Avery’s take on Obama
A while back, I was surfing the internet with Avery on my lap. There were two pictures of McCain and Obama side by side. I pointed at Obama and told her that was who we wanted to win. She got this weird expression on her face and said “I think people will like the other one better” I asked her why, thinking please tell me we are not going where I think we are going.. She then hesitantly ventured..”His skin is a little lighter. The one you likes skin is..a little dark..”
Where did she pick this up?!
I was SHOCKED and sad that my 3 year old would pick up on such basic racism. We’ve had many talks about it since and when we listen to him talk to cheering crowds she now often comments that “sounds like Obama is going to win, mom!” .
Let’s hope she’s right!
When Sophia was in preschool, at a different, less enlightened preschool than where we are now, she was in the car with me when three police cars passed us going super fast with lights and sirens.
“Are they going to catch the bad guys?” she asked. I told her yes, that’s where they were headed. “The bad guys are the black guys, right?” she then asked.
By the end of the conversation, in which I had totally freaked out while driving, it became clear that she thought racial delineations were designed to make it easier for police to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
That’s when I knew, for sure, that I needed to make some changes in our social crowd, our neighborhood, her school, etc. Sigh.
Posted 1 year agoIt’s got to be basic human nature for us to like people who resemble us and to be suspicious of those who don’t. Look at how much racism there is in the world! I think it’s the #1 global problem. That’s one reason that Christ died.
Posted 1 year agoIt’s heartening to think that kids who are just a few years younger than sweet Avery will likely not have the same thoughts. It won’t enter their minds that one is “better” than the other, because they frequently see their president, who has brown skin, on television addressing or representing the country. I believe we are entering a new era with the election of Obama, who united so many different people while remaining honest and true to himself and his family.
You and Avery might want to check out http://yeswecanholdbabies.wordpress.com/. Ava really enjoys seeing pictures of “Bwak Obama” holding children of all colors, ages, and sizes—including his own.
Posted 1 year agoyay! you guys must be thrilled. it’s a pretty exciting time for our country.
Posted 1 year ago