06/01/2020
I HAVE NO IMAGE TO SHARE. This past week has been a stressful one. It’s difficult to put into words the sadness and despair I felt after the murder of George Floyd. Most of us have had that “I’M not racist, so I’M not contributing to the problem” feeling. But, is that enough? Of course not! Contributions to the right organizations? Great! But in my heart I knew more was needed. And then it occurred to me…
While watching the protests on TV, my kids kept asking questions about what was going on in Minneapolis and why people were rioting. Without thinking, my husband and I dismissed their questions and shooed them upstairs in an attempt to hide them from what’s going on. Then I asked myself, why am I shielding my kids from something big that is happening in the world? That’s when I realized, THAT’S MY privilege. I’m not white, and though my privilege is not the same as those who are, there is a level of privilege I’m afforded whether I want to see it or not. It is the privilege of choosing whether or not to explain to my kids the way this world operates. Whereas for Black people, it is a necessity to teach their children about systemic racism in order to survive, often at a very young age.
After a few failed attempts at starting the conversation (we were nervous), we started a conversation that touched on skin colour, race, history, humanity, and change. I was surprised by my kids’ reactions. They had a lot of questions, but also unique viewpoints on the subjects.
Our big take away was that, the riots will stop, the protests will subside and things will be quiet again, but that doesn’t mean that anything has changed. We need to keep reminding ourselves that it is up to US to fight for what is right for EVERYONE, not just for some of us.
If you’re interested on how to start the conversation with your own children or want do some reading for yourself, has a great comprehensive list of books and websites to get you going. If you have any resources that have helped you and your children, please comment below.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – Martin Luther King Jr.