Like Dela Cruz, Concepcion noted the importance of talking about the topic with children, adding that parents could inadvertently perpetuate racism if they do not discuss the issue at all. “That's the only thing that is going to stop this resentment for these people that are acting in this way.”įor non-Asian children, Concepcion said parents could explain the origins of and dispel stereotypes around Asian Americans, especially if they’re already expressing fear.
But we also need to exercise compassion,” he said, emphasizing understanding for those who are misdirecting their anger. In some cases, those who spew racist ideas have not been given verified information, he said. He said he feels that children often miss the context around why individuals harbor racist thoughts or feelings during the pandemic in an effort to foster empathy. The “Blues Clues & You!” host explained that condemning racism is just a portion of the work, however. Richelle Concepcion, president of the Asian American Psychological Association, similarly recommended that parents should remind their Asian American children that the racism they’re seeing isn’t personal, but is rather rooted in misinformation around the virus. And we're celebrating that and, especially now as a country, we're celebrating that in spite of all the misinformation and all of the blame that's going on,” he said. “The way that you look and the way that you are is beautiful. For Asian American children in particular, he said they need to hear that the ongoing anti-Asian sentiment is not their fault, but a product of misplaced blame. In addition to giving children space to air their thoughts, Dela Cruz says parents should also explicitly condemn the racism that their children are seeing or hearing about. There are real emotions and there are real thoughts that go through their heads.” There's no dialogue like, ‘Well, I feel this and I don't know why I feel this way.’”ĭela Cruz added: “We need to open up that conversation and, like in our show, take what kids have to say seriously. And so what happens is that there are a lot of confused feelings. A lot of the time in the conversation, parents will tell you what's right and what's wrong. "How do we talk about this to our kids? I think that the first step is to talk to kids. I am nervous and I am anxious and a little bit scared," he said. And that means acknowledging the confusion many children may be experiencing right now. However, unpacking the issue starts with confronting it head on, he said. And host of the kids' show “Blues Clues & You!,” Joshua Dela Cruz, has some thoughts on where to start.ĭela Cruz, who is Filipino American, told NBC Asian America that he’s been worried about how his viewers and other children may internalize or process the racism they see unfolding in the news and in front of them.
#JOSHUA DELA CRUZ HOW TO#
As Asian Americans confront the rise in incidents of racism spurred by the pandemic, parents are faced with the added challenge of figuring out how to broach the subject with their children.
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