What happened to George Floyd and the unrest that followed in leading to difficult conversations for many families across the country.
Experts say those talks are necessary and need to take place early and more often.
Dr. Nia Heard-Garris studies racism and its impact on children at Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital. She said vicarious or second-hand racism can lead to anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation.
"When the victim looks like you, you may curate a heavier burden thinking, 'that could be me, that could be my mom, that could be my brother,'" Dr. Heard-Garris said.
Dr. Heard-Garris believes families of all ethnicity should talk about race. She suggests approaching the subject from a historical view and highlighting more recent events.
She stresses starting the conversation before children see images in the media.
"Because you make sense of the world for your child, in order to move us to a more anti-racist society, we've got to be willing to have these conversations," Dr. Heard-Garris said.
The talks can start as early as 2 years old and should be age appropriate as children get older.
Parents should ask kids what they've seen and how they're feeling.
You can reassure younger kids about what you're doing to keep them safe. For older kids, it can be a teachable moment to discuss if they have experienced or witnessed racism.
If you're not sure where to start, the following websites have tips on how to get the conversation going:
