Anti-Racism and Anti-Prejudice Classrooms and Homes Include:
Direct conversations about racism and equity. Books that:
Expose children to different cultural experiences
Teach about accomplishments and contributions of people from different backgrounds (for Black heroes many children’s books discuss the same heroes. While Dr. MLK Jr, Rosa Parks, athletes, and entertainers are great, it’s important for Black heroes in other fields to be studied)
Books that teach about justice and how people have overcome injustice
Books that show characters from diverse backgrounds but have nothing to do with culture/race/identity: Just an African-American boy on his first day of school. Just a Pakistani-American girl playing soccer. Just a Native-American girl cooking with her family. Just a boy who uses a wheelchair flying his kite. Just a main character in a story.
Books about character and morals: kindness, anti-bully, doing the right thing, helping others.
Diverse toys, puzzles, dolls, puppets, art supplies, posters, flash cards.
Diverse music and shows.
Diverse friendships, teachers, staff.
Preschoolers are not too young for this topic in my opinion. There are preschoolers experiencing racism on playgrounds, schoolyards, and in classrooms. So we need preschoolers who have had conversations about racism being wrong. Kids love learning about fairness. Teachers and parents have power here, we must use it.