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Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A must-have guide to raising inclusive, antiracist children from educator and advocate, Britt Hawthorne.
Raising antiracist children is a noble goal for any parent, caregiver, or educator, but it can be hard to know where to start. Let Britt Hawthorne—a nationally recognized teacher and advocate—be your guide. Raising Antiracist Children acts as an interactive guide for strategically incorporating the tools of inclusivity into everyday life and parenting. Hawthorne breaks down antiracist parenting into four comprehensive sections:
-Healthy bodies—Establishing a safe and body-positive home environment to combat stereotypes and create boundaries.
-Radical minds—Encouraging children to be agents of change, accompanied by scripts for teaching advocacy, giving and taking productive feedback, and becoming a coconspirator for change.
-Conscious shopping—Raising awareness of how local shopping can empower or hinder a community’s ability to thrive, and teaching readers of all ages how to create shopping habits that support their values.
-Thriving communities—Acknowledging the personal power we have to shape our schools, towns, and worlds, accompanied by exercises for instigating change.
Full of questionnaires, stories, activities, tips, and tools, Raising Antiracist Children is a must-have, practical guide essential for parents and caregivers everywhere.
A must-have guide to raising inclusive, antiracist children from educator and advocate, Britt Hawthorne.
Raising antiracist children is a noble goal for any parent, caregiver, or educator, but it can be hard to know where to start. Let Britt Hawthorne—a nationally recognized teacher and advocate—be your guide. Raising Antiracist Children acts as an interactive guide for strategically incorporating the tools of inclusivity into everyday life and parenting. Hawthorne breaks down antiracist parenting into four comprehensive sections:
-Healthy bodies—Establishing a safe and body-positive home environment to combat stereotypes and create boundaries.
-Radical minds—Encouraging children to be agents of change, accompanied by scripts for teaching advocacy, giving and taking productive feedback, and becoming a coconspirator for change.
-Conscious shopping—Raising awareness of how local shopping can empower or hinder a community’s ability to thrive, and teaching readers of all ages how to create shopping habits that support their values.
-Thriving communities—Acknowledging the personal power we have to shape our schools, towns, and worlds, accompanied by exercises for instigating change.
Full of questionnaires, stories, activities, tips, and tools, Raising Antiracist Children is a must-have, practical guide essential for parents and caregivers everywhere.
320 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2022
216 people are currently reading
3857 people want to read
About the author
Britt Hawthorne
3 books41 followersBritt Hawthorne (she/her) is a Black bi-racial momma, teacher, author, and anti-bias/antiracist facilitator. Britt partners with caregivers, educators, and families to raise the next generation of antiracist children. Her forthcoming book, Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide, is for families ready to take action to bring change at home.
Together with her beloved partner, they raise their children to become empathic, critical thinkers, embracing justice and activism. Her days are filled with coffee, teaching, and joy. To learn more, visit britthawthorne.com
Together with her beloved partner, they raise their children to become empathic, critical thinkers, embracing justice and activism. Her days are filled with coffee, teaching, and joy. To learn more, visit britthawthorne.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
June 8, 2022
As a white, cisgendered woman raising a bi-racial son, it’s incredibly important for me to be able to start having these discussions around race and ethnicity to help raise my son to not only not be racist, but to actively be antiracist.
Britt Hawthorne has written the definitive guide on how to help navigate and teach our children to be antiracist, while also helping to form them into healthy individuals in all aspects of their life. It helps teach the reader how to be an antiracist co-conspirator and the importance of moving beyond just being an ally.
The book is broken into 4 major parts:
✵ Healthy Bodies -> Discusses body positivity, fat phobia, food culture and food inaccessibility to certain communities and how to begin having discussions (per age) around skin tone.
✵ Radical Minds -> Talks about the language around racism, prejudice and how to begin educating your child on the terminology, white domination culture within our homes and how disrupt it and the idea around self care, care for our communities and the environment
✵ Conscious Consumption -> Sustainability, why shopping small matters, and the importance of identifying and prioritizing BIPOC owned businesses are all expanded on in this section.
✵ Thriving -> This section is where everything discussed is put into practice. It focuses on the community, gender inclusion, compassion and empathy, relationship building, food equality and policing.
This book is very accessible and easy to read and work through. Each part contains examples of the specific topic, ways to discuss it based on your child’s age (which is extremely helpful), followed by activities to do with your child to help them further understand these concepts. It even includes workbook style pages throughout for you to complete as you slowly work your way through the book.
No matter what your race, skin tone, ethnicity, etc., if you are a parent raising your child in this world, or even a teacher interacting with kids daily, I highly recommend giving this book a read.
A big thank you to Britt Hawthorne, Sabrina Dax and Simon Element for providing me (and a few mommy friends) with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Britt Hawthorne has written the definitive guide on how to help navigate and teach our children to be antiracist, while also helping to form them into healthy individuals in all aspects of their life. It helps teach the reader how to be an antiracist co-conspirator and the importance of moving beyond just being an ally.
The book is broken into 4 major parts:
✵ Healthy Bodies -> Discusses body positivity, fat phobia, food culture and food inaccessibility to certain communities and how to begin having discussions (per age) around skin tone.
✵ Radical Minds -> Talks about the language around racism, prejudice and how to begin educating your child on the terminology, white domination culture within our homes and how disrupt it and the idea around self care, care for our communities and the environment
✵ Conscious Consumption -> Sustainability, why shopping small matters, and the importance of identifying and prioritizing BIPOC owned businesses are all expanded on in this section.
✵ Thriving -> This section is where everything discussed is put into practice. It focuses on the community, gender inclusion, compassion and empathy, relationship building, food equality and policing.
This book is very accessible and easy to read and work through. Each part contains examples of the specific topic, ways to discuss it based on your child’s age (which is extremely helpful), followed by activities to do with your child to help them further understand these concepts. It even includes workbook style pages throughout for you to complete as you slowly work your way through the book.
No matter what your race, skin tone, ethnicity, etc., if you are a parent raising your child in this world, or even a teacher interacting with kids daily, I highly recommend giving this book a read.
A big thank you to Britt Hawthorne, Sabrina Dax and Simon Element for providing me (and a few mommy friends) with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2022
Thank you, Simon and Schuster for the advance reader’s edition which I received on May 27th. I am a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist practicing in Cleveland, Ohio, and like the first author, Britt Hawthorne, am Montessori trained. This is an excellent book for parents, both for parents of the Global Majority and for white parents, to help all of us raise the next generation to be ready to meet head on the ever-increasing obstacles to dismantling systemic white racism. An excellent and timely release, since across the country school boards are being taken over by vicious white supremacists who are determined to ban the truth about the history of the US, determined to push out LGBTQIA+ students and staff, determined to continue to fail disabled students, determined to deny harms happening to our planet, determined to deny the same opportunities to children of the Global Majority as are automatically assured at birth to white children, and now seemingly determined to ensure that all of our schools continue to be always vulnerable to the next angry man with an AR-15. It seems at times that our country is hopeless and doomed, with the least competent and most hate-filled people in charge of our schools, and that there is no way forward. Here is exactly where Britt Hawthorne’s work (along with coauthor Natasha Yglesias) can help the rest of us, people who know what is happening is so wrong but need help first in carefully doing continuous work on ourselves (referring to myself and other white parents) to look at our lives, including our family, our friends, our workplace, our neighborhoods, our social institutions, and our earlier selves to really be aware and constantly trying to better our conscious and unconscious biases and racism. Then the authors give us a blueprint to help our children learn to do this same work in a developmentally sound framework, with suggested topics of conversations (with sample questions), suggested activities to raise awareness, suggested family activities to increase community cohesiveness and connectivity, and ways to help children and teenagers learn to become anti racist and anti bias activists themselves when they are out in their community and later in society. As a CAP who is also Montessori trained, I love that every sentence and every suggestion in this book happens in the context of relationships, of promoting connection and hopefulness by showing us a way out. I will be keeping copies of this book in my clinical office for families who need it. I will also be purchasing copies of this book for all future baby showers. This work is a marvel. Thank you Britt Hawthorne and Natasha Yglesias for your tenacity, creativity, and love for the rest of us, made manifest by your hard work on this first edition.
February 7, 2023
To raise anti-racist children, you need to have an understanding of racist practices engrained into daily life. Even though this book was full of practical parenting advice, I found it to be one of the best guides to rethinking my role in disseminating racism. I think this book provides real tangible actions. Highly recommend even if you are not raising a child. I hope to be a better parent because of reading this book. It took me a long time to finish because it had heavy topics and it did make me sad but also very hopeful that change is possible. Solutions can be found.
July 31, 2024
This book is an accessible guide to raising your children to be antiracist- to actively acknowledge the racism and prejudice that they will see and combat it. I thought this was a great guide that starts at the basics and works its way through several different topics, like dress codes, food equality, and policing. I loved that it had questions to ask yourself and your kids as well as activities. It offered a wide variety of activities/questions and what age groups you could do them with.
June 10, 2022
What kind of parent do I want to be?
What do I do when my child is racist?
These are the type of questions in the book that really made me dive in and work.
I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THIS BOOK.
This amazing parenting guide structures anti-biased and antiracist (ABAR) parenting into 5 sections: defining understanding, healthy bodies, radical minds, conscious shopping, and thriving communities.
Each section starts with an overview for adults and contains practical age-appropriate activities for children. I really appreciated that there were some activities specifically for children of colour, some for white children, and some for both.
Britt Hawthorne is a nationally recognized anti-bias and antiracist facilitator, but she doesn’t hesitate to bring in input from others, which I also really appreciated! Many book titles and resources sprinkled throughout.
I’ve talked about my Antiracist group before, which I’ve been a member of for 2 years. This book made me examine my own biases in a completely new way. For example, I will now be using the term “white domination” instead of white supremacy, as Hawthorne reminds us that the word supremacy continues the idea that white people can be supreme. Domination, on the other hand, describes how it is used to dominate land, cultures, languages, and people.
“Diversifying your book collection is not the same as entering justice in your home. Action and dedication are required.” GUILTY. I will be examining how I can change this in my daily life.
“Focus more on the verb ‘being’ than the noun ‘ally.’” Allies think and discuss and sometimes forget to move past this stage. This is a problem that my Antiracist group struggled with in the beginning, now we have regular projects and activities, in addition to discussions.
Raising Antiracist children was released on Tuesday (June 7) so get your copy now!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
These are the type of questions in the book that really made me dive in and work.
I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THIS BOOK.
This amazing parenting guide structures anti-biased and antiracist (ABAR) parenting into 5 sections: defining understanding, healthy bodies, radical minds, conscious shopping, and thriving communities.
Each section starts with an overview for adults and contains practical age-appropriate activities for children. I really appreciated that there were some activities specifically for children of colour, some for white children, and some for both.
Britt Hawthorne is a nationally recognized anti-bias and antiracist facilitator, but she doesn’t hesitate to bring in input from others, which I also really appreciated! Many book titles and resources sprinkled throughout.
I’ve talked about my Antiracist group before, which I’ve been a member of for 2 years. This book made me examine my own biases in a completely new way. For example, I will now be using the term “white domination” instead of white supremacy, as Hawthorne reminds us that the word supremacy continues the idea that white people can be supreme. Domination, on the other hand, describes how it is used to dominate land, cultures, languages, and people.
“Diversifying your book collection is not the same as entering justice in your home. Action and dedication are required.” GUILTY. I will be examining how I can change this in my daily life.
“Focus more on the verb ‘being’ than the noun ‘ally.’” Allies think and discuss and sometimes forget to move past this stage. This is a problem that my Antiracist group struggled with in the beginning, now we have regular projects and activities, in addition to discussions.
Raising Antiracist children was released on Tuesday (June 7) so get your copy now!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 24, 2025
Overall I found this book super practical and helpful. Only giving 3 stars because there are some ideology/worldview things I disagree with the author on (unrelated to race) and the layout of the book was a little confusing to follow, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for everyone...
But I know I’ll come back to this book often as I engage our kids in conversations about race and justice. I especially like the sections about what it means to advocate for all people to thrive in my local community (which is a VERY active thing)!
Some favorite quotations:
“Pat of being antiacist is shifting your mindset from an individualist one to a collaborative, communal one. You can't be focused on repairing the harm others experience or crafting a more equitable world if youre only focused on your own success, struggles, and growth.”
“We don’t need perfect antiracist parents; we need parents willing to practice antiracism with curiosity and commitment.”
But I know I’ll come back to this book often as I engage our kids in conversations about race and justice. I especially like the sections about what it means to advocate for all people to thrive in my local community (which is a VERY active thing)!
Some favorite quotations:
“Pat of being antiacist is shifting your mindset from an individualist one to a collaborative, communal one. You can't be focused on repairing the harm others experience or crafting a more equitable world if youre only focused on your own success, struggles, and growth.”
“We don’t need perfect antiracist parents; we need parents willing to practice antiracism with curiosity and commitment.”
November 14, 2022
Practical must-read with tools and interactive activities to raise antiracist children. While I read this from the lens of a future parent, I think the book would be relevant for anyone who interacts with children.
May 31, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing! I started out with a highlighter and then realized I was highlighting almost every word! I think my favorite aspect of this book is the format. In each part Britt begins building your foundation of knowledge by sharing key terms and definitions and then moves into giving practical strategies and examples of what anti-racism can look like in your everyday life. The activities and reflection questions woven throughout really helped me internalize what I was learning and consider how I’ll share these values with my family and my community. Britt does a fantastic job of creating space for grace while also reminding us that accountability is a gift.
As a Black biracial parent I felt like Britt was careful to center BIPOC experiences and for that I am truly grateful. I also really loved how she included contributions from other anti-racist educators and facilitators, it really drove home the community aspect of anti-racism. I finished this book feeling energized and empowered to continue doing the work both inside and outside of my home.
Thank you so much Britt for sharing your knowledge, talent, and gifts with us. I will be sending a copy of this practical parenting guide to so many people I love!
Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for gifting me an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review.
As a Black biracial parent I felt like Britt was careful to center BIPOC experiences and for that I am truly grateful. I also really loved how she included contributions from other anti-racist educators and facilitators, it really drove home the community aspect of anti-racism. I finished this book feeling energized and empowered to continue doing the work both inside and outside of my home.
Thank you so much Britt for sharing your knowledge, talent, and gifts with us. I will be sending a copy of this practical parenting guide to so many people I love!
Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for gifting me an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review.
June 16, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5. This was an easy five stars. Let’s all continue to prioritize this work!
It was a privilege to receive a complimentary advance review copy. Many thanks to @simonandschuster, @_simonelement, and @sabrina_dax_pr. All thoughts are my own.
I think the primary goal of all caregivers is to raise decent human beings. This book will help you do that, while also allowing you to reflect on your own behaviors. This book:
Is very accessible! Hawthorne and Yglesias do a great job of explaining concepts in a straightforward and clear manner. I especially loved how they prepared the reader before a potentially controversial section by asking them to take a deep breath and rise to the challenge of expanding their way of thinking about an issue. They make it easy for you. It would be a great book to take to the beach this summer, honestly! (And I did!)
Provides manageable, actionable prompts for both the caregiver and the child. It’s broken down into four sections: Healthy bodies – establishing a body-positive home environment; Radical minds – encouraging children to be brave agents of change; Conscious consumption – raising awareness of how local shopping can empower or hinder a community’s ability to thrive; and Thriving communities (my favorite section) – acknowledging the personal power we have to shape our schools, towns, and worlds, accompanied by exercise for instigating change.
Is community-focused and intersectional. It encourages us to shift our mindset from an individual one to a collective one, and to hold our community members accountable when they cause harm. I loved the prompts to ask your kids who is missing from the conversation, who is being centered, and who is being othered or silenced.
Reminds us all to speak up and be a part of the change. As the authors relate, if all we show our children is silence, that’s all they’re going to know. We must do more. We must interrupt. We must teach our kids to say something in the moment and stand up to injustice.
Such an excellent resource! Highly recommend.
It was a privilege to receive a complimentary advance review copy. Many thanks to @simonandschuster, @_simonelement, and @sabrina_dax_pr. All thoughts are my own.
I think the primary goal of all caregivers is to raise decent human beings. This book will help you do that, while also allowing you to reflect on your own behaviors. This book:
Is very accessible! Hawthorne and Yglesias do a great job of explaining concepts in a straightforward and clear manner. I especially loved how they prepared the reader before a potentially controversial section by asking them to take a deep breath and rise to the challenge of expanding their way of thinking about an issue. They make it easy for you. It would be a great book to take to the beach this summer, honestly! (And I did!)
Provides manageable, actionable prompts for both the caregiver and the child. It’s broken down into four sections: Healthy bodies – establishing a body-positive home environment; Radical minds – encouraging children to be brave agents of change; Conscious consumption – raising awareness of how local shopping can empower or hinder a community’s ability to thrive; and Thriving communities (my favorite section) – acknowledging the personal power we have to shape our schools, towns, and worlds, accompanied by exercise for instigating change.
Is community-focused and intersectional. It encourages us to shift our mindset from an individual one to a collective one, and to hold our community members accountable when they cause harm. I loved the prompts to ask your kids who is missing from the conversation, who is being centered, and who is being othered or silenced.
Reminds us all to speak up and be a part of the change. As the authors relate, if all we show our children is silence, that’s all they’re going to know. We must do more. We must interrupt. We must teach our kids to say something in the moment and stand up to injustice.
Such an excellent resource! Highly recommend.
September 20, 2022
Disclaimer: I was given an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
I had never heard of, or read, the work of Britt Hawthorne before requesting to review this book. I saw the title and as an educator and a parent I wanted the opportunity to engage with this topic and learn. I my opinion, this book is worthy of a Doctorate Degree in Education. It could easily be approved before a committee of professional peers as an exemplary body of knowledge in higher education.
The book is separated into five parts: deepening our understandings, healthy bodies, radical minds, conscious consumption, and thriving communities. It lists all contributors with bio's, cites sources, offers additional reading recommendations for each section, bibliography, and index for easy reference.
But my favorite part is definitely the different activities given to engage in this topic with children. As an educator I appreciate the practical examples of incorporating lessons with children with questions and reflective prompts. It has many playful ways to engage with children as they learn more about this topic. And many informative things as an adult as I learn how to raise antiracist children.
I had never heard of, or read, the work of Britt Hawthorne before requesting to review this book. I saw the title and as an educator and a parent I wanted the opportunity to engage with this topic and learn. I my opinion, this book is worthy of a Doctorate Degree in Education. It could easily be approved before a committee of professional peers as an exemplary body of knowledge in higher education.
The book is separated into five parts: deepening our understandings, healthy bodies, radical minds, conscious consumption, and thriving communities. It lists all contributors with bio's, cites sources, offers additional reading recommendations for each section, bibliography, and index for easy reference.
But my favorite part is definitely the different activities given to engage in this topic with children. As an educator I appreciate the practical examples of incorporating lessons with children with questions and reflective prompts. It has many playful ways to engage with children as they learn more about this topic. And many informative things as an adult as I learn how to raise antiracist children.
June 21, 2022
Disclaimer: I was given an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review but I have also purchased my own copy, the audiobook, and several other copies to give away (yes, it's THAT good).
If you are a parent, caregiver, grandparent, teacher, or living human being, you need to read this book and buy it for the people in your life. It's the book I wish I had when my children were young. Britt has a beautiful way of communicating and giving language to many things that I have only been able to feel but not express.
The book is broken down into five parts: deepening our understandings, healthy bodies, radical minds, conscious consumption, and thriving communities. It lists all contributors with bio's, cites sources, offers additional reading recommendations for each section, bibliography, and index for easy reference.
My favorite part is probably the different activities, playful imagination examples, practical examples of incorporating lessons with children with questions and reflective prompts (on a walk, pointing out a crack in the sidewalk and asking your child why it is a problem and who it affects, then going home and calling 311 with your child to report the problem so it can be fixed) gentle ways to correct kids, ways to set boundaries with family, teachers, etc. and so much more.
If I had one complaint? It would be that Britt is not the voice on the audiobook. Yes, I'm biased. From being a part of her online community, I know that she has such a gentle (yet strong) and kind spirit and exudes such gratitude. The reader was great...Britt just would have been better.
If you are a parent, caregiver, grandparent, teacher, or living human being, you need to read this book and buy it for the people in your life. It's the book I wish I had when my children were young. Britt has a beautiful way of communicating and giving language to many things that I have only been able to feel but not express.
The book is broken down into five parts: deepening our understandings, healthy bodies, radical minds, conscious consumption, and thriving communities. It lists all contributors with bio's, cites sources, offers additional reading recommendations for each section, bibliography, and index for easy reference.
My favorite part is probably the different activities, playful imagination examples, practical examples of incorporating lessons with children with questions and reflective prompts (on a walk, pointing out a crack in the sidewalk and asking your child why it is a problem and who it affects, then going home and calling 311 with your child to report the problem so it can be fixed) gentle ways to correct kids, ways to set boundaries with family, teachers, etc. and so much more.
If I had one complaint? It would be that Britt is not the voice on the audiobook. Yes, I'm biased. From being a part of her online community, I know that she has such a gentle (yet strong) and kind spirit and exudes such gratitude. The reader was great...Britt just would have been better.
June 12, 2022
This book read like a love-letter to parents who are trying to raise feeling and compassionate children in a world where feeling and compassion are often deeply lacking. It can feel like an uphill battle (or a vertical wall), and for parents who may not know where to begin, Britt Hawthorne and Natasha Yglesias have created a manual that doesn't shame but rather supports.
This book is packed with actions that can start today, right now, this moment that will move the work forward, guidance for having conversations with children about the world around them and how they can influence it. The messaging that everyone can impact the world for the better and everyone has a starting place is threaded throughout this engaging and interactive guidebook. I felt truly supported as I was reading it, and while the book forced me to more deeply examine some of my current practices, I felt truly able to make important and necessary change through Britt's engaging and encouraging writing.
I am recommending this book to anyone who has children in their lives--parents or not. We are all responsible for the next generation and the choices that we make to ensure that they are able to grow up in a world where anti-racist practices and behaviors are the norm. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is packed with actions that can start today, right now, this moment that will move the work forward, guidance for having conversations with children about the world around them and how they can influence it. The messaging that everyone can impact the world for the better and everyone has a starting place is threaded throughout this engaging and interactive guidebook. I felt truly supported as I was reading it, and while the book forced me to more deeply examine some of my current practices, I felt truly able to make important and necessary change through Britt's engaging and encouraging writing.
I am recommending this book to anyone who has children in their lives--parents or not. We are all responsible for the next generation and the choices that we make to ensure that they are able to grow up in a world where anti-racist practices and behaviors are the norm. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2022
I have been following Britt’s work for a few years now and I am so grateful that she has put this book into existence! Raising Antiracist Children pulls from Britt’s experience as an educator and parent and also centers the voices of folks of many different identities. Britt’s examples of specific situations and conversations she has had with her own children were helpful. I also appreciated the numerous reflections and activities sprinkled throughout the book. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and as a Montessori teacher and teacher trainer, I would certainly recommend it to parents/caregivers of students and fellow educators.
June 10, 2022
*I was given an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review but I have also purchased my own copy, audio recording, and several other copies to give away*
Raising Antiracist Children is the book I have been looking for!
I will read it over and over as my children grow and I plan on recommending it to everyone I know who spends time around children. It is full of helpful definitions, specific practices, and ways to reframe difficult conversations about all forms of bias.
Britt’s writing style is very welcoming. It is clear and precise without tipping over into patronizing. Each section has specific examples from her family that are easy to adopt right away but she also includes the framework she used to collaborate with her partner and children to create the actions and environment that works best for their family so you can do the same.
I absolutely love Britt’s precise use of language. Accurately naming things is so powerful and using clear and intentional language while discussing complex and often misunderstood topics is particularly important. Not only does Britt choose words carefully but she clearly and calmly explains the reasons for her choices (especially if she is introducing labels that are less mainstream). It is so helpful for me to have those calm clear definitions. Reading the Britt’s careful use of language and her respectful explanations is a great model for the way I talk to my children. Words are so powerful.
Raising Antiracist Children has all the things I want when looking for a parenting book. Britt Hawthorne and all of her collaborators are incredibly respectful of each child’s agency, intelligence, curiously, and desire to learn and understand the world. Each section gives developmentally appropriate ways for them to learn and grow together with their adults. Britt welcomes you behind the scenes so you can build off her work to develop the practices that work best for your family. Sources are cited and there are lots of options for further reading. It’s easy to read and broken up into short sections, that make it easy to read even with a burst schedule. And last but not least Britt continually focuses on creating a practice of continual growth rather than perfection.
Raising Antiracist Children is the book I have been looking for!
I will read it over and over as my children grow and I plan on recommending it to everyone I know who spends time around children. It is full of helpful definitions, specific practices, and ways to reframe difficult conversations about all forms of bias.
Britt’s writing style is very welcoming. It is clear and precise without tipping over into patronizing. Each section has specific examples from her family that are easy to adopt right away but she also includes the framework she used to collaborate with her partner and children to create the actions and environment that works best for their family so you can do the same.
I absolutely love Britt’s precise use of language. Accurately naming things is so powerful and using clear and intentional language while discussing complex and often misunderstood topics is particularly important. Not only does Britt choose words carefully but she clearly and calmly explains the reasons for her choices (especially if she is introducing labels that are less mainstream). It is so helpful for me to have those calm clear definitions. Reading the Britt’s careful use of language and her respectful explanations is a great model for the way I talk to my children. Words are so powerful.
Raising Antiracist Children has all the things I want when looking for a parenting book. Britt Hawthorne and all of her collaborators are incredibly respectful of each child’s agency, intelligence, curiously, and desire to learn and understand the world. Each section gives developmentally appropriate ways for them to learn and grow together with their adults. Britt welcomes you behind the scenes so you can build off her work to develop the practices that work best for your family. Sources are cited and there are lots of options for further reading. It’s easy to read and broken up into short sections, that make it easy to read even with a burst schedule. And last but not least Britt continually focuses on creating a practice of continual growth rather than perfection.
January 21, 2022
First off- thank you to Simon & schuster for allowing me to receive an advanced readers copy, also to NetGalley for working with the publisher.
All reviews are my own, and unpaid/not sponsored.
Okay- I’ve read a lot of anti racist books, a lot of perceptive books by POC, WOC, and those who are POC in the LGBTQIA+ community in the last couple years. Each holds a little fragment of my ever evolving mind- but this is a first for me, a parenting one. I personally have two children - and although I consider myself open minded, I wouldn’t consider myself racist or biased - but I do admit I live in a (predominately) cis white straight community within the military, and my children aren’t exposed to a *ton* of different cultures, ethnicities, lifestyles except within whatever is driving distance. It’s one thing to be open minded- but reading this book gave me ideas on how to also be inclusive, make room for others, and give grace to self reflection that I’m able to share and reach towards my kids with. This book is almost formatted like a mini workbook- with reflection questions - little snippets of pause basically. I enjoyed that, and I think it’s a great book that in 2022- we kind of need more than ever. Heavy emphasis on the “colorblind” isn’t the way to approach racism, which I appreciated the most. Learning much more than just “racism bad”- also learning about our bodies, how we perceive other ethnicities anatomy, within colorism. Our internalized, interpersonal, institutional and systemic views and what needs to be adjusted - super helpful. Not only this but examples and samples of approaches- which, for someone who grew up in a family that didn’t speak to each other much- is super helpful as I navigate my own kind of changes I want to make for my children. I’m excited for the publish date so I can purchase a physical copy to refer back to over and over again.
All reviews are my own, and unpaid/not sponsored.
Okay- I’ve read a lot of anti racist books, a lot of perceptive books by POC, WOC, and those who are POC in the LGBTQIA+ community in the last couple years. Each holds a little fragment of my ever evolving mind- but this is a first for me, a parenting one. I personally have two children - and although I consider myself open minded, I wouldn’t consider myself racist or biased - but I do admit I live in a (predominately) cis white straight community within the military, and my children aren’t exposed to a *ton* of different cultures, ethnicities, lifestyles except within whatever is driving distance. It’s one thing to be open minded- but reading this book gave me ideas on how to also be inclusive, make room for others, and give grace to self reflection that I’m able to share and reach towards my kids with. This book is almost formatted like a mini workbook- with reflection questions - little snippets of pause basically. I enjoyed that, and I think it’s a great book that in 2022- we kind of need more than ever. Heavy emphasis on the “colorblind” isn’t the way to approach racism, which I appreciated the most. Learning much more than just “racism bad”- also learning about our bodies, how we perceive other ethnicities anatomy, within colorism. Our internalized, interpersonal, institutional and systemic views and what needs to be adjusted - super helpful. Not only this but examples and samples of approaches- which, for someone who grew up in a family that didn’t speak to each other much- is super helpful as I navigate my own kind of changes I want to make for my children. I’m excited for the publish date so I can purchase a physical copy to refer back to over and over again.
June 7, 2022
"Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide" offers the thoughtful, actionable and inspiring guidance I crave. It's perfect for parents of children of all ages, as well as caregivers and educators. Author Britt Hawthorne breaks down a number of complex topics inclusive of and spanning beyond race, from establishing a body-positive home environment, to raising conscious and ethical consumers, to discussing police violence with children.
Hawthorne's book is filled with interactive activities for children and adults alike, from questions you can ask yourself to spot misinformation in articles, to a recipe for making Play-Doh in your child's skin tone, to a helpful acronym you can use to correct a child's misconception about a person or group.
Hawthorne's background as a teacher and an anti-bias and antiracist facilitator is evident in her book. Reading it feels like sitting in the classroom of a favorite teacher, one who makes learning fun, and treats each student with respect, compassion and a wholehearted belief in their students' ability to succeed.
Thank you to the Simon Element team for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this incredible book!
Hawthorne's book is filled with interactive activities for children and adults alike, from questions you can ask yourself to spot misinformation in articles, to a recipe for making Play-Doh in your child's skin tone, to a helpful acronym you can use to correct a child's misconception about a person or group.
Hawthorne's background as a teacher and an anti-bias and antiracist facilitator is evident in her book. Reading it feels like sitting in the classroom of a favorite teacher, one who makes learning fun, and treats each student with respect, compassion and a wholehearted belief in their students' ability to succeed.
Thank you to the Simon Element team for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this incredible book!
March 1, 2022
It is not good enough to not be racist. You need to be anti-racist.
If you have children, or if you don't, you should read this book.
No matter the age of your children, this book explains how to talk to them about race. There are multiple activities and questions for each age group that will further their understanding of each section.
This is an excellent book that I used with my children and I highly suggest that everyone reads this book and shares it with the children they care for.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.
If you have children, or if you don't, you should read this book.
No matter the age of your children, this book explains how to talk to them about race. There are multiple activities and questions for each age group that will further their understanding of each section.
This is an excellent book that I used with my children and I highly suggest that everyone reads this book and shares it with the children they care for.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 15, 2022
This is a fantastic parenting resource, with lots of actionable ideas. It's not the best on audio, because Hawthrone provides many lists and questions and it's hard to keep track of everything on audio. I plan to put the print copy on my Christmas list so I can return to it for antiracist parenting ideas.
February 21, 2023
One of the best parenting books I’ve ever read. Important information that’s easily accessible and easy to put into practice. Anyone who has children in their lives and cares about working towards a more equal world should read this. I listened to the audiobook but will be buying a hard copy so that I can flag and highlight certain thoughts and practices to easily find again. This book has really inspired me to do more work within my own family and the wider world to ensure we are working towards a fairer and more just and equal society.
July 27, 2022
I really like this book. It covers not only talking about racism, but gender, disabilities, and classism. It’s not overwhelming and it gives easy to implement suggestions for grown ups. I think everyone who interacts with children should read this.
January 2, 2025
I like how the author often called out the need to “unlearn and relearn” these topics. I enjoy books that make me think and this one challenged my mindset in a couple ways. I am now more aware of opportunities to discuss inequity and our own white domination privileges.
One criticism is that the book format lends itself much better to a physical workbook with a lot of self reflection questions and bulleted lists for action items. As an audio book, it was difficult to follow the narrative many times.
One criticism is that the book format lends itself much better to a physical workbook with a lot of self reflection questions and bulleted lists for action items. As an audio book, it was difficult to follow the narrative many times.
May 3, 2022
I just finished reading Raising Antiracist Children by Britt Hawthorne w/ Natasha Yglesias.
There are so many things I learned and love about this book.
Here are a few:
1) It’s an easy read! I enjoyed hearing Britt’s voice and the voices of others who are included.
2) It’s cited and sourced! Anyone who knows me knows I WANT THE RESEARCH! This books has 13 tiny font PAGES of references with page numbers.
3) Start where you are and go forward. Maybe this is your first antiracism book and you feel hesitant or worried for some reason. Don’t! In addition to being easily readable, it’s actionable. You just start doing the “me” work then the “we” work! Everything is clear.
4) Activities! This book is FULL of activities to do and actions to take.
5) All the discussions! Each section has prompts for discussion, so it’s perfect for families, teachers, and training programs. I envision this being an important part of all my teacher education work going forward.
6) It’s timely. It’s time to do anti-racism work for yourself, kids, and the planet, so if you haven’t started, I cannot imagine a better book to purchase.
Go get it. You will not regret it.
Thank you @britthawthorne for sharing your loving, brilliant voice.
Reading Raising Antiracist Children is like having a tough conversation with the best possible teacher and coach. An ongoing process of reflection will stay with you long after you’ve worn the pages out. <3
There are so many things I learned and love about this book.
Here are a few:
1) It’s an easy read! I enjoyed hearing Britt’s voice and the voices of others who are included.
2) It’s cited and sourced! Anyone who knows me knows I WANT THE RESEARCH! This books has 13 tiny font PAGES of references with page numbers.
3) Start where you are and go forward. Maybe this is your first antiracism book and you feel hesitant or worried for some reason. Don’t! In addition to being easily readable, it’s actionable. You just start doing the “me” work then the “we” work! Everything is clear.
4) Activities! This book is FULL of activities to do and actions to take.
5) All the discussions! Each section has prompts for discussion, so it’s perfect for families, teachers, and training programs. I envision this being an important part of all my teacher education work going forward.
6) It’s timely. It’s time to do anti-racism work for yourself, kids, and the planet, so if you haven’t started, I cannot imagine a better book to purchase.
Go get it. You will not regret it.
Thank you @britthawthorne for sharing your loving, brilliant voice.
Reading Raising Antiracist Children is like having a tough conversation with the best possible teacher and coach. An ongoing process of reflection will stay with you long after you’ve worn the pages out. <3
May 29, 2022
I have been learning from Britt for several years and am always blown away by her insights and this book was no exception. Whether you are just starting your antiracist journey or have been doing this work for awhile, there is something in here for you. Each section of the book has activities and conversation prompts for different ages, including family actions you can take at any age. I know this will be a book I keep coming back to as my child grows up!
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2022
When I heard Britt Hawthorne had written a book, I preordered a copy with much anticipation. A few weeks later I was offered the opportunity to be gifted an advanced reader’s edition by her publisher to read and honestly review. I cannot recommend this book more! I’ve been learning from Britt Hawthorne for a few years now, and she is a phenomenal ABAR (Antibias Antiracist) educator for teachers and parents. She (and her contributors) cover so much important content to help no matter where you are on your journey of becoming antiracist and raising antiracist children.
There are reflection opportunities, practical activities to do with our children (broken down by age ranges), lots of examples of language to use to have necessary conversations with kids and other adults, and tons of ways to consider and take antiracist action in everyday ways. Throughout the book, she gently but firmly encourages the reader to not shut down when experiencing discomfort with the content, but to press into the challenging and vital lifelong work this truly is, with commitment AND grace for the imperfect journey it inevitably will be.
There is so much good in this book - I’m truly grateful for Britt sharing her knowledge, expertise, her own experiences becoming an antiracist parent and educator to help guide her readers in their own journeys. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know, and my partner and I plan to buy copies to give to our parenting friends, our family members and other adults we know who care for kids.
Buy this book! You will not regret it. It’s one you will want to come back to again and again.
Thank you, Britt, for guiding readers with clarity, encouragement, and grace for the journey.
There are reflection opportunities, practical activities to do with our children (broken down by age ranges), lots of examples of language to use to have necessary conversations with kids and other adults, and tons of ways to consider and take antiracist action in everyday ways. Throughout the book, she gently but firmly encourages the reader to not shut down when experiencing discomfort with the content, but to press into the challenging and vital lifelong work this truly is, with commitment AND grace for the imperfect journey it inevitably will be.
There is so much good in this book - I’m truly grateful for Britt sharing her knowledge, expertise, her own experiences becoming an antiracist parent and educator to help guide her readers in their own journeys. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know, and my partner and I plan to buy copies to give to our parenting friends, our family members and other adults we know who care for kids.
Buy this book! You will not regret it. It’s one you will want to come back to again and again.
Thank you, Britt, for guiding readers with clarity, encouragement, and grace for the journey.
May 31, 2022
Recently, I was fortunate enough to receive a complimentary advanced reader’s copy of Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide, in exchange for an honest review. And ‘fortunate’ is the exact word – it is a treasure trove not only of information, but actionable steps that take into account that each reader will be in their own place on the journey. I was initially surprised at the pronounced interweaving of race with other marginalized identities, but it makes perfect sense because intersectionality is an integral part of anti-racist behaviors. As the book progresses it includes a TON of questions to walk the reader through their process at a sustainable pace, gently but without coddling. I think most people expect it to be difficult to confront and reject white domination, and it often is, but Britt and her co-conspirators show clearly how it can also be joyful and invigorating and creative. The actionable steps are a crucial part of the process, and fit together like pieces of a puzzle. They offer practice in thinking through our interactions carefully, so that critical thinking about inclusion becomes second nature for the reader and integrates into their parenting methods. As a white parent of a white child, I have often felt overwhelmed, wondering how to teach specific antiracist tools that I had never learned myself. How to recognize and reject the white domination that permeates our culture, and guide my child to do the same. Raising Antiracist Children shows that it’s a continually developing conversation and demonstrates how to focus on what we can do to make the world better. I highly recommend this book for parents, teachers, and anyone who wants a practical guide through learning an inclusive lens, whether or not they are parents.
May 15, 2022
I have been an avid consumer of Britt Hawthorn's content for years now and quite frankly I didn't expect to be as enthralled with this book as I am. Britt and Natasha have written a book for parents but really it is for anyone who has children in their community. As a person without children of my own but with children in my community, I expected to have to look for ways to adapt what Britt and Natasha had written, but I was wrong. This book is for parents, teachers, aunties, uncles, grandparents, coaches and caretakers of all kinds. This is a guide for anyone with children in their lives. Britt has written a gentle but firm call to action, full of grace and accountability to help us provide the following generations the tools we weren't afforded growing up.
Written with collaborators to include voices of other perspectives, this book helps to center voices and perspectives that have been left out of the conversation for far too long. This book is titled "Raising Antiracist Children" but when reading you learn that it is about even more than that, it is about raising humans with compassion, who seek justice, and who work to look through a multifaceted lens.
It can seem difficult and daunting to walk this path alone, often not knowing where to start or feeling awkward pauses and moments when not knowing what to say. Britt writes with thoughtfulness, humility, compassion and vulnerability as she shares her journey as a parent and educator. She brings her years of knowledge as a parent and also teacher as she shares the lessons she has learned and unlearned to help us walk this path alongside her.
Written with collaborators to include voices of other perspectives, this book helps to center voices and perspectives that have been left out of the conversation for far too long. This book is titled "Raising Antiracist Children" but when reading you learn that it is about even more than that, it is about raising humans with compassion, who seek justice, and who work to look through a multifaceted lens.
It can seem difficult and daunting to walk this path alone, often not knowing where to start or feeling awkward pauses and moments when not knowing what to say. Britt writes with thoughtfulness, humility, compassion and vulnerability as she shares her journey as a parent and educator. She brings her years of knowledge as a parent and also teacher as she shares the lessons she has learned and unlearned to help us walk this path alongside her.
December 21, 2022
It's preemptive to read this while pregnant, but I figure I should be pivoting from pregnancy books to parenting ones by this point! The subtitle fits: this really is a practical guide with exercises for both parenting partners and children, as well as ways to frame conversations (with helpful notes about age, or if some activities are more focused for white families versus people of the global majority (on that note, I really like the term "people of the global majority" because it's more accurate, tbh)).
While this contains contemporary examples from the 2020s (references to recent police brutality cases and the anti-Chinese xenophobia from the COVID-19 pandemic), overall I found suggestions to be helpful in cultivating a curious, exploratory mindset for asking ourselves and our children why and how things are, and what can be done to make equitable space for ourselves and our communities. Unlearning societal frameworks is hard work, and while I'd like some people in my periphery to read this, it'll probably fall on me to do the intellectual labor of going through these exercises the next time we have a situation (because that's a when, not an if). The book is broader than antiracism by including antibias work; Britt Hawthorne and collaborators explicitly include gender identity and disability as communities to consider when talking to your child about how our world frames access and prioritizes voices.
Strongly recommended for caregivers looking to instill a sense of care into their dependents as well as to learn how to be a co-conspirator for vulnerable communities.
While this contains contemporary examples from the 2020s (references to recent police brutality cases and the anti-Chinese xenophobia from the COVID-19 pandemic), overall I found suggestions to be helpful in cultivating a curious, exploratory mindset for asking ourselves and our children why and how things are, and what can be done to make equitable space for ourselves and our communities. Unlearning societal frameworks is hard work, and while I'd like some people in my periphery to read this, it'll probably fall on me to do the intellectual labor of going through these exercises the next time we have a situation (because that's a when, not an if). The book is broader than antiracism by including antibias work; Britt Hawthorne and collaborators explicitly include gender identity and disability as communities to consider when talking to your child about how our world frames access and prioritizes voices.
Strongly recommended for caregivers looking to instill a sense of care into their dependents as well as to learn how to be a co-conspirator for vulnerable communities.
July 29, 2022
I’m a white cisgender woman with a white cisgender husband raising white kids. I’m always on the lookout for books that will give me information and suggestions on leading the type of life I strive for; one that involves community-lead care, justice-seeking, and accountability. I also have needed, more and more as my oldest has gotten to a stage where these conversations are happening, to have tools and resources to help my clueless ass get through and teach her and model the correct behavior for her.
This book not only held me accountable in ways that I desperately needed to be held accountable, but it gave me those tools that I so badly need. It mainly helped me remember that these moments aren’t an opportunity to “be a better person” and that antiracism isn’t about self-betterment. It’s about changing our world for the better for our future generations. And the most important work we can do is to model this for our young.
This book did dumb things down but I appreciated that as it is not only immensely helpful for parents and caregivers of all walks of life but it’s also palatable to people who may be new to this life. I did have a lot of experience and knowledge of some of the language but I appreciated the fresh take by the authors.
Overall I loved this book and I have so many flags on pages with helpful tools and exercises as well as language for future conversations with my kids. Thanks a million times to the authors for providing such an excellent resource for all who are around children.
This book not only held me accountable in ways that I desperately needed to be held accountable, but it gave me those tools that I so badly need. It mainly helped me remember that these moments aren’t an opportunity to “be a better person” and that antiracism isn’t about self-betterment. It’s about changing our world for the better for our future generations. And the most important work we can do is to model this for our young.
This book did dumb things down but I appreciated that as it is not only immensely helpful for parents and caregivers of all walks of life but it’s also palatable to people who may be new to this life. I did have a lot of experience and knowledge of some of the language but I appreciated the fresh take by the authors.
Overall I loved this book and I have so many flags on pages with helpful tools and exercises as well as language for future conversations with my kids. Thanks a million times to the authors for providing such an excellent resource for all who are around children.
July 1, 2022
If you’re a parent, educator, or anyone in a role of teaching children, I highly recommend this book. And I recommend you get a physical copy, too, since you’re going to want to highlight, bookmark, and refer back to so many of the pages.
Seriously, I think I’ve marked about one page in every five as one I need to reference.
Hawthorne gives specific advice on things to say, books to read, and activities to try, while also acknowledging there’s a wide range of backgrounds we come from and places we’re starting from.
There are parts specifically addressed to parents, challenging them to become comfortable with uncomfortable conversations and reframing the language we use, such as saying white immunity instead of white privilege and people of global majority instead of minority. It’s a book that challenges you, and I’m still sitting with certain ideas. For example, that demanding to speak to a manager is an example of power hoarding and a characteristic of white domination culture. There's an emphasis on the book, too, on action and not just reading about antiracism.
Most of the activities are simple, such as asking your child about the skin color of characters in the books you read and including them in the research you do about elections. They’re hands on, involving maps, play-doh, and grocery stores. And they’re for a variety of ages, so I know this is a book I’ll keep on my shelves for a long time. 4.5 stars
Seriously, I think I’ve marked about one page in every five as one I need to reference.
Hawthorne gives specific advice on things to say, books to read, and activities to try, while also acknowledging there’s a wide range of backgrounds we come from and places we’re starting from.
There are parts specifically addressed to parents, challenging them to become comfortable with uncomfortable conversations and reframing the language we use, such as saying white immunity instead of white privilege and people of global majority instead of minority. It’s a book that challenges you, and I’m still sitting with certain ideas. For example, that demanding to speak to a manager is an example of power hoarding and a characteristic of white domination culture. There's an emphasis on the book, too, on action and not just reading about antiracism.
Most of the activities are simple, such as asking your child about the skin color of characters in the books you read and including them in the research you do about elections. They’re hands on, involving maps, play-doh, and grocery stores. And they’re for a variety of ages, so I know this is a book I’ll keep on my shelves for a long time. 4.5 stars
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