Not sure which forum to post this as new to site but where can I get help to promote a sense of identity in my Grandchildren who live with me. They are of Caribbean Fathers (Guyana,Jamaica)and a white Mother. As a white parent I hope I do not offend anybody by asking for help on this site but my boys are living in a white area and I really need help promoting Black Heritage so they be proud of their identity and ethnicity.
Julie

Give them books that reflect their cultural identity. Take them to shows that has positive images of African/Caribbean people. Take them to areas that has a African/ Caribbean community. Buy foods that reflect their Jamaican/ Guyanese heritage. You yourself have to use positive terminology when talking to them about their cultural origins. But the most important thing is to educate yourself and look at your underlying attitudes because it is so easy for children to pick up on underlying attitudes.
If you have a granddaughter make sure that her hair is looked after properly.Take her to people who know how to manage the texture of her hair. Get it braided. Give them toys that reflect their cultural identity. There are also organisations that give information and support for carers of mixed race children. Be positive yourself .

As I said be positive yourself. Mainstream society will always see your mixed grandchildren and identify them as black and you are going to come across haters from both sides. Do what you have to do to have children whose minds are intact.

explain Mainstream society and how the views of many people here who dont see them as black DONT fit into it?

lol next you will be telling this "lady" to take the kids on a day trip to Brixton.

Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't think of that. Do take them on a day trip to Brixton. L.O.L

look in the book review forum you will find some good resources on african heritage and caribbean heritage

may be worth taking a trip to liverpool and visiting the slavery exhibition at the maritime museum. well worth it. see if there is any local african caribbean societies. if its boys there are many organisations geared towards them like the 100 black men i think its called.

ps do reply again to this thread
what have you done so far and do they have any cultural identity if so please elaborate

Forget about teaching them slavery. Only going to give them an inferiority complex without full appraisal of the facts.

Since the children are not black I would suggest cultivating some mixed raced friends for them that they can relate to. Also since mixed race people when young seem to take on the worse stereotypes about black people.. I would suggest if you teach them about African history include the rebellions of the Caribbean especially Haiti as that is a good place to start. And concentrate on African history before slavery. As slavery is significant but only small part of African history.

Day trips to Brixton? Only if your're going to observe black people like one observes animals in a zoo.

I agree with you totally. I was being sarcastic about the day trip to Brixton because I felt that the previous thread advocating it in the first place was the most banal thing I had heard!

I have two grandsons and eldest who is eight is growing his hair as he wants corn rows . Trying to promote positive self image is important and as brought up in the naive belief that all people regardless of creed or colour were the same I am sure I need more education so as to become a positive teacher to my boys. I go to Brixton once a fortnight whilst waiting for custody of 1 yr old in Feb.
Jewels

I was worried about emphasising on slavery although I am aware of the slave exhibition . We have been to an exhibition thats on in Liverpool museum that has many exhibits from caribbean cultures. We try new recipes and listen to music from Caribbean artists. Another area I need help with is that all tho we are all Church of England my eldest Grandsons Father was of Muslim faith and I would like to promote some knowledge about this also.
Jewels

We have no contact with he eldests father or family as he sleeps rough in Camden area. I have asked youngests father for contact details but he will not give me ,he doesnt want them to know that this is his 3rd child he has not brought up, I have tried.
Jewels