Chinese parents: what are you teaching your chinese preschool age children about racism?

[Anonymous]

What is the double standard? My kids know Black lives matter, and why we are saying it now. My kids know Rosa Parks, Dr, MLK Jr, the civil right movement, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the model minority myth etc.

Asian solidarity for our POC brothers and sisters is just our regular way of life and it starts at birth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are mixed white/Asian. Eldest is 7. I won’t be bullied into having developmentally inappropriate convos with my kids and the social media push for it is alarming.

I’m curious: Are you the white parent and assuming that racial issues won’t directly affect your kids? Are you the Asian parent and assuming that the currently issues won’t directly affect your kid? Are you mixed race - and feel comfortable with the way racial issues have played out in your own life? Do you think there’s a magic age or certain type of event that would lead to certain types of discussions? I’m startled by your sense of what’s developmentally appropriate- and would like to understand your viewpoint better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here, one more thought: I think most people abhor violence and looting and burning things. You are not special or morally superior for taking that stance. “Minneapolis” as an entire city did not loot and burn itself, just a few people did.

How we are addressing it with my very young children is to talk about what happens when you try to work out a problem. At school, they have to use their words. Sometimes they argue or struggle physically, and a teacher intervenes and helps them work it out. And there are rules so that things don’t escalate. But we’ve talked about how some rules in this country were set up to be unfair and no one stopped someone who did something that was wrong, and someone using their words didn’t work, so people didn’t have any words left to use, and it’s not ok but it happened. I know it’s an oversimplification but it helped my littler kids understand a bit better.

This. Thank you.

My extended family and DH’s extended family are very racially mixed and includes several Asian women from different cultures married to AA or biracial black/white men. This goes back to my Japanese great-aunt by marriage who came to US after WWII down to my Vietnamese American SIL whose parents were “boat people”. I am so impressed with all of the work that these intermarried mothers have had to do as their bi or triracial kids try to navigate the world as double racial minorities. They have to prepare them to cope with the dominant white power structures, but also with prejudice from both their own communities. It’s tough stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:nothing. way too young

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am appalled at some of these posters who aren't taking this question seriously. Do you really think children should not be taught about racism or is there something funny about teaching American Chinese kids about racism? I don't know what the answer is myself, but I do think it is a combination of teaching generally teaching our kids to be kind, accepting, and nonjudgmental of every person, regardless of skin color or socioeconomic background etc. To And also recognizing the deep racism that runs through Chinese and Asian communities as well, especially towards the black community. The second part may be a conversation that you have later on, not while they are preschool age, but I am Chinese American and recognize both the racism that Chinese Americans or immigrants can face, as well as the racism they spew.

This. I'm 1/2 South Asian, and many members on that side of my family have said racist stuff about black people (the other side of my family is black). My South Asian cousin married a black man, and still says she doesn't talk to her kids about race, buy books with diverse characters, etc. I only can shake my head--not my circus, and all.

[Anonymous]

About the constant racism they experience as Asians? A lot.

[Anonymous]

About how the actions of a few can paint a whole community with the same brush? That’s very nuanced for understanding by adults let alone preschool children

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course we discuss racism in an age appropriate manner. And the different kinds of racism for POC. There are so many great books out for kids including all race kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the double standard? My kids know Black lives matter, and why we are saying it now. My kids know Rosa Parks, Dr, MLK Jr, the civil right movement, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the model minority myth etc.

Asian solidarity for our POC brothers and sisters is just our regular way of life and it starts at birth

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the double standard? My kids know Black lives matter, and why we are saying it now. My kids know Rosa Parks, Dr, MLK Jr, the civil right movement, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the model minority myth etc.

Asian solidarity for our POC brothers and sisters is just our regular way of life and it starts at birth

+1

+2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the double standard? My kids know Black lives matter, and why we are saying it now. My kids know Rosa Parks, Dr, MLK Jr, the civil right movement, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the model minority myth etc.

Asian solidarity for our POC brothers and sisters is just our regular way of life and it starts at birth

+1

+2.

So your kids know all the black people that did something worthwhile. Do they know all the asian people that revolutionized our world rather than just talking loudly about rights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am appalled at some of these posters who aren't taking this question seriously. Do you really think children should not be taught about racism or is there something funny about teaching American Chinese kids about racism? I don't know what the answer is myself, but I do think it is a combination of teaching generally teaching our kids to be kind, accepting, and nonjudgmental of every person, regardless of skin color or socioeconomic background etc. To And also recognizing the deep racism that runs through Chinese and Asian communities as well, especially towards the black community. The second part may be a conversation that you have later on, not while they are preschool age, but I am Chinese American and recognize both the racism that Chinese Americans or immigrants can face, as well as the racism they spew.

I am Korean American. We are a mixed Asian family.

I have tried talking to my children about racism. They have friends from all different backgrounds and don’t seem to notice skin color. I had actually commented on the white parents thread not realizing it was asking for white parents. My 3yo has absolutely no clue. I asked her about skin color and she said she was a rainbow. I am ok with my kids living in a bubble for now.

My elementary kids seem more shocked about the looting and burning of businesses. I don’t think they grasp how that can help George Floyd. They know Derek Chauvin is going to jail for what he did.

[Anonymous]

I talk to them all the time and have for since they were tiny. Every time my relatives say racist things I have to intervene, and de-brief the kids later. My relatives sincerely think they're doing the right thing by "warning" us about people of other races. It's been a multi-year effort just to get them to STFU around the kids.

[Anonymous]

I talked to my 7 and 9 year old kids about police brutality and white privilege way before George Floyd’s murder happened. Just like we talk about environmental degradation, homelessness, Trump’s Muslim ban and family separation policy, and other injustices in the world. Their understanding is surface level the first time around, but each conversation we have is deeper and more nuanced. It shouldn’t be a one-time talk given at a certain age. It should be a lifelong conversation. My own parents are deeply racist, but they know not to say any of that in front of my children. If they do, I hope my kids will call them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I talk to them all the time and have for since they were tiny. Every time my relatives say racist things I have to intervene, and de-brief the kids later. My relatives sincerely think they're doing the right thing by "warning" us about people of other races. It's been a multi-year effort just to get them to STFU around the kids.

This. They actually literally said "watch out for Black people"! Meanwhile DD goes to a Title I, many AA friends, all teachers, principal, pediatrician, even the obstetrician who delivered her, are AA. It drives me crazy.