To begin this month’s article, I want to start with a reflection on the 1968 song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” by Nina Simone. NPR’s article on the song quotes Simone saying she wanted the song to “make black children all over the world feel good about themselves, forever.” I love how the article cites Meshell Ndegeocello, who covered the song recently, as having first heard it played by her middle school teacher, and feeling that the song filled a need. “Being of color, you did not feel gifted- and especially if you were black.”
Children are attuned to social signals everywhere. Who is represented in the media- books, film, music- in what way? What race are their educators? What race are their government leaders? How do families get treated differently in public? How do children get treated differently because of the way they look or act? Simone’s song sent a strong signal to black children- “you are gifted- a lovely precious dream.” The song sends an appeal to all listeners, “open your heart” to the truth about black children- the souls of black children are “intact,” and that’s “a fact.” In other words, that which makes us possess the spark of human potential, dignity, and worth is present for every black child, undeniably.
Just like James Weldon Johnson’s 1900 “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which every American child should know, Simone’s song is a celebration of black pride at a time when progress towards social justice had occurred. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was written at the end of the Reconstruction Era, that period of time after the Civil War when freed slaves were given opportunities in education, the work force, society and politics. Reflective of the residual racism that would inevitably undo the efforts of Reconstruction and produce a segregated, Jim Crow South, Johnson’s anthem indicates learning from the dark past of slavery, but that a victory still needed to be won against those working to maintain white supremacy and dehumanize black families.
Similarly, Simone’s song was written near the end of the Civil Rights movement. Victories were won to end segregation, restore and expand voting rights, and pass anti-discrimination laws. However the racist dehumanization of the 1960’s, evident in the violent backlash against that progress, still continues today. We still need to lift every voice and sing to counteract this mindset, as it is deeply entrenched and often ignored or minimized.
From modern day racially fuelled murders to racist micro-agressions, from the school to prison pipeline to the recent weaponizing of the term “DEI hire” against highly successful people of color, today’s children are still very much in need of Simone’s song, and others like it. There is a need for Black children to see the positive truth about themselves, and there is a need for every child to learn to celebrate and see that truth as well.
Help your children learn to celebrate the truth about diversity, equity, and inclusion, not just in relation to the historic oppression of black families, but with an awareness of all types of othering. Music speaks truth to power in a way that is easily perceived, and songs meant for children have a crucial opportunity to shape our future.
Share with your child songs that extoll diversity as a strength to be nurtured, celebrated, and amplified, rather than a weakness to be tolerated. Introduce equity to your child by listening to ballads that support sharing and giving to those in need. Children’s music that exemplifies empathy, kindness, and respect for everyone, celebrating radical inclusion, boosts your child’s learning of those prosocial skills.
In my search for songs to recommend, I came across playlists and resources* designed to connect educators and families with such music. I’d like to share those here, in addition to sharing songs by topic and age group below. Finally, I have more recommended activities to practice these skills. We can imagine and conceptualize while listening, singing, and moving to the beat, then we can share what we learn in the community!
Diversity- Joy, Spice, Soul (feat. Falu and Fyutch) by Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats- This is a song that represents diversity so beautifully by featuring the voices of three different singers, three different musical traditions, and three different shared positivities- joy, spice and soul. The FUN of coming together, sharing and celebrating what makes us different, while acknowledging that joy, spice, and soul can be represented in different ways, is truly evident in this song.
Equity- Friendly, Gentle, Sharing, Courageous by Teeny Tiny Stevies- The examples given, possible challenges, and ideal outcomes of acting in these prosocial ways are what makes this song unique. “Sharing is when ___.” “This might feel hard sometimes…” [but] “We’ll enjoy it together!” The language is accessible to young learners and the song is a pleasant “righteous girl band” listen for all!
Inclusion- Shall we Build a Wall or a Bridge by Levity Beat- I kept coming back to this song because as a parent and educator I’ve spent countless hours watching children do imagination play with building materials. It’s really an optimal time to learn inclusion! It’s easy to build a wall and separate into groups. It’s harder to find a way to include and welcome everyone. Voiced here by a young singer, it may create an earworm for you and your family to remember while playing!
Antiracism- Beautiful Brown Babies by Kymberly Stewart- The joyful exuberance of this song is what makes it fun to experience, and a powerful statement of pride. “Uplifting” and “loving” are what the song calls us to do. This seems so easy, but next to Simone’s “Young, Gifted, and Black,” and with awareness of the Doll Test, where black children were found to prefer white baby dolls, the song helps EVERYONE open their hearts to beautiful brown babies!
Empathy- Empathy (feat. Lucy Kalantari) by Fyutch- For young listeners (or anyone!) in need of a definition of empathy- this is it! Not only does the song explain, “I feel for you, you feel for me,” the tone of the song is so warm and heartfelt, with a vibe that measures up to any pop ballad. Could be a refreshing listen in the car when it seems all hope is lost- give it a try!
Kindness- It’s Cool to Be Kind by Sonshine and Broccoli- I love the soulful, pop meets Broadway meets after school special vibe of this song. It gives specific examples of how to be kind, such as “smile at someone.” You’ll want to after such awesome encouragement!
Respect- Get Out My Bubble (feat. Alphabet Rockers Tommy Shepherd III and Kali de Jesus) by the Wise Channel AND I’m Proud by Alphabet Rockers- I’m recommending two songs here because respecting others and respecting yourself go hand in hand. In my opinion, “Get Out My Bubble” is THE song to teach about respecting personal space. I wish I knew about it at the beginning of the school year earlier in my teaching career. What a great resource! Kids can imagine the concept of a bubble around themselves that is theirs to share or not, and the song gives examples of discussion around respecting other people’s bubbles and setting boundaries for themselves. The song is catchy and fun, but also edgy enough to treat this topic seriously. And on to “I’m Proud-” in a fun hip hop style, listeners can step into their power to the beat. Children can say it loud AND the they will hear exactly why they should be proud!
Diversity- We’re All the Same by Snooknuk- Despite the name, this song celebrates that we are not all the same- and that we are all the same. This is seemingly contradictory, but both things can be true! This is a common thread of many children’s songs that celebrate diversity- finding what we have in common can unite us, at the same time we can amplify what makes us unique. This is an upbeat tune with a dance tempo, so get ready to move!
Equity- Reparations is a Must (4th of July Love Song) by Dan and Claudia Zanes- I first heard this song at a virtual concert called Kukuza a few years ago, which celebrated black children’s artists. I was watching with my son, and we both took it as an opportunity to learn what reparations are, and why they matter when we think about equity for families descended from enslaved people. Put very simply, those families deserve to be paid for the work of their ancestors.
Inclusion- Stand Up for You by Alphabet Rockers- This is a song I have played many times for my students. I love the questions in the song- “Did I say your name right?” “Did you get your turn?” “Is there more for me to learn?” This thought and care for others is the foundation of inclusion. In order to “bravely stand up and defend someone,” we first need to be able to welcome and think about the needs of others, developing an idea of what’s “fair.” This song inspires children to challenge themselves even further to care about others who may not look like them or they might not know very well. Why? Because everyone needs and deserves help now and then!
Antiracism- Nothing Wrong with the Black Crayon by DJ Willy Wow- I went back to this song because I think it’s so spot on as an antiracist song for kids. Older kids can get the metaphors used here, such as “the world is a coloring book,” as well as more explicit messages like “Black is beautiful.” The song also references Jean-Michel Basquiat, a black artist who successfully joined the pantheon of modern artists bringing a diverse perspective. The assertion at the end of the song is key. There isn’t anything wrong with any of the colors (especially the black crayon) and when used together, “it’s a song they can’t hate on.” In other words, if we stand together, we can disrupt systematic racism. Mic drop here.
Empathy- Restorative Justice by Alphabet Rockers- I love how this song takes us through what it’s like to sit in a circle and take turns sharing your perspective, hoping that others will understand and empathize in order to make amends. As an educator I’ve used this technique, and find it crucial for children to reflect on a situation where harm was caused and decide how to act to make amends. It’s an appeal for children to understand and feel the harm they caused, and hopefully learn not to do that again.
Kindness- A Little More Kindness by the Wise Channel- This is a must hear and WATCH song and video. I love the realness of the song- we don’t always feel kind, but if we dig deep there’s always more kindness to give. The video shows small acts of kindness all throughout the school day from arriving on the bus to going back home again. Just watching this video will brighten anyone’s day!
Respect- A Little Respect by Dave Kinnoin AND Don’t Deny Urself by Tobi- I like “A Little Respect” because it’s written from the perspective of someone standing up for themselves and meeting some resistance. It does this with a touch of humor that can help fortify a child’s resolve, and take away any power a bully might want to entertain. “Don’t Deny Urself” is a pop anthem that I know my students would love. Believing in yourself can be difficult, especially when challenges arise. This song is an inspiration to keep on going!
Diversity- One delicious way to learn about different cultures is through food. Visit restaurants, or try out recipes from different parts of the world. Use a map to mark what parts of the world you’ve visited on your culinary journey. Don’t forget you can sample cuisines from within the United States- like soul food. Children love to share about their favorite food with others. Imagine your child sharing with their class their favorite food is other than your standard chicken nuggets or pizza. Even if your child is a picky eater, give praise for trying. You can always model how much you enjoy the food, in hopes they’ll be able to enjoy it some day as well. And if your family or class is the crafty variety, try this craft! After some searching online, I think I may have invented it? This is tried and true with many children over the years, so I know it works. Take an unbleached coffee filter and fold it in half three times. Cut the coffee filter so it looks like a person, leaving some of the folds so it opens out, paper doll style, into people holding hands in a circle. Use multicultural markers to color the different people. You can use heart stickers to give each person a heart. Display these in your window or around your school!
Equity- PBS was a resource my family used all the time for educational programming. I wish there was a PBS documentary about reparations when I was growing up! Use this resource to learn more about reparations and encourage questions. Ask “Why are reparations given, and how have reparations been given throughout history?” and “Why haven’t reparations been given to descendents of slaves in the US?” Encourage your child to bring up the idea at school- there should be opportunities to discuss this topic within the context of social studies and history lessons.
Inclusion- Oftentimes building games are solo activities for kids. Working in groups to complete building projects either through physical connection of the blocks or other building materials, or through creative collaboration, can be a way to make this play more inclusive. It’s important to discuss who is “allowed” inside the buildings and why. Promoting children working together and welcoming others to their game and in their buildings, you’ll be an important voice in your child’s decisions to be more inclusive!
Antiracism- Think about the toys your children have. Are diverse faces represented? From Lego figures to Barbies to baby dolls, you have an opportunity to assist your child in treasuring toy representations of BIPOC people. Remember the very “real” connection you had to toys of this kind? Even pictures of people of color on clothes or other products are important. When my son Sebastian chose a Black Panther blanket- I was so proud! Increase this representation by displaying work by black artists or other celebrations of black history and culture in your home. Children love to share about their favorite toys- antiracist show-and-tell here we come!
Empathy- Children are learning constantly about how their choices and actions impact others. However, this awareness is easily blocked by our brains. To counteract our “flight or flight” tendencies, the amount of empathy we have toward others is dependent on intentional practice. Restorative justice circles are this type of practice. The rules are simple, everyone gets a chance to speak and listen, assisted by a leader. A decision can be made to move forward based on collective ideas of what is “fair,” and repairs harm. This practice doesn’t have to be formally done. As an adult working with children, you’ll have many opportunities to assist children in developing their empathy and making amends. It may be the most important thing you do!
Kindness- Help your child reflect on the ways they’ve shown kindness. This can be done many different ways- a sticker chart, a journal, a daily conversation. This reflection, along with your praise, will help your children with the extra bit of effort it takes to be kind. So much could be said here for how a little bit of kindness can go a long way in helping others navigate a world that has every evidence of becoming increasingly unkind. Do what you can to counteract this trend!
Respect- Educators of young children often use a bubble concept to represent personal space and dignity and how easily we can hurt others with our words and actions. Demonstrate this concept to children by having a quiet reflection while blowing bubbles. Watch how beautiful they are, and how fragile, easily popping out of existence. Watching for when bubbles collide with each other is especially representative of an interaction that has gone awry. Explain that our job is to do our best not to purposely pop each other’s bubbles. An extension of this concept is our thoughts existing within our bubble space. If we share our thoughts in a hurtful way, it can pop another person’s bubble as well. “Keep those thoughts within your bubble,” is a way adult caregivers can let their children know they’ve chosen to share something that could hurt someone else. This idea can extend to valuing our own space and thoughts, believing in ourselves and dreaming big. I highly recommend keeping a journal or having recurrent conversations about respecting others, how we may have experienced disrespect, and how we can show respect and value to ourselves.
Playlists and Resources-
Children’s Music that Develops Skills for Understanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Spotify playlist)
Songs for Teaching- Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Songs
Equality Acceptance and Inclusion Songs for Kids (Spotify playlist)
