___ Twist Children's Book Character

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To raise kids who are actively anti-racist, information technology's important for adults to examine their ain biases — even unintentional ones — and self-educate past reading acclaimed anti-racist texts, and and so pass on what they larn to the children in their lives. Parents can read kid-friendly, anti-racist books together, such equally Jason Reynolds and Ibram Ten. Kendi'due south Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, and offer a safe space for kids' anger, confusion, sadness and questions. Definitely don't shy away or sugarcoat "difficult" topics. Be honest and open up.

When watching classic kids' movies by white creators — everything from The Goonies to most of Disney's animated films — be sure to signal out and discuss racist stereotypes and attitudes. Remaining silent and simply glossing over offensive elements found in children's movies isn't helpful. In the aforementioned way you'd call out some other person'south racist actions, call out films' failings and have a meaningful word about them.

For parents of Black children, discussing racial identity and racism is a must, non only for exploring identity and understanding a club that centers on whiteness, but also for safe. On the other side, parents of white kids don't feel the aforementioned pressure, instead focusing on "we're color-blind" or "we're all people" rhetoric that contributes to systemic racism and prevailing racist attitudes in our country. "If you lot look at me and don't meet the color of my pare, y'all don't see me at all," announcer Jeremy Helligar recently wrote in "When White People Say They 'Don't Encounter Color,'" an commodity in Medium's Level imprint. "To accept Black people is to respect the uniqueness of the Black experience — not to pretend race and racism are illusions, unworthy of being discussed or even acknowledged."

With this in mind, in addition to confronting racism and anti-racism outright, it's besides important to diversify kids' media intake. That is, you demand to fill their bookshelves and Netflix streaming queues with works that don't just centre on Blackness hurting or works that are meant to teach white people, but works by Black creators that celebrate Blackness and explore Black experiences and lives — works that express Blackness joy and love.

Diversify Your Bookshelf

In add-on to buying your kids a re-create of Stamped or Angie Thomas' bestselling YA novel The Hate U Give, try diversifying the books on your kids' shelves, starting with these works by incredible Black artists and writers. For the greatest enduring bear on, be sure to e'er diversify the voices and points of view your children run into, non just while topics similar the Blackness Lives Matter movement are in the news.

Film Books:

Sulwe: Written by University Award-winner Lupita Nyong'o, this book tells the story of Sulwe, a girl whose pare is "the colour of midnight" and who "but wants to exist beautiful and bright, like her female parent and sister." Beautifully illustrated by Vashti Harrison, this NAACP Prototype Award and Coretta Scott Male monarch Illustrator Honor Award recipient takes Sulwe on a magical, star-filled journeying that changes her life — and is sure to change the lives of immature readers, also.

Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams: Author Lesa Cline-Ransome and award-winning illustrator James Due east. Ransome join forces to tell the story of the Williams sisters — two of the greatest tennis players of all fourth dimension. "This lovingly crafted moving-picture show book biography centers on the incredible bond betwixt Venus and Serena Williams," writes a reviewer for School Library Journal. It's "an important choice for biography and sports collections" and a great style to innovate your kids to existent-life heroes.

The Stuff of Stars: In this 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award-winning book, Newbery Honor winner Marion Dane Bauer and Caldecott Honor winner Ekua Holmes celebrate the birth of all children — since the very moment our universe unfurled. The book'southward jacket copy maybe puts information technology best, describing this poetic, hard-to-put-into-words work every bit "A seamless blend of science and fine art, this picture book reveals the limerick of our world and beyond — and how we are all the stuff of stars."

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat: This picture book biography of acclaimed creative person Jean-Michel Basquiat is a piece of work of art all its own. Winning both the Coretta Scott Rex Illustrator Award and the Caldecott Medal, writer/illustrator Javaka Steptoe tells the story of Basquiat's babyhood and early on career, mimicking the street creative person's definitive style. The American Library Association noted that the "collage-style paintings with rich texture, bold colors and thick lines take readers on an emotional journey."

Last Stop on Marketplace Street: Although this Newbery Medal-winner is authored past Latinx writer Matthew de la Peña, it'south illustrated past Black artist Christian Robinson, who won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for his work on Last Stop on Market Street. In the volume, a immature Blackness boy named CJ accompanies his grandmother on a rainy expedition and questions why they, unlike other folks in the city, have to take the motorcoach. Writing for The New York Times Volume Review, Linda Sue Park noted "the warmth of their intergenerational relationship that volition make this book then satisfying, for both immature readers and the adults sharing it with them."

Heart-Class Books:

Finding Langston: In her debut novel, Lesa Cline-Ransome tells the story of 11-year-old Langston, a Black boy growing upwardly during the Peachy Migration. When Langston moves from his dwelling house in Alabama to Chicago, Illinois, he spends his fourth dimension in the Chicago Public Library — which welcomes all — and discovers the work of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes. Winner of both the Coretta Scott King Writer Honor and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Finding Langston is a captivating read about both cultural heritage and personal growth.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: Tristan Strong (Book ane): Acknowledged Percy Jackson and the Olympians writer Rick Riordan has used his platform to uplift others and, hither, he passes the mic to Kwame Mbalia, who tells the story of Tristan Stiff, a soon-to-be-hero who finds himself thrust into an epic populated by Black American folk heroes, such as John Henry and Brer Rabbit, as well every bit W African gods, like Anansi the Weaver. Looking for a middle-grade American Gods? You've come to the correct identify.

The Crossover: On the basketball court, 12-year-quondam Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan are incredible, but Josh has another skill as well — a gift for language. Author Kwame Alexander tells Josh'southward story as a novel in verse, i that'southward thrumming with centre and energy and passion. This Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Accolade winner was dubbed a "beautifully measured novel of life and line" by The New York Times Book Review. Needless to say, it's a slam dunk.

Brown Girl Dreaming: Through a collection of bright poems, Jacqueline Woodson recounts her childhood growing up as a Black girl in Southward Carolina and New York during the '60s and '70s — amid both the remnants of Jim Crow and the growing Ceremonious Rights Movement. Both an exploration of growing up and a love letter to language and stories, Chocolate-brown Girl Dreaming won both the Newbery Honor and the National Book Laurels.

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks: Called "as innovative equally it is emotionally absorbing" by Entertainment Weekly, this Coretta Scott King Author Award Book by Jason Reynolds tells a story in x blocks, just every bit the championship promises, and shows all the different directions kids' walks home can take. Needless to say, this "clever exploration of the secret trials and tribulations of middle-schoolers" will take middle-class readers both laughing at Reynolds' humor and mulling over the piercing poignancy of the 10 tales.

Young Developed Books:

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them: Told in the voices of two 16-year-quondam Blackness girls — Audre, who is from Port of Espana, Trinidad, and Mabel, who is from Minneapolis, Minnesota — The Stars and the Blackness Between Them is a lyrical, captivating and queer story about finding love and happiness in a earth that seems to want to continue those joys locked away. The Coretta Scott King Honor Book is writer Junauda Petrus' debut novel.

You Should See Me in a Crown: Debut author Leah Johnson has written an incredible first novel that the publisher describes as "a smart, hilarious, Blackness girl magic, own voices rom-com past a staggeringly talented new author." In it, Liz Lighty, who has "always believed she's too Black, too poor, too bad-mannered to smoothen in her small, rich, prom-obsessed Midwestern town" dreams of getting away by way of an elite higher with a globe-famous orchestra — until her financial assist falls through. After realizing there's a scholarship bachelor for prom queen and king, Liz has to endure the catty competition — and attracting new girl Mack.

Children of Blood and Bone: "Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie'south Reaper mother summoned forth souls. Just everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope." That setup alone is certain to get you hooked on Tomi Adeyemi's acclaimed fantasy novel, which Entertainment Weekly has dubbed "a phenomenon."

Who Fears Death: Award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Decease is prepare in mail-apocalyptic Africa — in a region shaped past genocide between tribes. When a woman survives her village's devastation to requite birth to a kid in the desert, the new female parent is certain her daughter is special and names her Onyesonwu ("Who fears death?"). Onye grapples with the circumstances of her birth, with tradition and love and magical powers. Read information technology earlier its adaptation hits HBO — and, while y'all're at it, option up Okorafor'southward Hugo and Nebula Honor-winning Binti trilogy.

All Boys Aren't Blueish: Journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his babyhood and college years in a series of personal essays that tackle topics like gender identity, toxic masculinity, Black joy and alliance. School Library Periodical notes that the YA memoir'due south "conversational tone will exit readers feeling like they are sitting with an insightful friend. …Johnson anchors the text with encouragement and realistic guidance for queer Blackness youth."

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Sure, we've seen quite a few Spider-Homo origin stories on the silvery screen, only "let's practise this just one more than time." In this iteration, our hero is Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a Black Puerto Rican teen from Brooklyn who fears he'southward not living up to his father's high expectations. As Spidey fate would accept it, Miles is bitten past a radioactive arachnid and must take up the Spidey mantle to save New York — and the multiverse. Hilarious, activeness-packed and full of heart, the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse proves anyone tin wear the mask.

Cinderella (1997): Co-produced by Whitney Houston — who as well appears on-screen equally the Fairy Godmother — this '90s remake of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical stars singer Brandy in the titular part, making her the first Black woman to portray Cinderella — or whatever Disney princess, for that thing. At the time, Cinderella'due south racially diverse bandage was considered groundbreaking and, looking back, the tale seems to hold up. "Cinderella was effortlessly, even unintentionally, progressive," R. Eric Thomas wrote for Elle. "It conjured a globe that was vibrant and modern and multicultural, and it filled that world with magic."

Queen of Katwe: Adapted from an ESPN magazine article and volume past Tim Crothers, Queen of Katwe depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a Black girl who lives in Kampala, a slum in Uganda'south uppercase, and who eventually becomes a Woman Candidate Primary after winning at the Globe Chess Olympiads. Writing for Vox, Alissa Wilkinson notes that the Disney sports picture show is "the exact opposite of a white savior pic — but that'due south not the only reason it's great."

Space Jam: Co-starring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny, the moving-picture show showcases a fictionalized account (we hope) of what happened between Jordan'south initial NBA retirement in '93 and his legendary '95 comeback. Co-ordinate to Space Jam, he was drafted by the Looney Tunes characters to help them win their freedom from a ruthless amusement park owner, Mr. Swackhammer, by beating the magnate'due south Monstars — a villainous group of toons who stole the talent of other real-life NBA players — in a basketball match.

The Princess and the Frog: While The Princess and the Frog certainly has some fair criticisms pointed at it — namely that the outset animated Black Disney Princess spends most of the movie every bit an amphibian — there's yet a lot to dearest here. Namely, Tiana (Anika Noni Rose‎), the titular princess, dreams of one day opening her own restaurant in downtown New Orleans — only to find her plans delayed when she kisses a prince who's been magically transformed into a frog. Hilarious, heartfelt and full of jazz-inspired hits, this film ranks among Disney'southward best.

Diversify What You're Streaming: Alive-Activity TV Shows

Reading Rainbow: This educational public TV series is a classic. Hosted past LeVar Burton, Reading Rainbow won over 200 broadcast awards, including a Peabody and a whopping 26 Emmy Awards. The concept? Get kids to read. And it worked. Reading Rainbow is PBS' third-longest running children's series, just later on Sesame Street and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and, only similar those shows, it's essential childhood viewing.

Photo Courtesy: Big Ticket Goggle box/IMDb

Gullah Gullah Island: Another throwback, Gullah Gullah Island originally aired from 1994 to 1998 on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. Starring Ron and Natalie Daise, who besides served equally cultural advisors, the evidence was inspired by the Gullah civilisation of Ron'southward dwelling — St. Helena Isle, Southward Carolina, which is function of the Bounding main Islands. Total of tricky songs and hilarious humor, Gullah Gullah Island was groundbreaking, becoming the first preschool TV programme to star a Black family.

Grown-ish: This comedy spin-off of ABC's hit series Black-ish follows the Johnson family unit's eldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) as she weathers her freshman twelvemonth of college. Grown-ish follows familiar teen fare, but it does and so with sharp, fresh humour — and a whole lot of amuse. The ensemble cast is rounded out by R&B duo Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey and Trevor Jackson.

Moesha: Starring R&B singer Brandy equally Moesha Denise Mitchell, Moesha centered an upper-eye class, Black high schooler whose family lived in Los Angeles. The teen sitcom dealt with pregnancy, drug use, premarital sex activity, grief, race relations and typical high-school drama. With invitee appearances from Usher, Octavia Spencer, Gabrielle Matrimony, Baton Dee Williams and other acclaimed Black actors, Moesha ran for half-dozen seasons, giving new and returning viewers plenty to marathon.

Black Lightning: The CW's Blackness Lightning portrays retired superhero Jefferson Pierce, the titular DC Comics hero, and his family unit. His eldest girl, Anissa Pierce, begins to manifest her own powers of invulnerability and super strength, condign the vigilante known as Thunder. Eventually, she joins her dad, fighting aslope Blackness Lightning's team, and moonlights as her Robin Hood-esque persona Blackbird as well. Not many shows center on Black lesbian characters — let alone a queer Black character who's invincible — and that makes Black Lightning (and Anissa Pierce) pretty darn awesome.

Diversify What You're Streaming: Animated Shows & Shorts

The Proud Family: Created by animator Bruce W. Smith — and produced by Jambalaya Studios — this blithe sitcom ran on the Disney Channel from 2001 until 2005. The bear witness's master protagonist is 14-year-onetime Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt), who is constantly navigating her male parent Oscar'due south (Tommy Davidson) overprotectiveness and embarrassing shenanigans. Nominated for several Annie and NAACP Image Awards, The Proud Family nabbed a BET Award for Outstanding Comedy Series — and, luckily for viewers, it's available on Disney+.

Photo Courtesy: Warner Bros. Animation/IMDb

Static Shock: DC Comics' Static Shock is iconic for many reasons — and the catchy theme song is definitely i of those reasons. Apart from that, the show is as well iconic for being i of the few times a Blackness superhero was the titular grapheme/star of their own serial. For the uninitiated, Static Shock is about Virgil Hawkins, who, after being exposed to a mutagen gas, develops electromagnetic powers and the change-ego "Static."

Hair Dear: For those who aren't familiar with Matthew A. Red'south Oscar-winning short film, Hair Dearest tells the story of Zuri, a young Black girl who is proud of her hair, which "kinks, coils, curls every which mode." On a special day, she needs a special look and enlists her devoted begetter's aid. "I dear that Hair Beloved [highlights] the human relationship between a Black father and daughter," said Academy Award-winning filmmaker Hashemite kingdom of jordan Peele. "Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black experience. We need this." To accompany his Oscar-winning short, Cherry released a film book version with illustrations by the acclaimed Vashti Harrison.

Dear Basketball: Blithe by legendary Disney animator Glen Keane, Love Basketball was a passion project for the late Kobe Bryant. And that passion projection led to an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Narrated by Bryant, the motion-picture show is based on a alphabetic character he wrote for The Players' Tribune in Nov 2015 when he announced his retirement from the NBA.

Doc McStuffins: Although creator Chris Nee isn't Black, she has been praised for Doc McStuffins' portrayal of Black characters, including the titular character — a young girl capable of fixing toys with a little assist from her pals. Dr. Myiesha Taylor, founding president of Artemis Medical Society and namesake of Dottie "Doc" McStuffins' female parent, said that "This program featuring a footling African-American girl and her family is crucial to changing the future of this nation." Chosen "Cheers for kids" by Nee, Doc McStuffins too garnered praise for featuring an interracial lesbian couple.