Manual on how to raise anti-racist children goes to Dialogue Books

Dialogue Books has acquired "a vital toolkit for parents to talk to their children about race", called Wish We Knew What to Say, by behavioural and data scientist Dr Pragya Agarwal.

Publishing in October 2020, the book is a guide for parents from all backgrounds to talk openly and honestly about race with their children, between the ages of two and 12 years old. The book gives scenarios, questions, thought starters, advice and resources in how to tackle tricky conversations with confidence and awareness.

The deal was struck by Sharmaine Lovegrove, publisher at Dialogue Books, for world rights from Robert Caskie at Robert Caskie Ltd.

Dr Agarwal is also a freelance journalist, the author of Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias, which published with Bloomsbury in April, and she is writing studies of womanhood and gender for Canongate coming out in 2021.

"We all need to discuss race and racism with our children, no matter what our and their ethnic background is, as it is a determinant of our, and their identities, and their sense of belonging," Dr Agarwal commented. "All parents need to prepare kids for intolerance, and all parents need to prepare kids for being appreciative of other people. If we want our children to thrive and flourish in a diverse, multi-cultural world, we owe it to them to help them make sense of the confusing and emotionally charged messages they receive about themselves and others ... I hope this book helps all parents, carers and educators give children the tools and vocabulary to talk about people’s differences and similarities in an open, non-judgemental, curious way, and help them address any unfairness they might see or encounter."

The publication process is being condensed to a period of just three months, Caskie noted, praising Dr Agarwal and Lovegrove as "two of the most dynamic and energised people I know" in welcoming the "important and necessary" book.

Lovegrove commented: "As a parent, it’s imperative to me that my child doesn’t face the same discrimination, prejudice and structural inequality black, Asian and marginalised ethnic people have faced for generations. By reading and learning together we have a great opportunity for change. Having been impressed for some time by the work of Dr Pragya Agarwal I was delighted to see this proposal and jumped at the chance to be involved in a book that will highlight the issues and give solid tips and advice to parents as they navigate the path to equality with their children. Pragya is a wise, experienced, thoughtful and illuminating expert in this area and this book promises to shed light and give vital, engaging and long-lasting guidance for all parents from all communities."