|  | Nurturing the Next Generation
Sound Vision |
| |  | Talking to your Youth about Racism By Ivana Zajkovska Parents might worry about or shy away from talking to their children about racism. They may worry that they are too young or avoid the discussion because they don’t fully understand it themselves. The reality is, there is no perfect way to have a full conversation about racism and no single approach that is right for all families – it’s just imperative that you do. This article is meant to help you start the conversation with your family and give you some tools to use along the way. Check out the details here. |
| | | Parenting Tip A critical part of learning about racism is learning how to challenge and unlearn racist ideas. To do this work, you will have to step out of your comfort zone and truly value the diversity amongst us. Our children must also be part of that change. |
| |  | Picture Books: Identity+Building a Sense of Self By Rabia Khokhar We need to talk about our skin colours so that we can disrupt ideas around “colour-blindness.” We need to “see” each other's colour because that is part of our identity and story. Equity and Education Consultant Rabia Khokhar has shared a list of books that can help children see reflections of themselves and others in their local, broader, and global communities. Look for these selections in your local library or for purchase online. |
| | | Inspiration “Children are capable of thinking about all sorts of complex topics at a very young age. Even if adults don't talk to kids about race, children will work to make sense of their world and will come up with their own ideas, which may be inaccurate or detrimental.” Jessica Sullivan, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Skidmore College |
| |  | Hablamos Islam, We Speak Islam By Zahirah Lynn Eppard Islamic outreach and education for the Latino/Hispanic population both in the United States and Latin America is of paramount importance. Since 2005, Hablamos Islam, Inc., (formerly the PrimeXample Company) has made it a priority to educate Spanish-speakers and their families about Islam and Muslims. It was a labor of love back then and a family affair. |
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| Hadith Abu Hurairah narrated, that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Verily, Allah the Most High has removed from you the arrogance of the days of ignorance and its boasting about one’s forefathers, regardless of whether they were righteous believers or wretched sinners. You are all the children of Adam and Adam was created from dirt. Let everyone give up all of the boasting that they do in the name of their ancestors. They are merely the fuel of the fire of Hell or they are more insignificant to Allah than the beetle which rolls dung with its nose. (Abu Dawud) |
| |  | Signs your Child’s Curriculum Has Been Whitewashed By Melissa Barreto A critical part of learning about racism is learning how to challenge and unlearn racist ideas. Racist ideas are taught to us from a young age through family, friends, the cultures we ascribe to, and the media we consume. But there is another large source that often goes undetected and unaddressed by families: their child’s school curricula. Whether you are a parent with children in private school, public school or homeschool, racist ideas permeate learning curricula in many disciplines, including history, geography, language arts, government, politics, science, and more. It’s called whitewashing. Learn how to detect and what to do about whitewashed curricula by reading the full article. |
| | | Some Interesting Facts Research studies suggest that: - Parents believed conversations about race should begin near a child’s 5th birthday even though children begin to be aware of race when they are infants.
- 3-month-old babies prefer faces from certain racial groups.
- 9-month-olds use race to categorize faces.
- 3-year-old children in the U.S. associate some racial groups with negative traits.
- By age 4, children in the U.S. associate whites with wealth and higher status.
- Race-based discrimination is already widespread when children start elementary school.
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| |  | Book Review: Standing Up to Racism Because You Matter By Umm Ahmed The text and beautiful illustrations in All Because You Matter by Tami Charles and illustrated by Bryan Collier paint a powerful message for the reader who has felt the sting of oppression, hatred, and racism. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, this lyrical picture book challenges children and parents alike to take pride in their rich ancestral heritage and stand tall even in the face of injustice. Read the full review here. |
| | | Online Resources Children Notice Race Several Years before Adults Want to Talk about It - This article from the American Psychological Association discusses research about how children notice race and conceive ideas about race from a very early age. When parents choose not to address the topic, children frequently fill in the gaps with their own details to reach understanding. Antiracist Parenting Is a Journey Not a Destination - This is a nice article about the responsibilities related to adopting antiracist practices as a family. Uplifting Black Muslim Youth Toolkit - The Family & Youth Institute has compiled an amazing array of resources in this toolkit. There is much for Black families here and also details about the diversity of our American Muslim community. Explaining Race: Coming Together - Sesame Street has many nice resources related to racial justice. “Coming Together,” one of the videos in a series entitled Explaining Race, discusses the science behind various skin colors using an analogy of leaves on a tree. (3:09) Famous Historical Muslims of African/Black Origin - This comprehensive reference provides details and bibliographies about the lives of 30 historical figures - men and women - of African/Black origin dating from the time of the Prophet to the present day. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story - This link is a video reading of the beautiful award-winning book written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez Neal. There is also much detail about the history of Native Americans in the U.S. provided on a resource called Epic Books, which makes thousands of books easily accessible online for free. |
| |  | Adam’s World Video: Let’s Talk about Racism: Fishing Buddies Adam’s father has just returned from a fishing trip with his friend Mr. Makwa, a member of the Anishinabek Nation. The two talked about the history of oppression against the First Peoples in Canada and the impact of the practice of destroying their cultural heritage by placing Indigenous children in residential boarding schools. (4:11) |
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|  | Experienced educators and creative hosts have put together a special treat for the entire family during our Winter Break! Four separate classes designed for children ages 5 through 12 offer maximum learning opportunities in an engaging learning environment. Students explore: - the beauty of Allah and His creation
- the best of human ingenuity
- beautiful Muslim lands and cultures
- delicious baked sweets
Recorded classes make it easy to learn at a time that works for your family and in the safety of your home. Tuition is family based and scholarships are available. Make a plan to join us! Visit Academy.AdamsWorld.org for more details and online registration. |
| |  | | The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same. |
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