Raising Brown Children in White Spaces
After watching my youngest daughter graduate from high school,
I sat back and thought to myself
“What just happened?”
Far too often, I believe black & brown parents think the same thing when raising their children in predominately white spaces.
Brown Mama Bear is a place for parents to get the support, inspiration, and input they need to raise kids who are comfortable in their skin and can passionately leave their mark on society.
The Latest Episodes
“Bears in the wild are not predators. You only have a problem if you come between a mama and her cub.”
Meet Shanera
I believe all children deserve to grow up in a world where they are seen, celebrated and given the tools to succeed. Raising kids is difficult for anyone. Parenting black and brown children requires intentionality to combat the negative effects racism can have on their sense of self. I know, because I’ve been there. Raising three black girls in a white world is the hardest job I’ve ever done. Now, I’m committed to making it easier for other brown mamas and papas! You don’t have to do it alone.
I. Love. People.
I have always loved talking to people and connecting. I have a genuine interest in people’s stories and experiences. I believe we can all learn from one another.
I met my husband, Jim, at Howard University and we have been married for 27 years. Together we have 3 adult daughters- Kayla (24), Lauren (22), and Nia (20).
After my youngest went to college, I reflected on the years of parenting and I have so much I want to share.
In this past year, I have seen all of my girls find their voices. They are bold, resilient, and strong.
I don’t take credit for the women they have chosen to be. They are smart and wise on their own. But, our goal in
parenting was to provide a safe place for them.
That includes processing the nuances of being black in America.
Parenting is very hard for everyone. Raising brown children in a white world adds a layer of complexity to the task…
and I’m here to talk about all of it.
The Mission
All children deserve to grow up in an environment where they are seen, celebrated, and given the tools to succeed. The sting of racism embedded in our society can affect the confidence, self-respect, and ambition of children of color. Specifically, parents of black and brown children must take steps to uproot the bias, negative stereotypes, and discrimination that threaten the physical and emotional safety of our developing young people. Ultimately, with the guidance of an engaged brown mama bear, our kids can thrive and reach their God-given potential despite the barriers they face.
This podcast will tackle issues like helping your kids navigate microaggressions that happen in the classroom, deal with implicit bias in the community, and resist internalizing negative stereotypes.
Raising brown children in a white world is hard. You don’t have to be isolated. We can do it together!