Honest question for parents teaching their kids anti-racism:

I've been thinking a lot about Isabel Wilkerson's book Caste and the fact that race is a construct, e.g. there was no whiteness for white American immigrants until we arrived and assimilated into anti-Black racism.

My kids understand anti-Black racism thanks to the work we've done this year, and also understand white privilege.

I've also explained to them that whiteness (and race) are made up things, but they're struggling to get that.

Ideas on how to explain it to a 7 & 8 year old?

Folks, I am specifically asking how to explain that race is a construct of power.

If you're unfamiliar with the concept as Wilkerson explains it, please be thoughtful before you reply.

Like, this is a not a question for glib replies.

I'm asking this question because I want my kids to understand it in their bones.

Jesus Christ. I'm sorry I asked.

Can I get some critical race scholars to weight in here please?

. @tiffanymjewell: maybe I missed this in your book. Obviously we have discussed the global majority and I have read it with them.

My daughter keeps asking "who invented racism?" And we have convos about power and labor, but the notion of race as fabricated is getting lost.