7.15: How to Center Indigenous Peoples During Thanksgiving

In case you haven’t noticed yet, I’m passionate about Black History Month.

I did not enjoy learning about Black history growing up. It felt more like grieving than celebrating for me, and because of that it’s my dream to make Black History Month a positive experience for ALL children and students.

So today, as part of that, I’m talking about 3 mistakes parents and teachers should avoid when talking to kids and students about Black History:

1. Don’t say “because they were Black.” It’s time to put the onus on racism.

2. Don’t refer to Black people as “non-white.” This makes it seem as if being white is the “norm.” Just use the correct identifiers and describe people for what they ARE instead of what they aren’t.

3. Don’t only focus on struggle. When we do this, it doesn’t just harm Black students. It harms ALL students. And this is why I created Bite-Sized Black History, to be able to celebrate all the joyful things about being Black.

And y’all know me, I would never give you 3 things NOT to do without also giving you lots of things to DO, so press play on the episode to learn more about these three don’ts and to get ideas for some actionable steps for making Black History Month a meaningful celebration.

 

Bite-Sized Black History

Bite-Sized Black History is a collection of mini-podcast episodes that empower you to teach kiddos about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. You know about Dr. King and Rosa Parks — now it’s time to explore other Black leaders and learn from their stories!

I just released 12 new episodes as part of Bite-Sized Black History Season 4 — bringing the total number of episodes in the library up to 40! The catalog includes activists, inventors, scientists, entertainers, artists and more, and each episode comes with an accompanying coloring page and reflection questions to help you have meaningful conversations with the kiddos in your life.

From now until the end of February, you can use the code BSBH29 for 29% off any Bite-Sized Black History package — 29% in honor of leap year giving us an extra day to celebrate Black History Month.

Head over to firstnamebasis.org/blackhistory to learn more and to have a meaningful Black History Month by getting your copy of Bite-Sized Black History today.

 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource.

Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!

 

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

“Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves,” by Julie Olsen Edwards and Louise Derman-Sparks

Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

 

Can you believe February is right around the corner?! And with it comes BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

Celebrating Black History Month is so important for ALL kids, not just Black children, and I created Bite-Sized Black History to help kiddos everywhere be able to learn about Black history in a way that is both meaningful and joyful.

In this episode, I’m telling you all about Bite-Sized Black History and including a sample episode for you to check out that is all about singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte!

Bite-Sized Black History is a collection of mini-podcast episodes that empower you to teach kiddos about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. You know about Dr. King and Rosa Parks — now it’s time to explore other Black leaders and learn from their stories. Each Bite-Sized Black History lesson will give you everything you need to foster meaningful conversations that go beyond the bounds of civil rights and enslavement to celebrate the creativity, ingenuity, joy, and brilliance of the Black community.

Season 4 is now available and features 12 new episodes bringing the total number of episodes in our library up to 40! The catalog includes activists, inventors, scientists, entertainers, artists and more, and each episode comes with an accompanying coloring page and reflection questions to help you have meaningful conversations with the kiddos in your life.

Press play to learn more and to hear the sample episode!

Be sure to check out our sale!

And, as a special treat, from now until the end of February, you can use the coupon code BSBH29 for 29% off any Bite-Sized Black History package — 29% in honor of leap year giving us an extra day to celebrate Black History Month.

Head over to firstnamebasis.org/blackhistory to learn more and to have a meaningful Black History Month by getting your copy of Bite-Sized Black History today.

 

Song credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

 

We’re wrapping up Season 8 with this episode, and it’s got me thinking all about our evolution over the years. From beginning as a tiny Instagram account to starting the podcast, from working with families to working with schools, First Name Basis has grown in ways that is a dream come true!

I consult with schools across the country to implement anti-racist education. But as some of you have said, you’re not sure what that would look like, so in this episode, I’m giving all the details of what it looks like for me to work with your school!

It’s one thing to know that anti-racism is important but it’s another thing altogether to get it started. So many schools have diversity statements for prioritizing anti-bias and anti-racist learning, and getting those good intentions to be practical action is what I’m here for!

In this episode, I talk all about: 

• Why it’s important to have anti-racism in schools

• What a partnership with me looks like

• How to get a partnership started  

• What you can do to get the ball rolling at your school

 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource.

Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!

 

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Head to firstnamebasis.org/schoolconsultinginfo to get our school consulting guide where I explain 

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6 Episode 9: “Creating Change in the Classroom” with Patrick Harris 

 

Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

Like so many of you, I have been all consumed the last few weeks by the events going on in Gaza and the genocide that is being carried out against the Palestinian people. We've put everything on pause at First Name Basis to be able to try to share updates and share actions that we can be taking as a collective to try to support the activists and so many amazing humanitarian workers that are on the ground in Gaza.

After having some conversations as a team, we realized that continuing to do anti-racism work is one of the things we can do as a group to facilitate productive conversations around big hard topics genocide and anti-Semitism.

Listen in to hear more about what I mean. And be sure to follow along as we continue to amplify the voices of the affected populations on Instagram, and check out the show notes for resources to help you redistribute your resources to help in the humanitarian efforts and to help you advocate for a ceasefire.

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

5 Calls App is pre-loaded with information about many current issues and includes links for you to learn more and scripts for what you can say to advocate for a ceasefire.

Use Action Network to contact your representatives and advocate for a ceasefire

Organizations to consider redistributing resources to: UNRWA, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Middle East Children's Alliance, Islamic Relief USA. 

 

This episode can be summarized with one sentence: Please stop using Black and Brown emojis if you are not Black or Brown.

Skin color is something that should be celebrated, not laughed at, but I have seen people using emojis that don’t match their skin tone time and time again.

I think a lot of the time people aren’t intentionally trying to do something racist, but when you peel back the layers you realize that the only reason why doing this could be funny is because of racism, and racism is not funny. And, like we talk about all the time, the IMPACT of an action always outweighs the INTENT.

In this episode, we’ll look at:

• A brief look at what digital blackface is.

• An explanation on why using Black and Brown emojis as a joke is harmful.

• How you can respond when you see people misusing Black and Brown emojis.

 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource.

Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!

 

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

“Blackface has resurged in the internet age. And you might be part of the problem,” by Tor Haugan, Berkeley Library

“What Is Digital Blackface? Experts Explain Why The Social Media Practice Is Problematic,” by Madeline Howard, Women’s Health

“​​Digital Blackface: How 21st Century Internet Language Reinforces Racism” by Erinn Wong

Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

Trigger warning: Before you continue reading these show notes or listening to this episode, please be aware that it discusses lynching and white supremacist violence.

Lynching is a reality both now and in the past. Yet despite the fact that lynching continues to happen, it took more than 120 years to get an anti-lynching bill passed. 

In that time, more than 200 iterations of bills that would make lynching a federal crime were introduced and failed to pass over and over again — including one that was voted down only three days before Ahmaud Arbery was lynched in February 2020.

It wasn’t until May of 2020 that Ahmaud Arbery’s story became national news. Before then, it was an invisible lynching — one that wasn’t widely known. But that doesn’t mean it should just be ignored, and the fact that these “invisible lynchings” still happen says a lot about what still needs to be done in the fight for justice.

In this episode, I talk more about:

• The work I’m doing with a company called Litby that sparked the research for this episode.

• The struggle to pass an anti-lynching bill

• The importance of continuing to fight against lynching and other acts of racism — both the ones that make big headlines and those that don’t.

 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource.

Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2 Episode 17: “Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd: Unpacking Racism”

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2 Episode 4: “3 Steps To A More Inclusive Bookshelf”

Litby offers a supplemental novel study program that supports students in reading, comprehending, and engaging with rigorous novels. 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school at firstnamebasis.org/workwithme

“Lynching is now a federal hate crime after a century of blocked efforts” by Eric McDaniel and Elena Moore, NPR

“U.S. House To Vote On Anti-Lynching Act — Finally,” All Things Considered, NPR

 

Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

 

Growing up as a multiracial child, I often felt my racial identity shifting and developing — heck, even as an adult I do! Navigating what it means to be multiracial continues to be a journey for me, which is why I was so excited to be able to interview Dr. Jennifer Noble.

Dr. Jenn, as she’s known online, is a licensed psychologist, parent coach and associate professor of psychology, who shares her expertise both in her private practice in Los Angeles and online. She focuses on identity and mixed race experience as she works with mixed race teens, BIPOC women and other marginalized groups.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• The experience many multiracial children have of shifting identity development.

• How parents can help their multiracial children prepare to answer questions about their identity.

• Affirming identity in the face of other people’s assumptions.

• How terminology can change based on where the mixed race person is in their identity journey.

• Building resilience in kids and their parents through open communication.

I hope any of you listeners out there who are multiracial or raising multiracial kiddos leave listening to this conversation feeling like you can be more fully connected to your family and your identity. And for anyone who is monoracial, I hope this gives you a better understanding of how you can support the multiracial people in your life.

 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you’re looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource.

Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!

 

Get your Little Allies Activity Book

If you’re looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we’ve got something for you!

Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It’s a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism.

The Little Allies Activity Book includes: 

• Color by number 

• Protest I Spy 

• Dot to dot

• Anti-racist word search 

• Black history unscramble 

• And more!

Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!

 

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Dr. Jenn’s website, which includes information about Mixed Life Academy

Dr. Jenn’s Instagram account @drjennpsych

Dr. Noble’s therapy practice website

Multiracial Bill of Rights by Dr. Maria Root

“One Drop of Love” by Fanshen Cox

“50 Experiences of Racially Mixed People” by Dr. Maria Root  

Video of a mom in England giving her son a shirt to tell him he’s leaving the school where he’s been bullied

 

Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

This episode is a bit of a role reversal with someone I admire SO MUCH. 

I have been a longtime fan of Rachel Nielson’s podcast 3 in 30: Takeaways for Moms. Each episode is 30 minutes long and provides 3 ACTIONABLE takeaways for listeners to go and do. She has over 250 episodes covering a huge variety of topics — from potty training to mental health to tips for not looking at your phone as much — and I’ve been honored to be a guest on her podcast in the past to talk about anti-racism. And on top of that, I’m lucky to get to call Rachel a dear friend and podcasting mentor of mine.

But today, Rachel is bringing her takeaways to First Name Basis as I interviewed her about three takeaways from her anti-racism journey. Rachel is white, which makes this episode relatable and a great opportunity to learn for anyone who is also white or benefits from white privilege. But if you are BIPOC, this episode is a helpful one for you to hear too because it can be one you can share with people you want to be able to have real conversations with about anti-racism.

Rachel is so open and vulnerable in this episode as she shares her takeaways, which are so profound in how foundational they are. Her takeaways are:

1) Be willing to acknowledge the possibility that you might be racist.

2) Start looking for examples of racism in yourself.

3) Diversify your community — both online and in person.

I hope you take time to listen and reflect on what your own anti-racism takeaways would be.

 

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you’re looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource.

Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or click the button below for more information!

 

Get your Little Allies Activity Book

If you’re looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we’ve got something for you!

Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It’s a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism.

The Little Allies Activity Book includes: 

• Color by number 

• Protest I Spy 

• Dot to dot

• Anti-racist word search 

• Black history unscramble 

• And more!

Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!

 

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Rachel’s Instagram @3in30podcast

Rachel’s website

Rachel is hosting a FREE masterclass on how to be a less angry mom. Register and learn more at 3in30podcast.com/freeclass

Three of my favorite 3 in 30 episodes are: 

• “How to Stop Looking at Your Phone So Much–and Why It Matters with Dr. Katie Penry”

• “​​How to Be the Mom You Are–Instead of the Mom You Think You Should Be with Julie Bastedo”

• “More Peace, Less Frustration: The Power of Family Systems with Susie Salinas”

My episode on Rachel’s 3 in 30 Podcast: “Teaching Your Kids about Racism & Bias”

Harvard implicit association test

TEDx Talk by Verna Myers, "How to Overcome Our Biases: Walk Boldly Towards Them"

Rachel’s Declutter Your Mother audio course

Join the waitlist for Rachel’s Self-Assured Motherhood program 

Language is always evolving and we need to evolve with it.

Reflecting on the words we’re using and recognizing opportunities to grow and change is a natural (and necessary) part of our anti-racist journeys. It means breaking down and unlearning things that we thought in the past, but the result is language that better aligns with our intent.

So this week we’re taking a look at the term “under-resourced” and discussing why we need to switch it out for something new. If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve already heard me talk about how I changed from using “low-income” to “under-resourced,” but I’ve learned recently that “under-resourced” may not be the most accurate term after all.

In this episode, I share:

• Why I’m now choosing to say “historically exploited communities” or “systemically exploited communities” instead of “under-resourced.”

• More about what it is that causes words and meanings to change.

• The journey I take, the feelings I feel, and the questions I ask myself when I’m considering how my language should change to reflect my anti-racist journey.

 

Get your Little Allies Activity Book

If you’re looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we’ve got something for you!

Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It’s basically a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism.

The Little Allies Activity Book includes: 

• Color by number 

• Protest I Spy 

• Dot to dot

• Anti-racist word search 

• Black history unscramble 

• And more!

Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!

 

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 8, Episode 2: “What is Coded Language?”

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 7: “Service, Not Saviorism”

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 22: “The Danger of Gaslighting”

“The House of Eve” by Sadeqa Johnson

Bite-Sized Black History (Season 1 features Dr. Charles Drew)

A Guide to Coded Language in Education by Class Trouble

 

July 26, 2023, is the 33rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

If you’re doing the math in your head, let me give you a shortcut: That means the ADA wasn’t passed until 1990. 1990?! It took quite a while for Americans with disabilities to officially be named a protected class as neither the 1964 Civil Rights Act nor the 1965 Voting Rights Act included people with disabilities — and the United States still has a long way to go in making our public spaces, businesses and communities truly accessible.

In honor of the 33rd anniversary, I wanted to invite a very special guest — Amy Webb — on the podcast to teach us about how to talk to children about disabilities. 

Amy is a DREAM guest of mine. She exudes passion for all of the things that she does, and that’s just one of the many reasons why I admire her so much.

Amy is an artist, writer, mother and creator of the blog This Little Miggy Stayed Home. As the mother of a disabled daughter, she advocates for the disability community through her writing and Instagram platform. She is the author of two children’s books. Her first, “When Charley Met Emma,” teaches children about disability, friendship and inclusion and her second book, “Awesomely Emma,” is a sequel that teaches the power of self-advocacy. Amy lives with her husband and three beautiful daughters in Ohio.

This interview is full of Amy’s thoughts and wisdom, and she teaches us about:

• Identity first vs. person first language.

• How to respond when our children point out disabilities.

• Why it’s important to never ever touch someone’s wheelchair without asking. 

• The importance of having a plan for supporting disabled children during emergency situations.

• How a place is not accessible if a bathroom is not accessible. 

• What action steps non-disabled people can take when we come to a place that is not accessible.

• The intricacies of the “just ask” philosophy

 

Get our resource email to learn more about the ADA

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize people with disabilities, their inherent worth and their invaluable contributions, as well as to bring awareness to the ongoing fight for disability rights. July 26 is also the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act being signed into law.

We put together a resource email to help you learn more about the ADA, how you can get involved in disabilities rights advocacy and for ideas on how you can teach children about disabilities.

Head over to firstnamebasis.org/ADA to get the email sent straight to your inbox!

 

Get your Little Allies Activity Book

If you’re looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we’ve got something for you!

Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It’s basically a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism.

The Little Allies Activity Book includes: 

• Color by number 

• Protest I Spy 

• Dot to dot

• Anti-racist word search 

• Black history unscramble 

• And more!

Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!

 

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Amy Webb’s blog, This Little Miggy Stayed Home

Amy Webb’s Instagram @thislittlemiggy 

“When Charley Met Emma,” by Amy Webb

“Awesomely Emma,” by Amy Webb