy, to learn about how others live, and the rest will follow.
Robbie
Use Resources Wisely
- By showing kindness. Some people assume Filipinas abroad are all helpers, singers, or factory workers. I could get angry (and sometimes I do), but instead I inform them politely of their mistake and try to engage them in enlightened conversation.
Jackie
Bringing up the Parks
- We learn about historical heroes and leaders. I select an individual for the week and read about them to the kids. We try to make personal life connections and talk about the positive attributes and actions of that leader. We have touched on huge topics in our discussions: slavery, poverty, and hunger.
Amanda
The Educators’ Spin On It
- I address racism directly and calmly, mostly with humour. I have often been mixed up for other South Asian people in our community. When the same person does this more than once I say, “All brown people look the same, don’t they?” A little bit of gentle sarcasm and humour go a long way.
Puneeta
Maple and Marigold
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- By showing respect and empathy for all living creatures and ourselves. The biggest reminder for our children is: “Treat others the same way you like to be treated.” We read lots of living books at home to learn from the past and in daily life we, as parents, model kindness, politeness and empathy.
Juliette
The Art of Home Education
- By showing respect and empathy for all living creatures and ourselves. The biggest reminder for our children is: “Treat others the same way you like to be treated.” We read lots of living books at home to learn from the past and in daily life we, as parents, model kindness, politeness and empathy.
- I tackle racism by challenging it. If I hear somebody say something I call them out. I write posts about it for people out in the world to be challenged. Silence about racism is the same as condoning it. My husband, children, and I face it potentially everyday so it is a must.
Nicholette
The Mixed Mama Blog
- I teach my children about different cultures making it as natural as possible. We speak about the people, if they look different, about the languages they speak – and we learn a few new words. I choose books with diverse characters so it creates natural conversation and learning.
Chontelle
Bilingual Kidspot
- Diversity, tolerance and respect for others are our key family values. When my 4-year-old daughter asked me: “Why is Papa white and why are you brown and what does that make me?” I answered her question on race using a box of eggs. “Some eggs are white on the outside and some are brown, but from the inside, they’re all the same.” We talk about race and encourage our kids to ask questions.
Mariam
And Then We Moved To
- I raise my children and my students in appreciation of unity in diversity. I teach them to treat everyone equally. I lead by example.
Varya
Creative World Of Varya
- We talk candidly about racism in our family. We have solid friendships with people of other races and ethnicities. We make sure our biracial child is exposed to other cultures.
Nikita
Growing Up Gupta
- We live in a multicultural environment where diversity is normal. We have solid friendships with people of other cultural backgrounds. We engage with other cultures, try new habits and routines in and curious and open way. When visiting other places, we learn a little of the language, taste the cuisine and adapt to the local routine.
Ute
Expat Since Birth
- I look for children’s books on racism, diversity, and global citizenship and find them in the library. I read and discuss them with my children and answer any questions. Children are not too young to learn about these topics. I want my children to have an educated perspective allowing them to think critically when they hear other kids talking about these things.
Maria
Bicultural Mama
- To combat racism, I call out discrimination, ugly jokes, and microaggressions that I see and hear. I listen to my family, friends, and acquaintances who have privileged voices in the race discussion, and respect their perspectives while learning from them. I surround myself with people from around the world so my family’s life is rich in diversity of cultures, religions, backgrounds, abilities.
Becky
Kid World Citizen
- We tackle racism by learning and including all cultures in our daily lives. We have friends of all backgrounds from whom we learn. We acknowledge other cultures rather than taking a colour-blind approach, and celebrate other cultures using this as an opportunity to learn. We believe that differences in colour, nationality, and culture are beautiful. There is beauty in diversity.
Alexandra
Madh Mama
- I believe in being surrounded by all – we chose an international school so kids interact and study with all nationalities. They are familiar with being physically different yet having the same heart. Travelling with kids makes them love other cultures. When there is talk about differences regarding race, religion etc. it is about inclusiveness.
Charu
KetchupMoms
- We tackle racism by reading books, learning languages, and traveling. We have chosen careers (diplomat/international school teacher) that allow us as a family to advocate for human rights around the world, educate children, and fight for social justice issues with the locals. This requires reading, travel, and learning multiple languages.
Bethany
Biracial Bookworms
- I teach my kids to see people for what they are inside. We read books written by authors from around the world, we travel, we talk. I see that speaking more than one language helps to connect with others. My kids speak three from birth and I see it is such an advantage when we travel!
Galina
Raising a Trilingual Child
- We teach diversity through reading books featuring main characters from multicultural backgrounds. We try to learn a few words in the local language when we travel internationally. Every new place we visit we head to the local playgrounds and interact with the families there – play is a universal language.
Lisa
Knocked Up Abroad
- We tackle racism by bringing up our children in a multicultural environment. Our friends come from different countries, linguistic backgrounds and religions. The children can ask questions and learn from each other. They appreciate their differences but see each other as equals. They understand when people of different backgrounds come together, it makes our society a better place.
Weronika
Multicultural Motherhood
- Creating a sense of community (volunteering, speaking up against racism). Teaching children to not put people in any type of race boxes. Using my own privilege to change any system that oppresses or threatens others (voting, education). Reaching out to friends and family to unite in our common struggles. Taking care of myself to not get too stressed out!
Johana
Mama Tortuga
- My kids are still very little, but I teach them that their differences are beautiful. We choose diverse books that cement this message. I give my children a voice to speak out when they are uncomfortable: “You may not touch my hair, I don’t like that.” If the person doesn’t stop, I will speak up on behalf of my child.
Christina
Raising Biracial Babies
- I seek out diverse voices to listen to and learn from. I read multicultural books. I get media from a variety of sources. I seek education. As a parent, I must do the hard work of confronting my own biases so I can truly teach our children to be anti-racist. The more I unlearn racism, the better I can teach my children.
Mary Grace
The Global Mom Podcast
- As a biracial woman in an interracial marriage with four multiracial children, we live with intention. Every day is an opportunity to learn about one another and combat racism. We explore our city’s diverse ethnic enclaves and immerse ourselves in the culture by taking in the sights, sounds, music, cultural event and foods.
Sonia
The Mixed Up Blog – Mixed Up Clothing
- We speak positively about differences of all sorts: skin colour, size, abilities, languages we speak, etc. We talk about what makes us different and how cool it is to be different. We talk about respect and empathy above all else. We do this through books, travel, using four languages daily and seeking out multicultural experiences in our community.
Annabelle
the piri-piri lexicon
- I realise that I am fortunate in my privilege and take this as a responsibility to speak out among my peers who are less aware. I challenge offensive language in a non-confrontative way, trying to educate rather than to criticize.
Rita
Multilingual Parenting
Graphics by Annabelle from the piri-piri lexicon.
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Rita Rosenback is the founder of the Multilingual Parenting site, author of “Bringing up a Bilingual Child” and a Family Language Coach helping multilingual families. She also gives talks and holds workshops for parents and teachers on the topic of bilingual children.
Latest posts by Rita Rosenback (see all)
- Families in Global Transition Conference: Reflections - March 21, 2018
- 25 Ways to Tackle Racism - September 6, 2017
- 10 Fun Facts About Finland - June 30, 2017
This is the best thing I have read today! So many voices standing up in unison WILL make a global impact! I am so grateful for the MKB community tackling racism head on. It’s an honor to be working alongside so many social justice activists and (s)heroes!
This is an excellent piece! Thank you for compiling these ideas. I love the following quote from Nelson Mandela: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”