Explaining Systemic Oppression To Kids In Ways They Can Understand
Updated: May 3
As parents and educators committed to empowering our children with knowledge that allows them to know better and do better, we understand that tackling topics like systemic oppression with our kids is a must. But how should we do that?
Sadly, there are more than enough examples to choose from when it comes to systemic oppression in our world. However, even as conscious parents and educators, the words to explain systemic oppression in ways kids will understand may not always come so easily. We want our kids to know the truth, but don't want to strip them of their innocence more than is necessary... or more than society already has done without our help. We want our kids to feel empowered, but not afraid. We want to teach the truth, but we also tend to instinctually self-preserve, and want to ensure that our livelihoods and the safety of our families are secure.
Sometimes, all of these tensions cannot be balanced, and courageous risks must be taken. However, there are lots of clear and straightforward ways we can explain systemic oppression to kids that are developmentally appropriate, totally factually sound, and will give children the tools they need to build a better future for everyone without almost any risk involved. All we have to do is be prepared with some simple phrases that break down these complex topics in age-appropriate ways.
Below are some common misconceptions about talking to kids about issues of injustice, as well as five phrases you can use RIGHT NOW when talking to kids about oppressive structures.
Common Misconceptions and Fears About Teaching Children About Systemic Oppression
We've heard it before and we will hear it again. "They're too young." "They won't understand." "They didn't see it before we pointed it out!" "This causes more problems than it solves." "Talking about this stuff makes kids racist and hateful toward each other." WRONG. While these fears are common, they are not backed up by statistics or research... or anyone with a lived experience of oppression. Research shows that children's racial biases solidify between ages 3-6, which means that if we haven't worked to actively teach our children a counter narrative, the dominant societal influence of systemic oppression will take full hold, and our kids will absorb these implicit messages and begin displaying their effects before we know it.
Let me give you an example. At the time of this writing, my older child is 5 years old. Since birth, he has been intentionally surrounded by Black and Brown friends, teachers, dolls, book characters, history, images, stories... you name it. He has come with me to dozens of local NAACP meetings and events. He knows how to explain systemic oppression better than many adults I know, and that is not an exaggeration. Yet, yesterday, he handed me a coloring page of a Nativity scene he colored, and what did I see? The Holy Family... who my child KNOWS are from the Middle East and did not have white skin... colored in with a peach crayon! White supremacy's grip is strong, friends!
Examples like this show how important it is to begin our conversations about structural oppression early and continue them often. Not all oppressive structures are tied to race, of course, so the following phrases can be used in discussions of many different power structures that exist and need to be dismantled. When we help our children notice structures and systems at play, it removes the individualistic myth that oppression is fueled or dismantled by simple acts of meanness or kindness, respectively, and replaces it with a deeper understanding of how power structures can be intentionally maintained or intentionally dismantled.
5 Phrases For Teaching Children About Systemic Oppression
"Throughout the history of [name of country, region, group, etc.], the people with the most power to make and enforce rules and decisions were [cultural or racial descriptor of dominant power group]."
"We can use our power to help others, or we can use it to keep other people down."
"This is an example of how a group of people can use their power in a hurtful way."
"When people with power try to keep it for themselves, it takes other people's equal rights away."
"A system is made up of laws, ideas, and people. We can keep or change a system by working together toward a common goal."
So, next time you need to address issues of systemic oppression with your children or students, have these phrases ready to go! They will help you break down complexities in ways our kids will understand, without sugar-coating the truth or exposing them to concepts for which they may not be ready. Most importantly, keep talking with them! Conversations don't have to be perfect (perfectionism is a white supremacy trait, anyway). If you do make a mistake, it's just an opportunity to go back later and show your child or students how to do better once you know better.
I would love to know how these phrases work for you and the children you are raising or teaching! Please keep in touch and share your experiences, because, as Maya Angelou tells us, when we know better, we need do do better... and we know we are better together!
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