Children’s Book Author, Illustrator Discusses Ways Parents Can Talk With Kids About Racism

A children’s book author and illustrator — who has created a book series that tackles race-related issues, divorce, exploring sexuality and grief — says parents should have honest, straight-forward conversations with their children about racism.

It is easy, yes, when you just go ahead and tell the truth, but you have to know the truth first, said Anastasia Higginbotham, who launched the “Ordinary Terrible Things” children’s book series in 2015. “So there has to be an awareness of the distortion that’s created by racism that makes us think it’s going to be very, very hard to talk about it.”

In reflecting on all that’s happening in the world, on Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Higginbotham told host Rose Scott that it’s time for a change and that white parents can no longer be silent.

Higginbotham says the discomfort comes when parents try to shield their children from the truth about the inequities and violence that’s happening in the world to nonwhite people.

“The difficulty comes when you try to put a spin on it and make it seem like it’s going to be alright and that we can just be good people, and that somehow that’s going to fix racism, and it’s not,” she explained.

During the conversation, Higginbotham also talked about recent police killings, anti-racism and dismantling white supremacy.

Higginbotham also talked and her book “Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness,”

Guests:

Anastasia Higginbotham, children’s book author and illustrator

 To listen to the full conversation, please click the audio player above.