“I know some parents might protest that I should protect his innocence a little longer, but that itself is a privileged option” — This is definitely true. That’s something that I remember having to explain to a colleague. Unfortunate as it is, most of the time when Black parents give their children the talk about their race and how they are viewed by society, it’s not pre-planned. Usually their 8, 9, 10 year old (sometimes younger) has experienced something unpleasant and it’s time to explain to them what happened. In my experience, when White parents witness their child say or do something racially problematic, they are quick to correct them but not quick to continue the conversation or even explain ‘why’ (aka every child’s favorite question). It’s great that you’re raising your kids to be cognitive of these things. I believe normalizing these conversations at a younger age can definitely be a huge help for change in the future. Thanks for sharing!