Anti-Racism: Active Listening
I know you’ve all heard me say before that being anti-racist is an action, a practice, and a commitment to lifetime learning. Now, I in no way pretend to know everything on this topic. The thing I do know for sure is that there are so many narratives and ideas around teaching this, especially to children. Where I can offer my expertise is to the communication and active listening piece. That’s why I was so excited when Megan from Ripple Reads reached out. Ripple Reads is a subscription-based service that sends you books as well as a workbook that helps prompt discussions between you and your children. In their words, “helping your child get excited about standing up for justice!”
I know firsthand that these conversations can be tough. Figuring out how to parent this teaching can be even harder! But, this subscription makes doing the very important work just a little bit easier. I’m all for finding support that is simple and effective and will help you keep up the practice!
Here’s how it works:
Families, caregivers, and educators who are looking for natural ways or resources to start or continue having meaningful, regular conversations with kids about race, justice and empathy sign up for Ripple Reads membership.
Every other month you’ll receive the Ripple Reads kit. The kit includes:
A new book specifically about race, justice, and empathy. The books we select are ones your children will ask to read frequently and hopefully stay in your collection over time!
The workbook, which includes a family discussion guide, activities, and other content crafted in partnership with leading experts and university professors in the field of Race, Teaching, and Curriculum.
Fun extras like sticker sheets, postcards, coloring books, journals, etc. to engage kids and keep it fun!
The subscription costs $19.95 + $5 shipping every other month. The price of the membership covers the direct costs for each kit. Ripple Reads is a nonprofit and accepts donations and corporate sponsors to support their indirect costs and scholarship fund, which provides kits to the paid professional mentors of the nonprofit Friends of the Children whose mission is to break the cycles of generational poverty. To learn more about partnering or sponsoring Ripple Reads, you can email megan@ripplereads.com.
Ripple Reads is making a significant social impact by getting the youngest generation educated, excited, and empowered to stand up for racial justice. Rather than bandaids meant to address the symptoms of racial injustice, Ripple Reads is working to cure race ignorance, apathy, and fear, beginning in childhood.
So now that you have the info, it’s time to make the commitment. These subscriptions make a perfect holiday gift and are a must add to your children's personal library. And I’m happy to share with you all my code BRANDY20 for 20% off the first kit of a recurring subscription!
<3 BJS