Meet

Christal Cherry loves to write stories and help ideas come to life. This book was inspired by the real-life Mac, a spectacular and creative kid (who is slightly different too!)

When Christal isn’t working as a nonprofit consultant, she is hanging out with her favorite person in the world: her son, Mac, whom she adopted at six weeks old. They live with their Yorkie Poo named Charlie in the Peach State of Georgia.

Christal Cherry is different in all kinds of ways. She microwaves ice cream and puts sugar on her grits! She does things her own way and wants kids to have the courage to do things their own way too. Those unique things helped her receive The Wonderful Woman of WOC Award in 2021, by the Women of Color, in Fundraising in Philanthropy.

Cherry has a BA from Hofstra University and an MA from Hampton University. She is on the board of the Villages of Carver YMCA, a member of the African American Development Officers Network, and founder of Fabulous Female Fundraisers, a network of professional nonprofit female fundraisers.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT RACE

1. START EARLY

By age four, children have begun to show signs of racial bias. Let your child know that it's perfectly okay to notice skin color and talk about race. Start talking about what racial differences mean and don't mean.

2. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD

Expose your child to different cultural opportunities – photographs, toys, films, books, or cultural events. You don't have to be an expert on race to talk with your child. Be honest about what you don't know and work with your child to find accurate information.

3. BE MINDFUL

You are a role model to your child. What you say is important, but what you do (the diversity of your friendship circle, for example) is likely to have a more significant impact. If your child doesn't attend a diverse school, consider enrolling her in after-school or weekend activities such as sports leagues that are diverse. Visit museums with exhibits about a range of cultures and religions. What kids hear from us is less important than what they see us do.

4. FACE YOUR OWN BIAS

We're less likely to pass on the biases we identify and work to overcome. Give your child an example of a bias, racial or otherwise, that you hold or have held. Share with your child things you do to confront and overcome that bias. Let your child see you acknowledge and face your own biases.

5. TALK ABOUT IT

Talk about the histories and experiences of the racial, ethnic, and cultural groups with whom you and your family identify. Talk about their contributions and acknowledge the less flattering parts of those histories as well. Tell stories about the challenges your family has faced and overcome.