Learning About Race in The Classroom|Children’s Books

Compiled by Ishva Mehta for Write & Co

Write & Co stands in solidarity with Black, African American communities. We believe that knowledge is power and change starts in classrooms. No one is born racist, and all individuals can become anti-racist. There is no better place to start our efforts than in elementary school classrooms; the earlier the better. By incorporating a few of this books in their classrooms, teachers can teach their students valuable lessons of the importance of empathy and the destructive power of prejudice and bias.

There are plenty of arguments about why learning about race does not belong in classrooms: “I am not the parent,” “Talking about race is uncomfortable,” “Kids will not like talking about bad things,” etc. Of course, talking about race is uncomfortable, regardless of the audience. However, talking about race is important because bias births early. Children as young as ages 3 to 7 can differentiate between black and white; they tend associate positive attributes with white and negative with black. It is important to talk about prejudice and bias because children already acknowledge different skin tones, different sexes, and different races.

If starting a discussion seems difficult, try introducing/incorporating one of these books. These are just a few great books elementary school students can read to learn about social issues that plague our planet.