06/11/2020
3 YEARS OLD LIKE ME
I remember it was a hot day, June 11th 1977, and the station wagon we rode in from the airport didn’t have A/C, so we had the windows down. I could smell the excitement in the muggy air of our new adventure in America. As we pulled up in the school parking lot, that we would later attend, we saw kids running and playing.
A short and stalky, blonde, blue-eyed little boy sprinted to the open car window. As he peered in, he uttered, “Hi n*gger! What color are you n*gger?” The car was silent. No one said a word.
At the age of 3, I didn’t understand what he said and what it meant but judging from my mom’s expression, I knew it must have been something bad. That was my 1st memory of coming to America.
Children are not born racist. Racism is a learned behavior; it starts in the home.
Parents play a key role in raising children who are kind, accepting, loving, respectful and anit-racist.
Where do we start? Here are a few tips:
1. Talk to you kids and acknowledge racial differences exist. Celebrate that our differences make us unique
2. Confront your own biases and model how you want your children to treat others who are different from them
3. Have books in your home with diverse characters and cultures
4. Have toys and dolls in your home that are diverse
5. Have a diverse social network and encourage your kids to have a diverse circle of friends
6. Encourage your kids to stand up to racial injustices and challege racial stereotypes
There is HOPE for a better future and equality in America. We can do better! We must do better!
My youngest is 3 years old, the same age I was when I first experienced racism. My dream for her and all my children is that 43 years from now, they will not have stories of racism to share like mine.
