Discussion Questions for Educators: When and How to Talk with Young Children about Enslavement

The 8 questions featured on this guide are from the work of Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards to serve as a guide to help us as parents, family members, loved ones, and educators address slavery to our children. It is our duty to critically think about how children are cognitively understanding as well as emotionally holding the truth about slavery. In addition to that work, we need to explore and question what sources we are using or will use to help us talk about enslavement so we don’t spread the false, joyful, peaceful, and honey-glazed narratives about slavery.To provide examples of this—read the critique of ‘A Fine Dessert’ by NPR Code Switch or ‘A Birthday Cake for George Washington’ by Teaching for Change.