General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsToday before school, my twelve year old...
...saw the story about Trayvon. She turned to me, put her hands on her hips and said
in a very angry voice, "What is going on? I thought our country was through with racism?"
My daughter has learned a great deal about civil-rights history--slavery, segregation, Rosa
Parks and so many other pertinent topics that demonstrate how far we've come.
We've had many discussions about how things used to be--and we've all had tears in our eyes--as
we try to come to terms with it all.
When she discovered this morning--that there are *actually* people out there who would think
negatively of anyone because of how they look, she said, "But mom. It's just the color of their
skin. What does it matter?"
I told her that human beings still have much progress to be made.
She left for school and I was really sad that she is learning that not everyone is free of bigotry--and
that some people actually do judge people based on the color of their skin.
Then, I reminded myself that my daughter is nearly oblivious to racism. She can't even fathom judging
someone based on their ethnicity, or how they look or their heritage. She finds it odd and she recoils
at the thought. I think that's a good thing. I know many other parents out there are like me. They
maybe grew up during times when our country was more racist than it is now. I know my parents
were racist. However, my child will never experience that.
For that, I am happy. And even though humanity has a long way to go--I think things do generally improve with
each generation. It's a sad time in America, as we reflect on the murder of Trayvon--but I do have
hope that in the not-too-distant future--attitudes will continue to change until there are no more tragic
Trayvon stories that are discussed on early-morning news programs.
BiggJawn
(23,051 posts)Election night, I was thinking "We've finally moved forward as a country". Soon as I saw the first story about this bunch of yahoos calling themselves "Teabaggers" (until they found out what one really was) I decided "Nope, not a DAMN thing has changed, except they don't hide it as much as they have for the last 40 years"...
I'm so glad for your daughter that you've done well raising her.
Baitball Blogger
(46,758 posts)I thought we were through with racism too, back in the 70s.
Racism is just more hidden than it use to be, until something big goes wrong.
tblue
(16,350 posts)worse after Obama because people will deny there is racism and discount what haperns to people. And I knew there would be a backlash as the bigots feel threatened and panic.
Did you see Charles Blow on Bill Maher last Friday? Watch that 5 minutes and it's clear we have a very long way to go yet.
I love your daughter. Great parent you are!
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)lillypaddle
(9,581 posts)hugs to both you and your daughter
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)We are definitely proud of her. She is a natural leader and I am so proud
to be her mother.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)the haters are raising their children in their own image. My grandchildren and great grandchildren are not going to learn that idiocy for a number of reasons - most of them are bi-racial themselves.
Flora
(126 posts)I had to have the racism talk with him. He had come home from school, and asked my what "n*****" meant. Shocked, I asked him where he heard that word, and he told me on the basketball court while playing with a group of African American classmates. He said it was a word he didn't know, so he didn't want to repeat it till he found out what it meant, cause he had a feeling it was a "bad" word. I explained the history of the word, and how he was never, under any circumstance, ever to use that word even if some of his classmates did say it.
I will never forget the incredulous look in his eyes as I explained how at one time in our nation, black people were not allowed to associate with white people, how black people were not allowed to shop with white people, or vote, or even considered "people"..
He couldn't believe that such cruelty could happen.
I wish I had never had to have that talk with him, I wish life could have gone on forever with him never seeing a difference in people and color.
Chemisse
(30,817 posts)I know how she feels.
When Obama was elected, there was this huge sweep of elation and the contention that we were 'post-racial'. Sadly, not only was that untrue, but it put many racist people into a fever pitch of hatred, so that we have actually seen more naked racism than ever before in our recent past.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)I think electing Obama caused the latent racism still festering in our society to the surface like big pimples do on our skin when we apply heat to them. Since they are ugly, we are focused on them, but that will be the incentive that we need to take the steps to eradicate them and clear them off our society's skin forever.
Chemisse
(30,817 posts)And I sure hope you are right. I think this whole Trayvon incident is going to help in the long run. It would be a nice tribute to him if it wound up being a turning point.