Raising Resilient Black Kids - by Erlanger A Turner (Paperback)

About the Book

Black children who've experienced systemic racism are more likely to experience stress, anger, anxiety, and depression--all of which can negatively impact their school life, home, and community. In this much-needed resource, race and mental health expert Erlanger Turner offers parents evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help their kids cope with race-based stress and promote resilience and healing.

Book Synopsis

A powerful, step-by-step guide to help your child foster strength and resilience when faced with racial stress.

Has your child experienced racial aggression, bullying, or harassment? Have they been discriminated against in the classroom, in extracurricular activities, or amongst peers? Have they ever asked you why they are treated differently? If so, you are not alone. Discrimination and racism in society are a constant stressor and painful topic of conversation for many Black families. As a parent, you want to protect your child from these injustices; but the truth is that the best way to protect them is by giving them the tools needed to build resilience, and by instilling unshakable pride in who they are.

In this much-needed resource for parents of Black children, race and mental health expert Erlanger Turner combines evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills with mindfulness and liberation psychology to help your kids cope with race-based stress, challenge systemic oppression and marginalization, and thrive. Using the author's innovative HEAL method (Healing Emotions and Anxiety through Liberation), you can help your kids:

• Better understand what causes racial stress and how to navigate it
• Take charge of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
• Feel empowered and prepared to cope with in-the-moment racism
• Build resilience, soulfulness, and joy
• Cultivate racial literacy and become advocates for change

Although some children may not experience racism or discrimination directly, their emotional health and wellness may still be negatively impacted. Using the HEAL approach in this workbook, you'll know what to say to your child who has experienced or witnessed racism, when to say it, and how to help them heal and flourish.

Review Quotes

"Raising Resilient Black Kids is an excellent conversation starter. Both as a tool for caregivers to begin racism-related conversations with their children, and, importantly, to help caregivers start an internal conversation about their own experiences navigating racism. Turner does an amazing job of offering accessible, developmentally appropriate conversational tools for caregivers. I will definitely be recommending the book's exercises to many Black families in my clinical practice."
--Ryan C.T. DeLapp, PhD, director of the Racial, Ethnic, And Cultural Healing (REACH) Program at the Ross Center--Ryan C.T. DeLapp, PhD

"Raising Resilient Black Kids is filled with useful resources, worksheets, and journal prompts to help parents understand racial stress and navigate 'the race talk' with their children. Through the HEAL method, Turner provides clear and practical techniques for parents to support their children's mental health. This book is a must-read for parents of Black kids!"
--Celeste M. Malone, PhD, MS, associate professor of school psychology at Howard University, and past president of the National Association of School Psychologists--Celeste M. Malone, PhD, MS

"Discover strategies to help children navigate racial stress and thrive in Raising Resilient Black Kids by Earl Turner. I appreciate the author's intentionality in providing culturally affirming, evidence-based strategies for parents to support their children's emotional well-being and resilience. Activities in the book can not only be used for individuals, but also group settings. This book is a valuable resource for Black families."
--Shanita Brown, PhD, LCMHC, NCC, teaching assistant professor at East Carolina University--Shanita Brown, PhD, LCMHC, NCC

"Earl Turner has truly provided readers with a gift with this publication. I know firsthand the stressors associated with parenting Black youth as a mother and as a psychologist who collaborates with patients through the parenting process. I am incredibly excited to have a resource like this one to use with my clients in sessions, recommend for them to use at home, and as a tool in my own toolbox as a Black mental health expert and mother of two Black children."
--Raquel Martin, PhD, assistant professor and scientist at Tennessee State University, licensed clinical psychologist, podcast host, and Black mental health expert--Raquel Martin, PhD

"Erlanger Turner's Raising Resilient Black Kids is a practical guide for those who love Black children. It answers so many of the questions my clients ask about how to have the talk. Resilience can be hard to develop in the face of racism, but this workbook helps everyone in the family and community to process their own feelings and experiences to support healthy and thriving development for Black youth."
--Riana Elyse Anderson, PhD, LCP, associate professor of social work and clinical psychology at Columbia University, and developer and director of the EMBRace Program--Riana Elyse Anderson, PhD, LCP

"This workbook is an essential resource for parents navigating the complexities of racial stress with their children. Through practical guidance and insights, it empowers parents to foster resilience, emotional intelligence, and empowerment in their children. This book equips parents and caregivers with tools to navigate challenging conversations, build self-esteem, and cultivate a strong sense of identity. A must-read for anyone committed to supporting Black children's well-being and emotional success."
--Allen Eugene Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW, associate professor and associate chair of social work at California State University, Northridge; and author of Bonding Recognition Understanding and Healing (BRuH) Approach--Allen Eugene Lipscomb, PsyD, LCSW

"What a joy to review this accessible, engaging book written specifically for Black parents! Turner's compassionate guidance provides Black parents with information, tools, and gentle encouragement to support them in preparing Black children to thrive in the context of racism. He is both friend and expert. The inclusion of empowering child-friendly activism activities, mindfulness skills to manage reactivity, and attention to spirituality make this a unique and valuable resource."
--Shelly P. Harrell, PhD, professor of psychology at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and licensed psychologist in independent practice--Shelly P. Harrell, PhD

About the Author

Erlanger "Earl" Turner, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, and associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, CA. As a nationally and internationally recognized expert in mental health, he has been featured on television, radio, and in print media outlets, including CNN, USA Today, The New York Times, Essence, NPR, Los Angeles Times, and the Dr. Phil Show. He is former president of the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice, and has served as a consultant for Sesame Street, Instagram, and other organizations on racial justice initiatives. Turner is also founder of Therapy for Black Kids whose mission is to help promote resilience and healthy emotional development among Black youth. You can find out more about Turner at www.drerlangerturner.com.

Foreword writer Thema Bryant, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, and sacred artist who has worked nationally and globally to provide relief and empowerment to marginalized persons. She is a professor at Pepperdine University, and is past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women.

Afterword writer Jeffrey Gardere, PhD, ABPP, is associate professor and course director of behavioral medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York, NY. In addition, Gardere has a private practice in Manhattan, is an ordained interfaith minister, and has authored four books of his own and contributed to several others.