Where to begin?
We've come a long way in tackling the issues surrounding race in America.
Are they obsolete? Of course not.
Is it much better? Absolutely.
In raising Ben and Frankie, it was important for them to understand the struggles and battles fought, so that they could appreciate all who went before them to make their way possible. But many times I felt the conversations fell on deaf ears because their experiences were so different. Their struggles were minuscule in comparison.
That's a good thing, right?
Yes, but . . .
There are still those who have issues with who we are, based solely on the color of our skin, and we need to be aware of that, so that when it comes up, we can deal it with constructively.
I've thought a lot about this recently, in reference to my granddaughter, Zadie.
As a mixed child, she will need to be taught no matter how she sees herself, what matters in the way she is treated, is how the world sees her. My classic example is Tiger Woods. He sees himself as this multiracial (which he is) entity, but when he walks out of the door, the world sees a Black man.
When Zadie looks in the mirror, will she appreciate who she sees? How do we help her grow and mature to embrace both sides of herself, without having to deny either part of who she is? Will the standards of beauty have broaden by the time she's of age, to regularly include women of color? Will it be necessary to have the same conversations with her, that I had with Ben and Frankie?
I think so.
Not as some indictment on everyone who is a certain color, but to be aware that there are still narrow-minded people who struggle to see pass our color.
Better to be prepared than to be blindsided.
Have we come a long way?
YES!
Do we still have a ways to go?
For sure.
We've come a long way in tackling the issues surrounding race in America.
Are they obsolete? Of course not.
Is it much better? Absolutely.
In raising Ben and Frankie, it was important for them to understand the struggles and battles fought, so that they could appreciate all who went before them to make their way possible. But many times I felt the conversations fell on deaf ears because their experiences were so different. Their struggles were minuscule in comparison.
That's a good thing, right?
Yes, but . . .
There are still those who have issues with who we are, based solely on the color of our skin, and we need to be aware of that, so that when it comes up, we can deal it with constructively.
I've thought a lot about this recently, in reference to my granddaughter, Zadie.
As a mixed child, she will need to be taught no matter how she sees herself, what matters in the way she is treated, is how the world sees her. My classic example is Tiger Woods. He sees himself as this multiracial (which he is) entity, but when he walks out of the door, the world sees a Black man.
When Zadie looks in the mirror, will she appreciate who she sees? How do we help her grow and mature to embrace both sides of herself, without having to deny either part of who she is? Will the standards of beauty have broaden by the time she's of age, to regularly include women of color? Will it be necessary to have the same conversations with her, that I had with Ben and Frankie?
I think so.
Not as some indictment on everyone who is a certain color, but to be aware that there are still narrow-minded people who struggle to see pass our color.
Better to be prepared than to be blindsided.
Have we come a long way?
YES!
Do we still have a ways to go?
For sure.
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