“I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.” These are Whitney Houston’s lyrics, and the song I walked down the aisle to when I graduated Kindergarten. Granted, I barely remember teacher’s names, but this song is one that I remember, and words to live by. Needless to say, what’s happening currently in our country is beyond heartbreaking. This weekend as we watched the news in disbelief, I struggled to find the right words to explain to my children. When they were younger, I thought we would shield them from certain things as a means of protection, but as the years have progressed, I’ve come to realize that it’s critical to have these uncomfortable conversations with them. Forming an understanding of human rights, dignity and decency are, or should be at everyone’s core, and informing your children from a young age will make them more empathetic little humans.
photo: brandychieco
We first learned about George Floyd’s horrific murder, sitting in our living room as it was reported. Jason and I looked at each other in complete shock, disgust, and disbelief, speechless while Gemma turned to me and uttered “Wait did he just die? Why? That police man didn’t like him because of the color of his skin? Why?” We’ve had many talks with them about racism, sexism, and homophobia, while trying to help them understand that we are all created equal, but unfortunately events like this have happened before our time. “Why do people treat others a certain way just because they’re different?” Hearing this come from a child, I feel like anyone would say exactly it just doesn’t make sense? I can sit here and say sure my house is anti-racism, but I recognize that is a bit of a privileged statement as a white person, not having suffered with a history of oppression and prejudice. We need to change. We need change now and we can not stay silent.
My heart hurts for our world right now, for our kids. Last night, as I laid in bed glued to the TV, watching protests just blocks from our apartment, I couldn’t help but think that we can be better!
photo: @cleowade
While I am certainly no expert on any of this, and my perspective may be different than those affected for generations, I can say I, we as a family, stand in solidarity with you. As I have continue to educate myself, here are a few resources I’ve found on how to become more “anti racist.”
Books For Kids
We Shall Overcome: The Story Of A Song
photo: simthgeorgecreations
Donate:
The Antiracist Research and Policy Center
photo: @modernmomprobs
Educate Yourself: Listen and Learn
Support Black Owned Businesses:
House Beautiful, Marie Claire, and Glamour have amazing lists on who you can support now!
Communicate With Your Children:
Have you talked to your children yet about what is happening, I encourage you to do so now!
Vote, Sign Petitions, Don’t Remain Silent:
Vote, sign petitions, find leaders with strong antiracist records!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and the actions you’re taking on becoming more active, and become anti-racist. The new racism is to deny that racism exists.
12 thoughts on “Listening, Loving, and Learning”
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We do need to end all racism by all people of all nationalities. We are all God’s children.
It definitely hurts the heart to see what is happening right now. I haven’t even heard the term anti-racist until recently. I definitely need to educate myself and my family.
These are keys to growing and maturing. This is a great message to spread and share.
I am so agree that we need to teach first our children or more, to educate them that there are no differencies between people.
They are our future and its our dire responsibility to lead by example.
Racism doesn’t really give any good things and we must end this immediately and we should starts teaching this inside our home.
Absolutely!
As an immigrant who has had to deal with racism, I thank you for bringing awareness. This is not about color, but about learning to love and respect PEOPLE in general. We have a lot to learn. My daughter has been criticized for “earning” one million dollars in scholarship just because these scholarships were for Asians, Black, and Hispanics. She did what she had to do to earn it: WORK, WORK, WORK. Others stay still hoping it will reach their inbox. It doesn’t work that way. Immigrants need to work HARDER for everything, but this is evidence that it can be done.
George Floyd is the person who gave his life to blow that last spark into the preparedness to act and say THIS IS THE TIME AND SEASON.
Like anything else, a FAMILY is a beginning place for any seed to sprout and become strong.
Nurturing love for another human being begins at home.
In the past days, we’ve been going to the Gandhi teachings, listening to some of the most prominent speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, sharing the historic events of John Kennedy and Robert Kenndy and how the history was made thanks to these and many other individuals.
Using Al Sharpton’s words, “taking the knee off our neck” begins within a family.
That Cleo Wade quote is one of my favorites. We have always talked about race in our house. It’s important my children see color and understand their privilege too. My son is 9 and we talk about the current events and why people are protesting and what it means. As parents it starts at home.
YES YES YES!