Talking with Kids About Race, Bias, Hate, and More

Talking with children about difficult topics. like bias, race, and hate can be challenging. We are sharing a few supports for families and staff to engage in this dialogue below. Glenn Singleton refers to four agreements of courageous conversations, which are briefly outlined below.

The Four Agreements of Courageous Conversations

Stay engaged: Staying engaged means “remaining morally, emotionally, intellectually, and relationally involved in the dialogue” (p. 71).
Speak your truth: This means being open about thoughts and feelings and not just saying what you think others want to hear.
Experience discomfort: This norm acknowledges that discomfort is inevitable, especially, in dialogue about race, and that participants make a commitment to bring issues into the open. It is not talking about these issues that create divisiveness. The divisiveness already exists in society and in our schools. It is through dialogue, even when uncomfortable, the healing and change begin.
Expect and accept nonclosure: This agreement asks participants to “hang out in uncertainty” and not rush to quick solutions, especially in relation to racial understanding, which requires ongoing dialogue.

Adapted from: Singleton, G.E. (2015). Courageous Conversations about Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.