Dear Savvy: How Do I Address Racism in the Media with My Kids?

We know racism in the media is a tricky topic. But that’s what we do here at Media Savvy Moms. Honest conversations in a media saturated world? That’s our jam. Hang on, parents. You got this.

This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that. Tune in to the podcast to hear the whole scoop, and check out the show notes for helpful tools and information. If you’d like to submit a question, click here to Contact Us. 

Dear Savvy: There is so much about racism in the media, especially right now with all the violence and riots around the U.S. My son approached me the other day and wanted to know what it’s all about. Do you have any advice for talking to my kids about this touchy subject?

Dear Listener, 

Whether we are black, brown, white, or any combination of colors, it’s time for our families to hit the subject of racism head-on. And although racism in the media and current events might feel scary or intimidating, it actually provides a great avenue for us to break the silence. It’s so important to talk to our kids about racism, and this is a perfect opportunity to do that! 

Here is what Melody and Marilyn discussed on the podcast today:

• Do you have a personal experience with racism? Or have you witnessed an act of racism? How did it make you feel? Dig deep. And then tell your kids about it. 
• Tune in to the podcast to hear Melody share a few personal stories from her family history about racism. 
• When you see racism in the media, take the opportunity to call it to your children’s attention. 
• Above all, teach your kids empathy. 
• We can claim we are not racist or even tell our children that we are anti-racist. But words are only the beginning of the lesson. In the end, kids will learn from our actions.

For more information…

Want some extra help starting the conversation about racism in the media with your children? We highly recommend the book, Conversations With My Kids: 30 Essential Family Discussions for the Digital Age. Check out Lesson 8, “Racism and Tolerance,” and Lesson 14, “Getting Along and Standing Up for Others.” Also see additional Links/Resources below.

Episode challenge

Do some research on the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. with your children. Find links to it on YouTube, then discuss together. What is this speech about? What do the words mean to you? 

Do you have a question for Melody & Marilyn? You can click here to Contact Us, email us at admin@parentsaware.info, or submit your question through any of our social media platforms. We’d love to hear from you!

Links/Resources

‘I Have a Dream’ Speech – History.com

How to Talk to Your Kids about Race and Racism – ParentToolkit.com

How White Parents Can Use Media to Raise Anti-Racist Kids – Common Sense Media

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, Parents Aware/Media Savvy Moms receives a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks for helping to support us in our mission to protect families from the harms of pornography.

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Media Savvy Moms Podcast

Who knew honest conversations about parenting and pornography could be so approachable? Join Marilyn for a series of contemplations, chats, and interviews as she helps fellow parents tackle this challenging topic with their kids.

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