How do you help your child connect with his culture

Keep books of famous people of his race around. Let him go to a multi-racial/multi-ethnic church. (You may have to travel). Take him to museums that showcase what people of his race have done.

My daughter is veyr young so we've taken some small steps but will do more as she gets older. We try to buy toys that refelct simiar skin tones. She does have one CC babydoll, but has 4 AA and 1 NA. She has a lot of books with AA characters. We live in a small town with a 75% CC population and 1% AA popluation so there are not a lot of cultural events to take her to, but we did go to the community MLK celebration and we celebrated Kwanza at home. We also go to cultural event of other races too so that both our daughters are experiencing many celebrations of the people in our community. Like I said, it's small steps and might seem weak, but we're working at it.

Our son is AA/CC and is 9 months old. We too buy toys and books that reflect many cultures. My husband is also very big on having music done by various black artists, including jazz, blues, motown, rap, etc. -R

During a class one time someone said something that stuck with me: In addition to toys and books that feature or include people who look like them, and cultural events/festivals, it's important the include people who like like you child in your life in other ways. For instance if your child is AA have an AA family attorney, accountant, and/or pediatrician. Seek out mom's clubs and/or day care (if your area makes it possible) that include children and adults who like like your child. Someone else mentioned changing churches to a more diverse church, another great idea. Emmersion only through cultural arts means (like music and festivals) only shows a child one aspect of a group of people.

One resource I have found great is Mocha Moms, which is a mom's club for women/mothers of children of color. I found them listed in the local Parenting magazine and had to work up the courage to call; even though the listing said, "open to all races" or something like that, I was nervous (I'm CC, my boys are biracial). My local group has been very supportive and I feel like it's a great place for us to be. There is a national organization; you can go on their website and find a group near you. I tried a few other local Mom's group, but I didn't like it when my boys were the only non-white kids there. I do feel like we need to go that extra mile to help our children experience all parts of their birth culture. I also think having an open adoption is a great way for your children to have that connection. We were looking for a good dentist and when a friend recommended an AA dentist, I felt like that was a bonus.

I think as a parent of any child, but particularly of a child of color, instilling in them a strong source of pride in who they are and what they can become -- ANYTHING -- is the best we can do for them. Books of influential persons of color, music, interracial families groups, all of it is good. Because my DH is black and I am CC and we live in a very diverse area, color hasn't been a big issue for our children. I've often wondered, though, how our culture has, for so many generations, ignored blacks in our history books. Black Americans and Native Americans founded and built this country. Funny how we can just ignore that -- NOT!! Maybe there's more we can do together. Maybe this is what it takes -- for families to be blended of beautiful colors -- in order for the real change to take place. Josie