Children notice differences amongst themselves naturally and with curiosity from an early age. They’re also active citizens of our world who pick up information from others and have experiences of their own. This can lead to conversations in the classroom that may seem tough—but they don’t have to be. This reference can help give you the language to handle these teachable moments. The words listed are not meant to be taught out of context or used for a vocabulary lesson. Instead, they are grouped by topics of natural conversation to help facilitate meaningful exchanges with your students.

When skin color (which is different from race) comes up in classroom conversations, make sure students understand that all skin colors are beautiful and all people should be treated equally. This topic may lead to the use of some of the following words. Here’s some help in using them.

melanin: a natural substance in the body that determines a person’s skin color. If you have darker skin, it is because your body makes more melanin. If you have lighter skin, that means your body makes less melanin.

race: The concept of race was created to put people into groups based on their physical characteristics. Race has been used as an excuse to say that some people are superior or inferior to others based on their differences—mostly skin color. The truth is that human beings are more than 99 percent genetically identical. A person’s race won’t give you any insight into his or her nationality, intelligence, health, or personality.

person of color: a person who is of a race other than White or who is of mixed race

identity: All the things that make up who you are. Your family, background, and history can all be parts of your identity—but your identity always belongs to you and no one else.

diversity: The inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization. Diversity refers to all the ways that people can be different from each other: what we look like, how we dress, our traditions, our families. Diversity is something that can be celebrated. We can enjoy and respect one another’s differences because we are all people.

Children are usually aware of what is fair and unfair. However, they may need help understanding the nuances of fairness. (For example, while we strive to be fair in class, some students may need more help than others—and that’s fair too!) Some of these words might be helpful when kids are thinking about fairness—both in and out of the classroom. 

equality: When there is equality, all people are treated the same, no matter who they are or what they look like. Everyone gets the same rights and opportunities.

equity: Equity is giving people with a disadvantage what they need to help them develop their full academic, social, and civic potential. This is to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. 

justice: Fairness. Social justice is the idea that all people deserve to have the same rights, no matter what they look like, how much money they have, or any other characteristics.

action: Standing up for yourself and for others. 

Preview the terms and definitions below that appear in the article “Color for Everyone” or that may come up in other discussions about race, diversity, and inclusion.

activist: a person who takes action to help make changes in society

bias: a personal opinion that influences someone’s work, actions, or thoughts

discrimination: unjust treatment based on differences such as race, religion, gender, or nationality

diverse: made up of people or things that are different from each other

equity: Equity is giving people with a disadvantage what they need to help them develop their full academic, social, and civic potential. This is to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.

identity: All the things that make up who you are. Your family, background, and history can all be parts of your identity—but your identity always belongs to you and no one else.

inclusive: including everyone

melanin: a natural substance in the body that determines a person’s skin color. If you have darker skin, it is because your body makes more melanin. If you have lighter skin, that means your body makes less melanin.

race: The concept of race was created to put people into groups based on their physical characteristics, such as skin color.

Preview the terms and definitions below that appear in the articles in this section or that may come up in other discussions about slavery and resistance.

13th Amendment: the section of the U.S. Constitution that officially ended slavery in the United States in 1865

abolished: officially done away with

abolitionists: people who fight to end slavery

ancestors: family members who lived long ago

(slave) auction: a public sale at which enslaved people were sold to the enslavers who paid the highest price

Civil War: a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 in the United States between the Northern states (the Union) and Southern states (the Confederacy), mainly over slavery

Confederacy: another name for the Confederate States of America, the 11 Southern states that attempted to separate from the United States in 1860 and 1861

Constitution: the official document that states the powers and duties of the U.S. government

emancipation: an act of setting someone free from control or slavery

enslaved people: people who are forced to work without pay and are treated as if they were property

enslavers: people who own other people and buy and sell them as if they were property

freedom seeker: a person who seeks freedom from slavery

Juneteenth: a holiday celebrated on June 19 that recognizes the freeing of people who had been enslaved in the United States

oppression: the cruel, unjust, and harsh treatment of people  

plantation: a large farm found in warm climates where crops such as coffee, tea, tobacco, and cotton are grown

prejudice: the dislike or poor treatment of a person or group based on characteristics such as race or religion

racism: the unjust treatment of people based on physical characteristics, such as skin color

register: to officially sign up for something, such as to vote in an election

secede: to formally separate from a country or an organization

slavery: the condition of being owned by another person and being thought of as property instead of a human being

suffrage: the right to vote

Underground Railroad: a secret network of people and places that helped enslaved people escape from the South in the 1800s

Preview the terms and definitions below that appear in the articles in this section or that may come up in other discussions about the civil rights movement.

boycott: a protest in which people refuse to use a service or buy a product

Brown v. Board of Education: a 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case in which the judges ruled the segregation in U.S. public schools was illegal

civil rights movement: the long struggle to gain equal rights for Black Americans in the 1950s and 1960s

Constitution: the official document that states the powers and duties of the U.S. government

constitutional rights: protections and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution

demonstration: a public display by a group to express views on an issue; a protest

designated: set apart for a specific purpose

discrimination: unjust treatment based on differences such as race, religion, gender, or nationality.

equality: When there is equality, all people are treated the same, no matter who they are or what they look like. Everyone gets the same rights and opportunities.

equal rights: the idea that everyone should have the same freedoms and protections under the law

harassed: treated rudely or cruelly, or bullied over and over again

injustice: unfair treatment; a situation in which the rights of a person or a group of people are ignored

integrate: to include or allow people of all races

integration: the inclusion of people of all races

Jim Crow laws: laws and practices that supported unfair, unequal treatment of Black Americans after the Civil War

lawsuit: a process by which a dispute between people or organizations is decided in court

moral: considered right and good by most people

protest: an event at which people gather to show strong disapproval about something

racism: the unjust treatment of people based on physical characteristics, such as skin color

segregation: the separation of people based on race

sit-in: a protest in which people sit somewhere and refuse to move until their demands are met

struggle: something that is difficult to do or achieve

unconstitutional: not following the rules of the U.S. Constitution

U.S. Supreme Court: the highest court of law in the United States

Preview the terms and definitions below that appear in the articles in this section or that may come up in discussions about them.

achievement: something gotten especially by great effort

ambition: a strong wish to be successful

capable: able to do something

Civil War: a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 in the United States between the Northern states (the Union) and Southern states (the Confederacy), mainly over slavery

discrimination: unjust treatment based on differences such as race, religion, gender, or nationality

embittered: very angry about unfair things that have happened to you

equal rights: the idea that everyone should have the same freedoms and protections under the law

era: a period in history

injustice: unfair treatment; a situation in which the rights of a person or a group of people are ignored

integrate: to include or allow people of all races

integration: the inclusion of people of all races

offensive: causing upset or hurt feelings

outdated: no longer useful or acceptable; not modern or current

pioneer: a person who goes before others and prepares the way for them to follow

potential: ability that may be developed and lead to future success

racism: the unjust treatment of people based on physical characteristics, such as skin color

segregation: the separation of people based on race

Preview the terms and definitions below that appear in the articles in this section or that may come up in discussions about them.

13th Amendment: the section of the U.S. Constitution that officially ended slavery in the United States in 1865

abolish: to officially do away with something

campaign: a series of planned actions meant to achieve a goal 

character: the personal qualities, beliefs, and actions that make up who someone is

charity: an organization that gives money, food, or free help to people who need it

civil rights movement: the long struggle to gain equal rights for Black Americans in the 1950s and 1960s

Constitution: the official document that states the powers and duties of the U.S. government

discrimination: unjust treatment based on differences such as race, religion, gender, or nationality

emancipation: an act of setting someone free from control or slavery

enslaved people: people who are forced to work without pay and who are treated as property

enslavers: people who own other people and buy and sell them as if they were property

equality: When there is equality, all people are treated the same, no matter who they are or what they look like. Everyone gets the same rights and opportunities.

food insecure: related to difficulty getting enough to eat

legendary: very well known and greatly admired by many people

mission: a goal or a task that you consider a very important duty, often to help others in some way

persistent: continuing to try to succeed at something even if it’s difficult

plantations: large farms found in warm climates where crops such as coffee, tea, tobacco, and cotton are grown

racism: the unjust treatment of people based on physical characteristics, such as skin color

segregation: the separation of people based on race

slavery: the condition of being owned by another person and being thought of as property instead of a human being

Underground Railroad: a secret network of people and places that helped enslaved people escape from the South in the 1800s