Raising Globally Savvy Black Kids
I read an article a few years ago, and according to the Institute of International Education, only 5 percent of Black Americans study abroad.
As I continued to read the article, I felt disheartened, but I knew all too well that this information had some truth to it.
As a single mom, I always wanted my children to have exposure and experiences that would shape their being and build confidence and grit intrinsically when things didn’t go as planned. I made sure they had a full understanding that they are worthy of dignity and respect; but these human characteristics were earned.
Making it a priority to talk with my children as they were growing up to understand this can be a racially charged world; and at times that mainstream may see people of color as not being as intelligent, less trustworthy and at times less attractive than themselves.
All said I taught my children early on to embrace their ethnicity and brown skin with pride and confidence.
A Bit of Diversity is Key — Even for Kids of Color
My kids were fortunate enough to grow up in a diverse population of friends and community. The local high school for many years had an international exchange program for students that desired to go abroad or become a host family that wanted to welcome an international student into their homes. (More about that later).
Both my teens went abroad as foreign exchange students in high school; my son for a summer language program in Japan and my daughter spent her 11th grade in Thailand.
People ask me all the time, what gave Miles and Janine the courage to desire to study abroad at such a young age and what gave me the foresight to allow them to go.
My answer was always, there is so much to gain from travel and to live abroad with parental support; it did not get any better than that.
Exposure and experiences is what I wanted my kids to have throughout their young years, these experiences prepared them and enhanced their cultural competency and self confidence.
15 Tips to Preparing Your Child to be Culturally Competent
1. Expose your children to other cultures at an early age.
2. Reading stories about other cultures, attending cultural events, festivals.
3. Increase the diversity of your child’s friends when they are young.
4. Take your child to cultural fairs, festivals, etc.
5. Purchase ethnic dolls and toys.
6. Teach that there are other religious belief
7. Tell Stories to your children of the cultures of your childhood
8. Expose your middle school and high school children to otherness
9. Acknowledge holidays of cultures outside of your own
10. Become a host family to a teen foreign exchange student
11. Talk with your school age student about stereotypes and bias against others
12. Teach your children to have emotional intelligence and grit
13. Talk to your children about racism and how it can be subtle or undercover
14. Teach your children to trust their gut…if it feels wrong it probably is
15. Enroll your child in quality summer programs
Do not let your fears keep from giving your child experiences, and In the words of the late, great Anthony Bourdain, If I am an advocate for anything, it is to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.”
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