Raising White Kids

Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America

By: Jennifer Harvey

Narrated by: Eliza Foss

Raising White Kids is a book for families, churches, educators, and communities who want to equip their children to be active and able participants in a society that is becoming one of the most racially diverse in the world while remaining full of racial tensions. For white people who are committed to equity and justice, living in a nation that remains racially unjust and deeply segregated creates unique conundrums.

These conundrums begin early in life and impact the racial development of white children in powerful ways. What can we do within our homes, communities, and schools? Should we teach our children to be "color-blind"? Or should we teach them to notice race? What roles do we want to equip them to play in addressing racism when they encounter it? What strategies will help our children learn to function well in a diverse nation?

Talking about race means naming the reality of white privilege and hierarchy. How do we talk about race honestly, then, without making our children feel bad about being white? Most importantly, how do we do any of this in age-appropriate ways?

While a great deal of public discussion exists in regard to the impact of race and racism on children of color, meaningful dialogue about and resources for understanding the impact of race on white children are woefully absent. Raising White Kids steps into that void.

©2017 Jennifer Harvey (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Opening the right conversations with my boys

Well written, easy to follow, excellent real examples and situations to ponder. Great guidance and direction and resources to help in the never ending journey of race conscience parenting.

Read if you are a parent

If you are a parent or grandparent or aunt or uncle, read this! Fantastic insights and actionable ways to promote a culture of anti racism in your family.

Distracting performance

This book is fantastic; I just wish the author had read it. I heard an interview with Jennifer Harvey and her voice is authoritative without being preachy, very similar to the text of this book. Unfortunately, she doesn’t read it. The reader read it in a style I associate much more with fiction; which was distracting and frustrating all the way through.

A must read

This is such an amazing place to begin for anyone wanting to engage in anti racism work. Yes this is about raising children and how do parents go about that in our world, but the concepts she outlines are universal. The way she goes about it is also clear and direct but simple while explaining why other tactics have been ineffective.
Seriously white folks: read this!

To be a better parent of white kids, to grow their humanity, read this book.

Jennifer Harvey writes not only a vital analysis of the challenges parents and kids face in a racialized society. She also offers workable strategies and models for how we parents of white children can help them to see the world as it is, and to develop into people who can help make it more just.

Required reading for any caregiver or educator of white children.

Excellent. Thank you for this major contribution to my journey as a parent. I feel more equipped to have the continued conversations with my children about race and how to help them develop a healthy white identity.

Not an “Easy Listen” ...

... but one I needed to hear. Coming to terms with having been complicit, actively or passively, in racial injustice is hard for someone who would never kneel during the national anthem. This book provides teachable moments for kids from 1 to 99.

important book for building a more just society

Excellent, clear, realistic guide to the very difficult task of talking to children about race and racism.

Helpful Even if You're Not a Parent

I have found this to be one of the most useful resources I have come across so far since I started engaging in anti-racist learning and strategies. If you are working on anti racism in your life and in your household, I think you will find this book useful even if you are not a parent. So much of raising anti-racist children lies in the examples their parents and other important authority figures in their lives set for them. You cannot teach your children to be anti-racist if you are not engaged in the practice of anti-racism yourself. So, this book is just as much about doing the work for yourself as it is doing the work for your children.

The structure and organization of this book is impressive and important. Dr. Harvey seems to fully understand the patterns and predictably in the way our minds consume and digest this information. As I listened, paused, reflected, and digested one part, I found I had arrived at a new question/discomfort/concern and, almost in lockstep, that question/discomfort/ concern would be the very next topic to be addressed.

This book os a valuable guide that I will continually revisit. I suggest purchasing it in print format, as well, so you can highlight the heck out of it.

Audiobook hits the right tone

Early chapters seemed rudimentary, but proved to be necessary scaffolding for later concepts.
I'm thankful to have read this book now, and it'll be useful in both parenting during these crucial conversations, my own reflections, and how I engage other community stakeholders.