Anti-Racism
About
Racism has no place in Pelham. Pelham Together stands for a community inclusive of everyone, and for celebrating diversity. We believe in a shared sense of responsibility for one another, and we are only as strong as our most vulnerable. We promote individual and collective action to purposefully build and maintain connections with one another and stand together with those who feel marginalized and overlooked—across differences, age, race, neighborhood, and circumstance, in good times and in bad. We support our young people in using their voice to promote compassion and understanding.
In the summer of 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, our young people have organized an Instagram series to promote anti-racism. Pelham Together will continue to provide resources that promote understanding and support families in having conversations with their children, such as this NPR piece: "Talking Race With Young Children." You can join us in encouraging and supporting our teens’ ideas for expressing their thoughts and feelings. Please check our website often for other ways to help, as we build out more resources. We are always open to ideas from the community as well; please reach out to lcaruso@pelhamtogether.org with your thoughts and suggestions.
In an interview given a few years ago on Minnesota Public Radio, Beverly Daniel Tatum, psychologist and author said, “We have to be intentional in helping young people connect across lines of difference.” At Pelham Together, we believe in this intentionality and in the need for an entire community to act together to make it happen. Pelham is a place that has a track record of acting with compassion and unity in times of need. Children learn from adult modeling, and they need us to keep the example strong. Pelham can do that—together.
Blogs
For 21 days, do one action to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity. The plan includes suggestions for readings, podcasts, videos, observations, and ways to form and deepen community connections.
The 1619 Project aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
Racism is wrong and causes so much pain. And the events of this past week have brought that to light, yet again. After the brutal murder of George Floyd, communities across the country, including Pelham, have come together to express sorrow and solidarity with one another—unity around the message that racism exists; that it is wrong; and that we all have to do something to change that.
There are ways to have conversations with children of almost any age about race and inclusivity. This short piece on NPR includes helpful suggestions from education experts at Sesame Street and psychologist and author Beverly Daniel Tatum who has focused her career on the psychology of racism.
Organizations
Together with experts, we've designed developmentally appropriate resources to help you guide your child to be smarter, stronger, and kinder—and an upstander to racism.
A multiracial community of parents, teachers, experts, and other caring adults who support each other to meet the challenges that race poses to our children, families, and communities.
Education, research, and policy organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development in youth.
Recognized as one of the foremost anti-racism training and organizing institutions in the nation.
In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, Race Forward builds strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture.
Books
A Mighty Girl’s blog post featuring 99 books for all ages, from tots to teens, about trailblazing African-American women and their diverse contributions to history.
Common Sense Media’s list of books that tell stories of people's experiences of racism and of those who put their bodies on the line for the cause of equality under the law and social justice.
On May 31, 2020, Brené asked her social media community to share anti-racism resources. These are the books recommended by the community.
Other Resources
A conversation on 1) how to guide children to and through picture books with positive racial representations; and 2) how to support children in resisting or reading against problematic, racist content.
There are a few guidelines parents can keep in mind to help kids deal with troubling news about racism and violence.
The flyers in 5 Asian languages offer strategies to help individuals safely intervene if they see someone being targeted or to use verbal and/or physical methods to safely exit a threatening situation.
Want to raise an actively anti-racist child? Here are some resources that can help, tailored to every age group.
Appeal to Pelham community members, particularly nonwhite families, to consider donating new or gently used books to help diversify elementary classroom libraries.
The goal of these resources is to facilitate growth for white folks to become allies, and eventually accomplices for anti-racist work.