Children will light up the world if we don’t keep them in the dark | Lucretia Berry | TEDxCharlotte

I share a few real life instances where people exhibit how horrible we are as a society at talking with children about race and skin tone. We’ve even resorted to promoting blindness - ‘colorblindess’ - that is, to avoid the complexities and nuances of the conversation. I then share insights from current research and my perspective and experience on how we can do better, much much better. WHY ARE WE SO BAD at talking to kids about skin tone and race?
Children do see differences in skin tone. We don’t have to irresponsibly silence them with the ‘colorblind approach.’ When we responsibly normalize conscious conversations about skin tone and race, we empower them to be competent, comfortable, and courageous as they navigate our hyper-racialized society and seek ways to bring healing and change. Lucretia Berry is the founder of Brownicity: The Art & Beauty of Living & Loving Beyond Race (brownicity.com), a family-focused, grass roots initiative dedicated to advocacy, education and support for racial healing and antiracism. She is a wife to Nathan, mother of three little girls, and former college professor who is passionate about helping people overcome boundaries through spiritual and social consciousness. Lucretia authored, What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Towards Racial Healing Journal & Guide, designed specifically for ‘beginners’ to race conversations. The work she has done through her What LIES Between US classes and the ‘fun-shops’ she designed to help adults navigate skin tone and race conversations with children has earned Lucretia the reputation of being a ‘life-giving’ and ‘grace-filled’ facilitator.
Lucretia earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, and MA in English from Iowa State University, and her BA from South Carolina State University. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@fonnettagore36]

Excellent message. Spoken from the heart. Very down to earth and direct. Really enjoyed the presentation and delivery.

[@mydearamy]

This is really great!!! I just spotted this via EmbraceRace (an organization that supports parents in keeping this open dialogue with their kids around race), and this talk really paints the overview of why this is important very well, and even gives some examples and inroads for these conversations. Well done!! Thank you, ​Lucretia Berry, I'm sharing it!!

[@brownicitymanyhuesonehuman757]

You're welcome! Don't you just love EmbraceRace?

[@lucretiaberry7839]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and sharing!

[@karenheck843]

Very well presented. I love when I'm able to learn something to help me be a better and improving person. This talk challenged me to think about how I'm handling this conversation within my circle of influence and ways that I can improve on how I respond to the questions presented to me. Thank you, Lucretia, for this TEDx Presentation on race.

[@lucretiaberry7839]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@themilkmanual]

As a mother of 2 biracial children, I tend to think A LOT about the upcoming conversations regarding race. I love this TED talk because it helps my mindset of making sure to share as much as possible. "Children will light up the world if we don't keep them in the dark"- I absolutely love that!

[@gracewhite1969]

Really important topic! Well laid out and answers so many of the predictable pushbacks that people give when I tell them a colorblind rhetoric is actually harmful.

[@hollythompson3552]

So good!!!!!

[@sophiebanegas2885]

Beautiful, eloquent, amazing!

[@brownicitymanyhuesonehuman757]

Thank you Sophie!!

[@brownicitymanyhuesonehuman757]

Follow: @brownicity and founders @lucretiaberry @nathanberry

[@MyFist]

1st lul