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Anti-Racism: Children & Families: Identity & Diversity

print, online and video resources for discussing racism and white supremacy culture; dismantling racism; and raising compassionate, loving children

Welcome

Welcome to The Ministry Lab's curated list of resources for Talking with Children about the Identity and Diversity. Here you'll find:

  • Books and Downloadable resources that are authored by, affirm and celebrate diverse identities
  • Additional Book Lists from trusted sources
  • Blogs, Podcasts & Articles to spark conversation
  • Websites & Curricula to deepen and broaden at-home and at-church learning and growth

If you don't find a resource to fit your need, don't hesitate to consult with The Ministry Lab's director, Emily Meyer, who is happy to assist you.

Children's Books - Asian-Descent Voices

Brown Is Beautiful     Drawn Together     Eyes That Kiss in the Corners     Hats of Faith     I Am Golden     Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World     My Name     Sora's Seashells     Watercress  

Children's Books - Black Voices

     Black Boy Joy     Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way     Black Is a Rainbow Color     Black Magic     Daddy Why Am I Brown? A Healthy Conversation About Skin Color and Family.          God's Holy Darkness     Hats of Faith          I Am Perfectly Designed     I'm Still Here (Adapted for Young Readers) by Austin Channing Brown     Juneteenth for Mazie     Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World     Magnolia Flower     A Place Inside of Me          Sing, Aretha, Sing!     The Snowy Day - Wikipedia     Stella's Stellar Hair     Sulwe     Amazon.com: When I Fly with Papa (9781634891158): Claudia May, Jena  Holliday, Jena Holliday: Books  

Addresses issues children might hear about in the news and may not understand; straightforward and kid-friendly explanations of tough topics; includes ideas for what they can do to help make the world a better, fairer place. Each book has a glossary and additional resources.

The series includes: Culture and Diversity; Rights and Equality; Protecting the Planet; and Rules and Responsibilities.

Children's Books - Different Abilities

               Look Inside God's Big Plan     

                           accompanied by God's Big Plan Board Book.

A Head Full of Birds     I Am Perfectly Designed          Loving Kindness          When We Are Kind            

Children's Books - Diversity

                         

                           accompanied by God's Big Plan Board Book.

     God's Holy Darkness     Hats of Faith     I Am God's Dream by Matthew Paul Turner    I Am Perfectly Designed          Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World     Loving Kindness     Mira and the Big Story (read by the author)     My Name          Sora's Seashells               When We Are Kind            

Children's Books - Gender/Sexuality/Identity

A Costume for Charly          The Kid with Big, Big Ideas          Cover of They’re So Flamboyant     

Children's Books - Indigenous Voices

          Magnolia Flower            

Children's Books - Latine Voices

     Bright Star     God Is Just Like Me     Cover of The Heart of Mi Familia     I Love You Mucho Mucho     Latinitas     Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World     Cover of Marvelous Maravilloso: Me and My Beautiful Family (medium)     Run, Little Chaski!     The Secret of the Plátano     Zonia's Rain Forest

Adults & Youth Books

BUILDING LASTING BRIDGES          Sistering | The Art of Holding Close and Letting Go (Dickey and Neff)     210215_FrontCover-01.png          When Kids Ask Hard Questions, Volume 2: More Faith-Filled Responses for Tough Topics     When We Belong

Other Book Lists

BL_PrideMonth2023_Photo2Personal Transformation

It can be difficult to love ourselves and others when we live in a society that isn't always affirming of queerness. These books inspire us to overcome our fears and transform more fully into the person we are meant to be.

 

Building Faith's Picture Books for Antiracists provides an overview for:

  • Seeing the Beloved Community
  • Celebrating the Joy in Everyday Life
  • Building Empathy
  • Practicing Love & Kindness
  • Social Justice
  • Embracing a Vision
  • Hope for All

The MN Annual Conference UMC's Rev. Dana Neuhauser offers this list of Books That Can Build Empathy for BIPOC Communities.

Rev. Kelly Sherman Conroy of Nativity Lutheran Church created this Indigenous Peoples Resources list for all ages.

Picture Books that Celebrate Diversity

13 Books about Race and Diversity from PBS Kids for Parents is fantastic.

Beaming Books offers 10 Books That Celebrate Our Many Differences which includes topics such as ableism, age, race, culture and ethnicity, and gender and sexuality identities.

Mattress Advisor's Bedtime Stories in response to We Need Diverse Books (a nonprofit working for more diversity in children's books):  The list is available in full or broken into these categories:

Blogs, Podcasts & Articles

THIS set of slides on pronouncing a name from a culture that is not your own is very useful and practical - and helpful when you want to be hospitable and welcoming whether in your building or your neighborhood.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Reading Lists for Children

Websites & Curricula

Find books, curricula, prayer, music, and worship elements (including a full sermon), and community organizations and businesses grouped to help congregations take next steps in antiracism work, creation care, and addressing intergenerational mental health and well-being in the WaterThreads - Woven Together: Water, Community, Well-Being. Available online and via requested download for member congregations - who should email: ministrylab@unitedseminary.edu - for access.

Embrace Race offers a number of resources:

  • toolkits for study and teaching
  • support for adults caring for children (and others) affected by racialized trauma
  • podcasts and webinars to empower and encourage all ages in meeting white nationalism, white supremacy, and racialized violence

Honor God's DiversityHonor God’s Diversity - God calls us to honor diversity that God has created in our world by diving deep beyond just accepting diversity. When we recognize and celebrate the different gifts, abilities, and voices in all creation, we honor the diversity in the world God has created.

With age-specific and intergenerational/full congregation curriculum available (click here and scroll down).

R-Squared

What Is Critical Race Theory and What Christians Should Know

includes:

  • GCORR REAL TALK video to learn more about Critical Race Theory

  • Critical Race Theory Infographic Series download

  • Christian Voices on Critical Race Theory
  • More Christian Perspectives (additional resources)
  • How White Christians Can Learn from Critical Race Theory

Who Is My Neighbor? - MennoMedia’s 2019 VBS curriculum

Compassion Camp: Be Kind. Be Loved. Be You. is an At-Home/Virtual VBS where kids and their families explore what it means to have compassion for others, ourselves, and the world. Geared toward preschool-age children and K-5th graders, it is incredibly flexible, adaptable, and fun for the entire family, older siblings included.

In Our Library - Tweens & Teens

The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls  -     Edited By: Evelyn L. Parker          This Is My Body     Who Am I?: Exploring What It Means to Be... book by Katherine Paterson     When Kids Ask Hard Questions: Faith-filled Responses for Tough Topics     Stolen: Is Social Media Stealing Your Identity? (Softcover)  -     By: Jessica Fralin

In Our Library - Children

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