The time is now

Why talking to our children about injustice cannot wait

Bibliographic Data

ID24225397
AuthorsRosa Terlazzo (0000-0002-0764-3223, University of Rochester)
Year2026
Publication date2026-10-13
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-3217 • E-ISSN: 1467-9248
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00323217261495290
OpenAlexW7221665027
LanguageEN
References cited30

In this article, I argue that white parents have an obligation to have early conversations with their children about racial injustice. First, I appeal to combined considerations of fairness and solidarity. It is unfair that racial injustice exists, that Black parents cannot shield their children from knowledge of that injustice, and that acquiring that knowledge is more painful for Black children. This gives white parents solidarity-based reasons to have early injustice conversations, as a way of engaging in fate sharing with Black parents and of developing their own commitments to racial justice. Second, I argue that early conversations are required to allow white children to fulfill short-term duties to avoid causing unjust harm, avoid risking unjust harm, and stand up against injustice. Finally, I argue that beginning with conversations about justice and saving conversations about injustice for later makes it harder for children to fulfill long-term duties of justice.

Anti-racism · Black parents · children's duties · Fairness · intergenerational justice · racial injustice · Solidarity · white parents · Critical Race Theory in Education · Education, Philosophy, and Society · Political Philosophy and Ethics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access