All Children Need “The Talk”

Parents of Black children are all too familiar with “The Talk.”

“The Talk” where they teach their kids not to have their hands in their pockets at a store. “The Talk” where they teach their kids how to act around police in an attempt to keep themselves safe. “The Talk” where they teach their kids about the racism they’re already experiencing and will continue to experience.

But the truth is, “The Talk” isn’t something that only families with Black children should be having — it’s something white children and other Children of Color should be hearing about as well so they can be part of the solution.

And this week on the podcast, I have a powerful interview with author Alicia D. Williams to talk about “The Talk,” which is the subject and title of her new children’s book.

Alicia is an award-winning author of books that offer understanding, empathy, hope and inspiration, including “The Talk,” which received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. She is a graduate of the MFA program at Hamline University and an oral storyteller in the African American tradition, and she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the interview, we talk about:

• The story behind her book “The Talk”
• Why white children and other Children of Color need to have the talk as well
• Tips for how to have the talk
• How to teach children about the police
• How to talk to kids about the dangers of racism while also helping them feel safe