Boys into Men: Raising Our African
American Teenage Sons
By Nancy Boyd-Franklin

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Editorial Review
From Booklist:
With the aid of a professional writer, therapists and psychologists Nancy Boyd-Franklin and her husband, A. J. Franklin, provide such useful specific information on raising young black men as how parents can counsel their sons to prevent their being arrested or shot by overzealous police following racial-profiling practices. As they advise, they inevitably present the realities young black men face, from gang violence in the inner city to racial profiling in the suburbs. Of course, they also cover the usual challenges to teens posed by sex, drugs, peer pressure, rap music, and sports. They are very frank in their observations about raising young black men to, say, avoid teen parenthood or realistically consider the prospects of sports careers. Still, they are sensitive to the particular pressures on young black men to balance realistic assessment of racism and personal responsibility. They offer parents encouragement and a wealth of further resources. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Stickin' To, Watchin' Over, and Gettin' With: An African American Parent's Guide to Discipline
by Howard Stevenson (Author),
Gwendolyn Davis (Author),
Saburah Abdul-Kabir (Author)

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Editorial Review
From Library Journal
Clinical psychologist Stevenson, Gwendolyn Davis, a social worker and psychologist, and Saburah Abdul-Kabir, a community outreach coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania's Community Outreach Through Parental Empowerment program, have collaborated on Stickin' to, Watchin' Over, and Gettin' With, a guide about discipline for African American parents. The authors suggest a trifold approach to discipline: showing love and affection, being involved with children and community, and providing correction and accountability. Addressing preschoolers, school-age children, preadolescents, and teenagers, they clearly explain how to help children deal with racism and how parenting is different for African Americans. Many of the same strengths identified by Harris (e.g., community involvement, sense of heritage, affection, and hope) are reiterated here. References and resource lists are appended. Both books are enthusiastically recommended. Kay Brodie, Chesapeake Coll., Wye Mills, MD
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Racism Explained to My Daughter
by Tahar Ben Jelloun, et al

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Editorial Review
From Library Journal
If its success in Europe is any indication, this book should be a best seller in America. Attempting to explain racism is challenging enough, and it is even harder when one is explaining it to a child. Prize-winning author Ben Jelloun (Corruption, New Pr., 1995) meets the challenge, as Bill Cosby acknowledges in his introduction. Written in question-and-answer formatAhis daughter's questions, Ben Jelloun's answersAthe book is appropriately brief. The author does not consider his words final, and so the four responses, from William Ayers, Lisa Delpit, David Mura, and Patricia Williams, parents and writers all, are important in continuing the discussion and applying it to the American scene. The book is easy to read and provocative, touching on discrimination, religion, genetics, stereotyping, immigration, xenophobia, and more. Rare should be the library that does not have it.AJohn Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Everyday Acts Against Racism: Raising Children in a Multiracial World
by Maureen T. Reddy (Editor)

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Editorial Review
From Library Journal
Edited by the author of Crossing the Color Line (Rutgers Univ. Pr., 1996), this anthology aims to be a resource for parents who wish to teach their children to be antiracist by providing "descriptions of actions mothers, especially feminist mothers, had taken against racism." The contributors, 20 women and one male feminist ranging in age from the twenties to the sixties, represent several racial and cultural backgrounds and include 14 academics. This breadth provides insight into many aspects of racism, e.g., issues unique to mixed-race families. The writing is consistently good, though mostly anecdotal, with some references to studies or other literature. Major premises are that passive antiracism perpetuates racism and that racism must be addressed directly and as it occurs. One of only a few books addressing the issue of raising children to be antiracist, this anthology is unique in its feminist treatment of the topic. This thought-provoking coverage of a timely topic with some unusual and unconventional responses is well recommended for public libraries.
Carol R. Nelson, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla : Raising Healthy Black
and Biracial Children in a Race-Conscious World
by Marguerite Wright (Author)

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Editorial Review
Book Description
Myth: Black and biracial children dislike their race from the time they are preschoolers.
Reality: Young black and biracial children are unable to understand racial prejudice. In fact, developmentally they are incapable of understanding the concept of race.
A childs concept of race is quite different from that of an adult. Young children perceive skin color as magical—even changeable—and unlike adults, are incapable of understanding the mature concepts surrounding race and racism. Just as children learn to walk and talk, they likewise come to understand race in a series of predictable stages.
Based on Dr. Marguerite A. Wrights research and clinical experience working as a child psychologist, Im Chocolate, Youre Vanilla teaches us that the color-blindness of early childhood can, and must, be taken advantage of in order to guide the positive development of a childs self-esteem.
Im Chocolate, Youre Vanilla is filled with practical, positive, and creative ideas for handling common situations such as what to do when your child says she wants a white doll; how to deal with relatives and friends who compare your childrens skin colors and hair textures; and how to discipline your children so that they can grow up with self respect. Teachers will gain valuable insights about how preconceptions can contribute to a childs success or failure and how to handle discipline problems in the classroom.
Wright answers some fundamental questions about children and race including:

What do children know and understand about the color of their skin?
When do children understand the concept of race?
Are there warning signs that a child is being adversely affected by racial prejudice?
How can adults avoid instilling in children their own negative perceptions and prejudices?
What can parents do to prepare their children to overcome the racism they are likely to encounter?
How can schools lessen the impact of racism?

With wisdom and compassion, Im Chocolate, Youre Vanilla spells out how to educate black and biracial children about race, while preserving their innate resilience and optimism—the birthright of all children.
The Definitive Guide to Teaching Black and Biracial Children About Race
Im Chocolate, Youre Vanilla teaches parents and educators of black and biracial children how to reduce racisms impact on a childs development— from preschool through adolescence— and in doing so raise emotionally healthy children.