We were having a ball-but it was also impossible not to notice that, as a Black man and a white man traveling side-by-side, we were having different experiences too. We were thrilled and grateful, because our publisher was kindly sending us to conferences and festivals all over the country. So, Jason and I met while touring our debut novels. And so I wrote The Other Talk to try to join the conversation Black families, Indigenous families, and so many families of the Global Majority have been having for so long. As their anthology points out, there are many different kinds of “Talks”, especially as to how racism affects people’s lives, but, as Jason and I have discussed over the years, there isn’t often a talk white families have that speaks clearly and directly about the privileges white families experience because of racism in America. I wrote The Other Talk after listening to many, many people of the Global Majority talk about “The Talk”they had in their families growing up-the myriad manifestations of “The Talk” Cheryl and Wade’s anthology highlights so beautifully. LK: Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with the necessity of these talks! Brendan, can you share a bit about the Two Americas you saw while touring with Jason Reynolds, and how that influenced your writing of this book.įirst of all, I’m honored and grateful to be here and to be a part of this conversation with you, Wade and Cheryl. We believed it was necessary to offer these lessons, these “talks” across social and cultural lines.
How do you talk about things that may be uncomfortable to discuss? How do you stay safe? How can you feel secure within your own body and personal space? How does one avoid racial profiling, police brutality or deal with bullying or sexual harassment? What can young people do when faced with systemic racism, name calling, religious intolerance, and cultural stereotypes? What about confronting the issue of white privilege? And how can these lessons, these necessary “talks,” be shared with children and young people? Who better to share these stories, these lessons than children’s book creators with first-hand knowledge and experience? Learning how to navigate the world with confidence and caring is an essential survival skill made more difficult by the challenges marginalized people often face.
In thinking about “The Talk” as a necessary conversation between most Black parents and their children, we realized that there are many kinds of talks that others had as well.
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