Here’s how families can take a stand
against racism at home
MAKE PROTEST SIGNS
One way that kids can demonstrate their support for the movement is by making
protest signs.

Not only does the activity allow them to tap into their creativity, but it also serves
as a conversation starter for parents who want to explain the greater purpose and
importance of the current news and the Black Lives Matter Movement, says
Whitehead. Using art supplies you have at home, such as poster board, paint and
markers, kids can create posters that say “Black Lives Matter” or “Justice
for George Floyd.” They can also come up with their own messages of
support. Hang their protest signs in a window or display them outside on your
front door or in the yard.

STAGE AN AT-HOME PROTEST
Instead of just displaying their signs, kids can stand outside and
physically hold them up, as if they were actually marching in a protest.

“There are some parents who don’t want to take their child out to be
around other people,” says Whitehead. An individual protest, “gives
them that feeling of being actively involved,” she says.

DONATE TO THE CAUSE
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the countless
organizations and bail funds accepting donations,
Whitehead advises families to first brainstorm and
organize a small list of causes—ideally two or three—
that they would like to support.

These causes can be national and focus on the larger
Black Lives Matter movement or on the victims of racially
charged police brutality incidents. Or they can be local and
provide support for community-based services, programs and
initiatives. Focusing on a set list of organizations helps children
understand where their money is going and encourages them
to choose causes they’d like to continue learning about, says
Whitehead. STAY INFORMED
One of the best things that parents can do right now, according
to Whitehead, is to help their children actively inform themselves
about the current movement and the recent news. Non-Black
parents should make sure their kids and teens have “as much
information possible to understand what is happening in this moment,”
she says.

Whitehead recommends using the Black Lives Matter at School
(blacklivesmatteratschool.com) teaching materials, which covers the 13 principles
of the movement for all grade levels. Another resource is the National Museum
of African American History and Culture’s “Talking About Race” web portal. Its
videos, role-playing exercises and targeted questions were designed to help inform
and guide discussions.

“We want the next-generation police officers, politicians and teachers to not
practice anti-Blackness,” says Whitehead. n
14 Washington FAMILY JULY 2020