The time is now: Why talking to our children about injustice cannot wait

In this article, I argue that white parents have an obligation to have early conversations with their children about racial injustice. First, I appeal to combined considerations of fairness and solidarity. It is unfair that racial injustice exists, that Black parents cannot shield their children from knowledge of that injustice, and that acquiring that knowledge is more painful for Black children. This gives white parents solidarity-based reasons to have early injustice conversations, as a way of engaging in fate sharing with Black parents and of developing their own commitments to racial justice. Second, I argue that early conversations are required to allow white children to fulfill short-term duties to avoid causing unjust harm, avoid risking unjust harm, and stand up against injustice. Finally, I argue that beginning with conversations about justice and saving conversations about injustice for later makes it harder for children to fulfill long-term duties of justice.