Parents as Leaders in Their Children’s Anti-Racist Education: The 6 Building Blocks of Antiracist Parenting

The 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision to end race-conscious admissions practices at colleges and universities dismantled decades of sluggish progress toward establishing institutions that reflect the diverse demographics and lived experiences of the U.S. Threats to revoke federal funding by the current presidential administration have led many educational institutions to preemptively halt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, further threatening progress in education, social justice, and DEI in schools. Children, parents, and educators are experiencing the consequences of these political and legal decisions in their ability to access education and educational opportunities that tell the inclusive history of the U.S. As the nation grapples with the fallout of these challenges to DEI, the path forward requires a sustained commitment to engage with children and families to promote equity and social justice. In the growing absence of opportunities for children to learn about equity and social justice in some schools, parents can play a vital role in filling the gap. This article outlines the 6 Building Blocks of Anti-Racist Parenting as a model to be used by teachers, parent educators, and other professionals to engage parents in the work of nurturing children to become socially conscious, anti-racist individuals.