Discussions with my boys about race has always been in the abstract. More akin to a current events class than anything else. They have grown up surrounded by a diverse group of great friends who base friendship on which Star Wars movie is their favorite and not on race, religion, or nationality. It’s quite beautiful and sweet, but unfortunately, it is not always real life. It sounds crazy, but deep down I’ve wanted some type of racial confrontation to occur as a real-life teaching moment. I wanted to be able to talk to my sons about their feelings, their reactions, and what to do in the future. I didn’t want their first experience facing racism to be like mine.
I attended majority of white schools all of my life. In 7th grade, I was in the “cool girls” group for – maybe – one week. I met the group at a football game where one of the girls said, “We like you. You’re not like them.” I literally had no idea what they were talking about, so I asked, “Who?” The girl responded, “You know, you’re not like a black person, you don’t act black. You don’t talk like them.” I was crushed. I was confused, and most of all, I was angry. But, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to verbalize that her words were hurtful and perpetuated a stereotype that is divisive and ugly. The only words that came out were, “I am Black! And you are stupid!”
Then it happened. The Real-Life Moment.
One fall day two years ago, the real-life moment happened for my oldest son during his flag football game. At this particular game he was doing exceptionally well. He was grabbing flags left and right and flying past his opponents. It was pretty obvious that a few parents on the opposing team were getting upset that they were unable to stop my son.
I overheard one dad yell at his son, “Don’t let the BLLAAAAACK kid get by you again!” There is something about the way he said “Black” that hung in the air, like the thick molasses in winter. In that short period of time I had already prepared a verbal tirade that would have made a sailor blush and probably gotten me banned from the field.
Then I saw his eyes. My sweet boy heard the man’s comments and was looking at me with a mix of confusion and “please Momma, don’t say anything!” So I paused, and I said four words: “His name is Mason.” The dad obviously did not realize his words were as loud as they were and replied with a stunned, “What?” I repeated myself. “The kid. The kid who is burning past your kid. His name is Mason.”
We are living in a time where race is the elephant in the room.
Preparation – Check Yourself
Exposure to Other Cultures
- Books! Books! Books! It is not always possible to experience every culture first hand, but there is always a book for that! Reading books about the struggles and achievements of other cultures can begin the discussions with your child about race. What better way to combat racism than to show it is utterly ridiculous? Stereotypes fall like dominoes when real accomplishments are front and center. But it is more than just reading the book. Ask questions about your child’s feeling about the book. “How do you think (the character) felt in the story?” “How did it make you feel when (troubling event) happened?” “What would you have done in the situation?”
- Visiting an art museum showcasing a minority artist, attending a Native American Pow-wow, jamming out at an outdoor music fest are all great ways to expose your children to the best each culture has to offer. Parents should initiate discussions about the activity to and from the event. The goal is exposure to and the celebration of a different race or culture, so make it a point and talk about it.
- My sons are forever on their tablets, so we have turned some of that screen time into developing at home mini projects. A question from them about peanut butter turns into a Google search on George Washington Carver. Or, a day of outdoor fun with super soaker water guns can end with research on Lonnie Johnson.
Very nicely written and I really like your examples of questions to start a conversation about racial issues.
Thank you, Alicia!
This is a must read and read again! ❤️
Very poignant, Alicia. Great article. ❤️
This is so good. Thank you for sharing your heart. I have always looked up to you as a mom. You could write a script..you are so wise ???
Excellent. And thanks for the reading references.
Thank you so much for this and for sharing your story.
I pray that it will be in my lifetime that race will become a nonissue in our country. That we will be seen as souls walking this earth and not different colored bodies. Please let me dream.