It wasn’t that long ago that interracial marriage was once forbidden in many states.

In fact, it’s just over 50 years that the 1967 Supreme Court’s ruling in Loving vs. Virginia overturned the law banning interracial marriage. At that time interracial marriages represented just 3 percent of marriages.

In a 2017 report by Pew Research Center, one in six newlyweds in the United States had a spouse of a different race or ethnicity. Further analysis of the U.S Census Bureau data showed one-in-seven U.S. infants were multiracial or multi-ethnic.

Although these studies point to the fact that the U.S is becoming even more diverse, there is still work to be done with social taboos surrounding interracial marriages and multiracial children as evidenced by last week’s episode of Red Table Talk https://www.facebook.com/redta... with Jada Pinkett-Smith.

In this episode, Grey’s Anatomy star, Ellen Pompeo, discussed her interracial marriage and challenges of raising her bi-racial children. Children like Pompeo’s represent one of the fastest-growing social and demographic change we are seeing in the U.S. which is at a rate of three times as fast as the population as a whole and why this holiday gift guides is chock-full of great gift ideas to support, uplift and empower multiracial children. They need to see accurate representations of their cultural reality and products/brands made with them in mind.

1. Mixed Up Clothing 2. Mixed Chicks 3. Mixed Me 4. Mixed A Colorful Story 5. Black,White, Just Right 6. Half and Half 7. Amy Hodge Podge 8. Misty Copeland 9. My Two Granddads 10. Niobe 11. Brown Crayons 12. People Colors 13. Al Estilo de Amarita 14. Hello in Different Languages - multilingual poster 15. Being All of Me

Pompeo and the ladies of the Red Table Talk also expressed the importance of having conversations around race and why we need not be afraid to talk about it. Going on to say that if folks were afraid of these conversations then it shows that one needs to talk about it even more. Research shows that a "color blind" approach is harmful.

Studies show that at a very early age children can identify race and are able to recognize physical differences. This can come from observations and interactions with parents, playmates, their families, and others, which reinforces Pompeo’s stance on the importance of exposing children to different people and why this gift guide was created: to encourage parents to fill their environment with diverse items like music, foods, art, books and make friends that reflect the world in which we live.

Conversations like those shared on Red Table Talk can also help parents and children better understand and appreciate the similarities and differences among the diverse folks we share the world with.

It is so important for all families to include diverse products so that children increase their worldview and understand that we come in different sizes, skin tones, abilities and speak different languages.

From dolls and books to fashion and, safety and beauty products, we got you covered.

1. Canticos 2. Hello in Different Languages - multilingual poster 3. How Did That Get In My Lunchbox 4. Walk This World at Christmastime 5. Luisito’s Island 6. Al Estilo de Amorita7. Mama Panya’s Pancakes 8. A Tale of Two Mommies 9. Bino & Fino 10. Up and Down the Andes 11. Wangari’s Tree of Peace
12. Can You Say Peace 13. All Are Welcome 14. This is How We Do It 15. Meet Yasmin 16. Don’t Call Me Special 17. Adora Dolls 18. Name That Country 19. Sunstaches 20. Bad Hair Does Not Exist/Pelo Malo No Existe 21. Interactive Talking World Map 22. Kids Embrace & Kids Embrace 23. Curly Chic 24. Mixed Up Clothing 25. I Am Unique!

Both gift guides showcase a broad range of brands and products that are making a difference. They know the importance of making products like these positively shapes the way multicultural children feel about themselves.

The ladies around the Red Table Talk held compassion for others as one of life’s greatest lessons. We can do that by living an intentional life where you can talk about race comfortably, make friends with others that may look differently than you, grab items from the gift guide to help foster a greater understanding of others so that you can “learn to check yourself before you check somebody else."

There were some great lessons from their conversation which was the impetus for this gift guide but this can extend past the holiday season. These products are for every season as we continue to celebrate diversity and inclusion.