Race Cars

Chase is a black racing car, Ace is a white racing car and they are best friends, training together and looking forward to taking part in the world-famous annual car race. When the time comes for them to enter trouble occurs; white cars have won the race as long as anyone can remember but when Chase takes part he unexpectedly wins. The race committee are not happy about this, they do not like change. They decide to include a diversion in the race for black cars thereby giving white cars the advantage. Despite this Chase still comes second causing more consternation among the committee and further impediments and eventually a total ban from taking part.  There are dissenting voices on the committee, but no one is brave enough to speak up. When Chase’s friend Ace investigates, he begins to realise what has been happening, and the book ends on a hopeful note suggesting that together they can make a stand to show unfair treatment will not be tolerated.

Written by a clinical social worker and child therapist specialising in talking to children about race the author aims to challenge unfairness and messages of racial inferiority aimed at BIPOC (Black indigenous and people of colour) communities and help white children develop a positive self-image that does not involve feelings of superiority. The editor, an expert in diversity and inclusion, points out that the book is intended to encourage conversations about racial justice, white privilege and prejudice. There are tips included for prompting conversations at the beginning and end of the book and notes about real life situations linked to two high profile individuals, Lewis Hamilton and Darrell (Bubba) Wallace.

The simple text and bold graphic design help to convey the allegory clearly and are ideal to stimulate discussion about the story itself and the issues it raises. Race Cars would be a useful addition to classroom and library collections of diverse books promoting equality of opportunity and challenging prejudice and unfair privilege.