For Black children, having at least one Black teacher in elementary school reduces the likelihood of dropping out of high school by 39%.Ī racial window, on the other hand, offers children an opportunity to see into someone else’s experience of life. Studies show that students do better in school when they have teachers who are racial mirrors. While it’s important for all kids to understand prejudice, it’s just as important for all children to be able to see positive role models who resemble them. White people have lots of opportunities for racial mirrors, usually in their own neighborhoods as well as in their schools, in politics, and on TV.įor children of color, racial mirrors can be harder to come by, especially if a child is being raised in a family of a different race or in a largely white community. Racial mirrors can help a child feel seen and validated, and also help them to imagine a place for themselves in their community and the world at large. A racial mirror is a person whose identity matches yours, and who can reflect your own experiences back to you. “Racial mirror” is a term that may be familiar to you if you’re in the adoption community, particularly if you’ve adopted a child whose race is different than your own. In this post, I’ll be sharing 5 books that provide racial mirrors and windows for kids of many backgrounds, while also giving parents opportunities to introduce conversations about race. Kids of all races need opportunities to see themselves in stories, as well as chances to see the world through other peoples’ eyes. I believe this is helpful to all my clients-regardless of their background-because everyone benefits from better representation.

Working toward this goal, I’m making sure that new toys and books that I add to the playroom reflect the children who are going to be using them.

My hope is that children who visit me in the office will feel that it is a place for them, regardless of whether or not they look like me. What can I do as a white therapist, living and working in a town that is not very diverse, to better support these kids and families? One small step I’ve taken is to select images for my website, therapy office, and playroom that represent many races and ethnicities. As I write this, we are right in the middle of Black History Month, and I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how I can be a better ally to my clients of color.

Lovely by Jess Hong