Spot on, communication is always key. All it takes is a conversation. Well not just one but actively talk to your kid. This shit should be starting at a young age, in terms they can understand, and then develop it as they grow older. Like it's really not that hard.

My parents never even mentioned race to me, so I grew up confused and ignorant. When my kid was 4 he was on a poop joke kick and said something along the lines of "haha people with brown skin look like poop!" Obviously it wasn't malicious but I quickly corrected him, told him why that was a bad thing to say, and he apologized and said he would never do it again. 4 years old and already more reasonable than 99% of adults. He's 8 now and recently he said, "Why do black people get all the bad stuff? White people get so much cool stuff and black people don't, it's not fair." Which of course led to another discussion about inequality, oppression, and privelege (in 8 year old terms of course).

Kids have questions. They are curious! They understand more than you think. Don't skirt around them because it makes YOU uncomfortable.