Color-blind kids: is it a good thing?
When my 6 year old was trying to get our family to guess the name Barak Obama the other day, he described our new President without ever mentioning the fact that the man is African American or black. This prompted my husband to state that our children will have the luxury of being “color-blind” when it comes to race. While I’m not sure that being racially colorblind will be quite the reality of my children’s still-young generation, it does make me wonder if that is even really a good thing?
After living and marrying in a very diverse part of Florida, my parents raised our family in the Pacific Northwest without any discussion or mention of racial differences that I remember as a kid. Living in a community without much diversity, those weren’t conversations that were ever prompted by circumstance. Although well intentioned, I don't really feel my parents did me any great benefit by living as if racial differences don't exist. It wasn’t until recent years that I even learned about the concept of “white privilege”; it was just something I obliviously lived. Shortly after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I asked a few girlfriends (all caucasian and parents of 5-6 year old kids) how they talk to their kids about race so they at grow up conscious that racial disparity is real. They all agreed our kids are too young to go there, to call attention to differences that our kids don't notice yet.
So mamas, what do you think about all of this? Are color-blind kids a good thing? How so? Beyond how we as mamas talk about our own diversity, how do you talk to your kids about race, diversity, prejudice, and privilege?
I heard Cornell West speak last week and he talked about this very thing - except he said it is no compliment to African-American people for white people to say they are color-blind. His point was that only when it comes to blackness would people think it a compliment to separate ones race from their humanity.
I've been thinking about that a lot and wondering how I would feel if men started saying they were gender blind. It's obviously ridiculous, right? With my own kids, I think it's ok for them to see differences in people, what's not ok is for them to assign some value judgment to those differences.
I also think that, as much as I love how oblivious my kids are to issues of racism and sexism they are still very real issues for many people. I feel pretty strongly that, when they're ready, they need to know from whence we came as a country.
Posted by: A | February 04, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Is there something I'm missing? Why will our children have the luxury of being color blind just because we have a bi-racial president?
I am pleased that my own bi-racial son will have a fabulous role model to look up to and will understand that he, too could have one of the most powerful jobs in the nation. But, I doubt that will create color blindness.
Posted by: Cristobal's mami | February 04, 2009 at 09:36 PM
During the inauguration my 4 year old and I were talking about the fact that Obama was the first president of color. We talked about MLK and the work he did, and we talked together about how absurd it was that there used to be seperate drinking fountains, etc. I made the statement about us all being friends, regardless of skin color. My son thought on this for a bit and made the comment about so-and-so being able to be his friend "even though he was black." I knew he was getting what I was saying, but it didn't feel right, like I had put a difference there that had never even crossed his mind. I worry sometimes that when we teach history, we introduce ideas that don't have to be part of the picture anymore, and yet I know that to not teach about it we do harm. I just don't know how to really deal with this.
Posted by: kim | February 04, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Interesting topic. I too think that being 'color blind' is not necessarily a good thing. One of my favorite bumper stickers of all time said something to the effect of "love sees the color...and celebrates it" (contradicting the love sees no color bumper stickers that were popular for a while)
We live in inner N.E. Portland and I have always talked to my boys about race, skin color,how all people are unique and special, who Rosa Parks and MLK were (since we drive down streets with those names on almost a daily basis!) and an age appropriate explanation of what blacks have had to endure in this country. I know that my boys 'get it' at their young age of 5 in an age appropriate manner. I love that we talk about these things, because I never had that growing up! I think they will be so much more enlightened at such an earlier age that it just makes me smile. I think that there is a history in this country that can't be denied, and teaching your child and talking to them at an appropriate level can only be good.
Posted by: kathy | February 05, 2009 at 06:25 AM
I like to have teachable moments, and answering questions versus trying to figure out what i need to say to set the stage.
It's been fun having conversations about other people's personalities- how they act, what they say, body expressions- instead of trying to stereotype or not stereotype in explaining race, diversity, prejudice, and privilege.
We don't have to get along, we don't have to love each other but we do have to respect differences and be civil, this is what i feel.
Posted by: bikey mama carie | February 05, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Until recently, my (bi-racial) kids have had an entirely matter-of-fact approach to race and color, simply observing that some people are pink like me, some people are brown like papi, and so on... it's made sense to me just to go with that. Always knowing that awkward conversations about history and bias and so on would be inevitable at some point, but happy not to see any innocence spoiled just yet.
Of course any such cocoon is short-lived. My NPR-listening five-year-old startled me a few weeks ago by asking questions about why Martin Luther King was dead. I answered him with something about how he had been killed shortly before I was born because some bad people felt threatened by his message of justice. "Oh," my son said. "You mean the white people?"
Ack!
That's how I learned that what my son had retained from his pre-school lessons on MLK, Jr. was that white people had killed a lot of black people. Which is of course true. But... but... oh boy.
Bottom line is that the conversation was much more traumatic for me than my kid. As these "teachable moments" present themselves, I'll continue trying to muddle through with as much grace as I can muster.
Posted by: Tia | February 05, 2009 at 01:16 PM
I'm not sure I understand how "color-blindness" is really possible. Do we really think that our kids don't notice physical differences, and is there anything inherently wrong with noticing difference if it doesn't come with devaluing? How about "color-impartiality" or "color-neutral"? It seems to me that we can better respect difference if we acknowledge that it's there. Not "better" or "worse" but there.
I guess I don't see my children as being unaware of physical differences. They have cousins adopted from Korea, friends adopted from Cambodia and Ethiopia, and I think they noticed their physical differences at a very early age, though those differences don't impact their relationships or connections. We've been able to talk about the different ways families are made and the ways that we all love each other however we came to those families.
Posted by: Stacy | February 05, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Kim, I hear you. It's precisely because of what you describe that we have not talked with our almost 5 year old daughter about race at all. I do think that with little ones, talking about it can actually make them notice (and perhaps in very minor ways, discriminate upon) racial differences more than they would without having been part of the discussion (as in kim's child's "I'm friends with him even b/c he's black.") So, for now, we're quiet about it all (although she certainly has heard my husband and I talk about race in the pres. election, for example.)
Lest I seem like I have my head in the sand about all this and am promoting a "color blind society," I should say that I teach college classes on Af-Am lit., multi-ethnic American lit, and write about the same issues. So in many ways it's strange to not let my daughter in on the issues I spend my time thinking about and working on. We've even stayed very vague about things like MLKjr. day because I at least now want to hold off on introducing her to the history of racial cruelty and discrimination that produced a positive figure like MLK (and others). I'm aware that this approach is different from many in our, ahem, enlightened age, and I'm thinking about it all the time, but it's felt like the right approach for us so far. I do think it's true that the more we talk about race the more we see it...and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just a true thing.
I should finish by stating what is probably obvious by now: I and my family are white. And I'm fully conscious of the fact that "waiting" to talk about race is one of the many luxuries that white folks have and are often unaware of. If your child gets called a racial epithet, you're not going to wait to talk about those issues.
Posted by: MollyH | February 05, 2009 at 01:16 PM
We are not "white" so there was no color-blindness to be had. My daughter learned about Martin Luther King in kindergarten when her blond-haired blue-eyed teacher told the kids the non-fairy-tale version of his life and death. Clearly, this was NOT in Portland. She also celebrate Kwanzaa with the kids, along with all the other holidays. I think it's important all kids not just mine, to see the unvarnished history. No need to see Emmett Till's funeral photo, but still. . no Disney-ized Civil Rights Movement.
There was race based shooting in NE Portland where some white kids drove up NE Garfield to shoot up the "black" neighborhood. This was 2002 or 2003. Property damage but no one was hurt. At the protest march we went to, my kid (8 or 9)was pretty scared that the shooters would come back. But I think it would be foolhardy for me to shield her from that. We protested the war abroad, why would not acknowledge the war at home. I think we faced down that fear. And that most of the world can't be shielded from those who would do them harm based on race, religion, or ethnicity.
I used to joke with a friend about how long it takes white people to tell my black a** how "color-blind" they are upon initial introductory (waiting in line. at a bar. at a school function) conversation.
He said that it never happens to him. He is white.
I don't know how I would handle those conversation as a white family. I guess like we do as a stright-identified family or an able-ist priviledged family.
Posted by: ProtestMama | February 05, 2009 at 02:24 PM
When we lived in Portland, our daughter's bff was bi-racial. She is dark and looks just like her African-American Dad. I was so interested to see as they got older how their differing appearance would play out.
They never brought it up! They just loved each other for the fun they had together.
As their ages dictate we will talk about each other in a real and proud way. We just bought a kids book about Martin Luther King, Jr. Appropriate for a 5 and 3 year old. As time goes on, we'll tell them how blacks help build America and America's economy, about where there came from and how they got here. We will tell them the truth about how the playing field isn't always level, but maybe, hopefully things are changing.
For as excited as we are about President Obama, we'll tell them how we can't begin to know how it must feel for African American's. (Someone should write a book on this, because I would love to "try" to understand.. not possible, I know).
I don't want to hide the differences. The more we know about each other, the more tolerance and love we have for each other.
Posted by: Monica in Cali | February 05, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Portland is a heavily white city and diversity, unfortunately, is mostly each minority group clustered in one area rather than equally distributed throughout the greater Portland area. But, that is what it is and I am pleased to read that the posters here (many of whom are caucasian I'm assuming) are so concerned about the proper way to educate their children about racial differences and acceptance. If more people thought and taught this way we wouldn't have as many problems as we do. I am biracial myself, my family is racially blended. That doesn't mean that I am exempt from properly educating my kids. I'm happy to read that others are concerned about better our society through age appropriate conversations and exposure to cultural diversity. I really appreciate access to so many different cultural activities around Portland, it's very easy to introduce my child to different cultures and ethnic groups in a fun, family friendly way.
Posted by: Sera | February 05, 2009 at 05:25 PM
My nephew is bi-racial. My daughter has Down syndrome. My niece is growing up with a British accent. I am grateful that none of them will be able to ignore the differences in their cousins as they grow up together, and hopeful that growing up together will help them come to understand that there is something in each of them worth learning from and celebrating.
I can't speak to the larger issue of what is good and bad, but it was pretty amazing staying up til midnight with my 7 year old nephew watching Obama's acceptance speech in a little pizza joint in Northern Vermont.
Posted by: abby | February 05, 2009 at 07:08 PM
My 3 year old is acutely aware of everyone around her and is quick to point out differences. At the airport, I was on the phone and she kept repeating something to me, and when I finally realized what she was yelling, it was, "Mommy, look at that little man! He's a tiny little man!" at the little man standing, oh, about 2 feet away from us. Teaching moment! I remained cool and said something like, "that's right, sometimes people are tall, sometimes they are shorter, just like everyone has differences and things that are the same." We talk about the differences she sees and I always try to balance it with similarities, which at this point is kind of Sesame Street level-age appropriate. I spend a lot of time talking about different families since we are a no-daddy, one-mommy family, so I see it as being no different to talk about how some people have brown skin, some pink, some tan, some have different shaped eyes, and we all also have heads, bodies, and families. As she gets older, I feel that these early conversations will have built a good foundation for more detailed, history based discussions. Being a social worker, it's nice to see my daughter notices differences as an observer, and is open to learning more about how people relate.
Posted by: Debby | February 05, 2009 at 10:04 PM
My oldest child is the one who notices differences between people. "Why is that person wearing his hat backwards?" "That woman MUST be pregnant!" But the one that seems to bother him the most is hearing someone called "black" as in it's "Black History Month" or whatnot.
I said something in passing about Black History Month, and he went so far as to grab a black crayon and wave it in my face and tell me he's never seen anyone that color before. He prefers terms like, "gingery" "medium lightish brown" "super tan" "peachy pink" "kind of really light light pink like you mom" (jeez kid, sorry I'm pale) or whatnot. Of course, these terms are not used generically, but only to refer to a specific person.
I like that he's not "color-blind" (which really is just a Colbert-ism, right?), but can spot differences between people in a non-judgmental manner. I just wish sometimes he wasn't so loud about it (because that woman was so not pregnant).
Posted by: egl | February 06, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Thank you for this conversation, it is very timely considering how much people have suddenly started talking about racism in front of my 3-year old son, and I am trying to find the best balance of being age-appropriate without going overboard in shielding him until I think he's ready.
A recent comment I was okay with: An African American mother stated that she might move away from Portland so that when her son is in school there will be other kids who look like him. Understandable.
A recent comment I was not okay with: An upper-middle-aged white male said that when he was young, he had to ask permission to bring his Mexican girlfriend to a relative's wedding. It wouldn't have been clear to a literalist 3-year old that he thought that was stupid. This was in a string of similar remarks. I ended up telling him to just not talk about racism in front of my son.
If anyone hears of a great workshop on raising anti-racist kids, please post, I'd love help in navigating this one.
Posted by: E | February 06, 2009 at 10:10 AM
As our country becomes more and more multi-cultural, it will be important for each of us to start conversations about how our different life experiences and history can strengthen us. No fear. Kids get a very Euro-centric education in our society and while that is changing it still is the case.
At this point in our history, I think we also need to make sure we have a good understand of the history of middle eastern people and Islam. There is so much fear and it just hands down from one generation to the next.
America is changing and we have just started to embrace this idea at a national level. It's not just great!, it's the fact, it's about understanding who we are and shedding our illusions.
Posted by: Monica in Cali | February 06, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I really appreciate that this is a conversation that so many parents are wanting to have. I'm Korean, my husband is white and we have a 21-month-old son. And I can tell you, he does notice racial differences. He'll point to other women who are Asian and say "mama." I don't know that we can say that kids don't "notice" differences, so much as they may not be able to verbalize them yet. We teach them colors and shapes and to observe the world around them, that's going to translate into noticing differences in people.
I was raised in a white family and I know that I still have a lot to learn about how to be racially sensitive myself, white privilege is a very real thing. A great resource for those looking to learn more is the YWCA Clark County. www.ywcaclarkcounty.org They run diversity and anti-racism workshops that are personally eye-opening in how we view all people. It's challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but I applaud this community of mamas for not shrinking away from this.
Posted by: M | February 06, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Been following the discussion with interest and wanted to offer a follow-up about the "noticing" stuff. Yes, kids certainly notice things like diff. skin colors, hair colors, height, etc. But the values historically attached to these differences aren't innately obvious, right? It seems to me that until introduced to or confronted with the history of racism in the U.S., it is at least possible to remain rather innocent of the fact that skin color has been the basis of discrimination, violence, oppression, etc., etc. Their innocent perspectives I think help us see how f'ed up it always was and is to oppress, enslave, kill, inter, etc., based on "phenotype." Still, in the world we live in it's obviously not good or even possible to stay in that innocent state for too long.
Posted by: MollyH | February 06, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I personally don't understand the term "color blind" as I can not find the translation for that term in my language. I have heard it in meetings, youth conferences and whatnot and always find it so offensive. I wish people using it would understand how it feels to have someone say that they don't notice you and how you are different.
I am proud of looking different, I am proud of my history, I am proud of the struggles of my people. I don;t need to be celebrated but I do need to feel acknowledged.
POrtland is indeed a very white city, when I go to the indoor parks I don;t get included in conversations even when I am obviously right there, I do get asked if I am the nanny and that how much I charge beacuse it would be oh! so great for my child to learn Spanish...ugh?
I am not sure where I want to go with this post, maybe just vent.
Posted by: mxo | February 06, 2009 at 02:05 PM
I personally don't understand the term "color blind" as I can not find the translation for that term in my language. I have heard it in meetings, youth conferences and whatnot and always find it so offensive. I wish people using it would understand how it feels to have someone say that they don't notice you and how you are different.
I am proud of looking different, I am proud of my history, I am proud of the struggles of my people. I don;t need to be celebrated but I do need to feel acknowledged.
POrtland is indeed a very white city, when I go to the indoor parks I don;t get included in conversations even when I am obviously right there, I do get asked if I am the nanny and that how much I charge beacuse it would be oh! so great for my child to learn Spanish...ugh?
I am not sure where I want to go with this post, maybe just vent.
Posted by: mxo | February 06, 2009 at 02:05 PM
I know that kids *notice* difference. And, because we aren't white, I am inclined to highlight difference and to remind the kids that we should celebrate difference. After all, we will always be the ones that look "different".
I encourage all families to talk about the differences, without judgment and without stereotyping. Without talking about & celebrating difference, I feel like kids will get all sorts of misconceptions in their heads. The media only furthers misconceptions; tereotyping ethnicities happens ALL THE TIME. African Americans always play the rappers or ganstas in movies, and they're bad. Asian Americans are the model minorities and are doctors or engineers. Latino/as immigrate here illegally and work menial jobs. These all stereotypes and it's wrong. We see it perpetuated in media - movies, advertising, the news. We stereotype too; it's only human.
The one thing that excites me about having a family of color in the white house is that we now have a new image of people of color - a wholesome family - the most powerful authority in the world, uber-mama, and sweet and earnest kids. I can't tell you how much that excites me, that it starts to put new images out there in the media that aren't the same old (negative) stereotypes played time and time again.
I hate being exotified. I hate that my girls are exotified. People have treated them and me like china dolls, assumed to be docile, subservient little beings. It is hurtful to have stereotypes applied. (I guess that was kind of an aside, but related to the comment above about how "it would be oh! so great for my child to learn Spanihs..")
I like what Monica said about how it is important at this point to have a good understanding of the history of middle eastern people and Islam. Education and learning about different people, especially through the context of what we see in the news & world around us, helps to highlight & celebrate difference.
I want my children to know where their dad and I come from. We were born in the US, but our parents were not. I want them to learn the history of struggles of immigrant families like ours, and there are so many stories to share. It instills pride and empowers them with the knowledge that they are Filipina Americans, and that they are not Japanese (and NOT American) like one of my kids was once told at school. I want my kids to share these stories with the other kids at school, and vice versa. And, it's not like the kids of color are the only kids to share their culture and history. We all have something to share.
So, for me, I have a dream that not only will little white girls and little black girls join hands and walk together, but they will learn about one another's histories and cultures. And, I see lots of other different colors of kids in the picture too.
I feel like there are so many ways to frame the discussion with kids on privilege and race, without it having to be too deep. For me, it's all about celebrating difference & finding ways to do that.
Posted by: olivia | February 06, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Hello Moms
Although I am not a mom, I am a teacher who has lots of interaction with families of all backgrounds - not just racial, but religious, economic, etc.
From a teacher's perspective it is important to note all histories, all experiences, and qualities of an individual. Yet, what we don't need to focus on is those qualities in which we use to define a person. For example, President Obama. Yes, he is bi-racial; he's also Hawaiian, a dad, a father, a lawyer, a Senator, and the President of the United States of America. Let us use those parts of President Obama, or anyone for that matter to categorize people.
As for ending racial hostilities or personal identifying prejudices, I feel that Morgan Freeman said it best, "The best way to end racism is to stop calling me by my race. I'm a person."
Posted by: PDX Teach | February 06, 2009 at 03:42 PM
off topic, There is a news story on the Oregonian about breast feeding in public.
It would help if some uban mamas made reader comments to thank the Oregonian for publishing the AP story. Encourage them to write more about how many women struggle with nursing. AND most of all, clue in the clueless reader comments who say breastfeeding needs to happen in a bathroom because it is like "taking a dump"
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/mall_apologizes_to_oregon_woma.html
Posted by: Jody | February 06, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Oh Mamas, always bringing up the good conversations to have.
I've experienced what it is like to be Mexican in Mexico, in diverse Los Angeles and in not-so-much Portland. But the truth is, the way my parents framed our ethnic identity made it all about cultural richness and put nothing out of my reach. I'm sure there have been people along the way who have only seen me as brown and negatively so. But I've never suffered the impact. I've never even once been asked to be a nanny.
So certainly, white privilige is real. But what I am getting at is that there has got to be a balance in the conversations we have with our children, to neither sanitize the truth nor pass on guilt and new misconceptions that to be a minority means to automatically suffer.
I want my kids to know who they are, who the generations that preceded them were. I want them to know truths, that intolerance and hatred and fears have scarred society. But that they can't know anything about any one individual until they get to know the person.
Morgan Freeman may have been well-intentioned. But a denial of race doesn't fix racism. It just means we can't talk about it.
As a total aside: Now I know why I never post! It took waaay too long to somewhat untangle my jumbled thoughts. But I do think that this was a particularly interesting conversation.
Posted by: Carla | February 06, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Stephen Colbert does not see color... Perhaps we cound get him to comment? ha ha A little levity.
Posted by: Monica in Cali | February 06, 2009 at 07:30 PM
This is a tough post to ignore and tough one to comment on.
Overall, I don't think that this is a forum that lends itself to a true discussion. Please know that I am always willing and able to talk to folks personally about any comments I make and you can feel free to email me directly at Milagros (at) milagroboutique.com if you want to talk.
Further, I would also be willing to host a forum or group discussion at the shop on this – or any issue for that matter.
On the other hand, I do think this is a fine forum to express an opinion, so here is mine.
This may come off as flip, but "color-blind" seems to be the new buzz word on race relations. The hot term in the 90's was "tolerance".
Although I understand the underlying value for each of these terms, I can't think of a single instance where I have heard these terms expressed in this manner by non-white friends or family.
I don't think many would deny that the history of race-relations in this country has been mostly characterized by the subjugation of non-whites. As such, having the majority culture opine that we now live in a tolerant and/or color-blind society is both ironic and disarmingly familiar: the culture that has always called the shots is continuing to play the role of decision-maker on how our multi-cultural society should "integrate" itself and manage its relationships.
Now, rest assured, I am not calling anyone who talks about "color-blind" a racist or a classist or what have you, I am just trying to give you a sense of what it can feel like to be on the receiving end of these types of platitudes. Basically, although I know we have come a long way as a society, I can't ignore that we have a long way to go.
In that vein, "how do you talk to your kids about race, diversity, prejudice, and privilege?" is a very compelling question because it isn't about what society is or isn't it is a personal question.
Children are surprisingly profound and sublime, they are far from blind. They can and will push you out of your comfort-zone. They will ask you about death, war, poverty, race, violence, and much more.
It can be distressing to have your child ask questions that may translate to "how and why can humans be cruel?" But they will do it.
As with most things in life, I have found that honesty is the best policy. And being honest is, perhaps, the toughest part of these conversations because you realize that you can't shield your child from reality and part of the reality you can't shield them from is your own values, assumptions, and, yes, prejudices.
Ultimately, if you want your child to be open-minded, empathetic, worldly, culturally competent, or what have you, then you need to be ready to challenge yourself to become these things as well.
What I have found from my conversations with my daughter Mila on any variety of things is that it has re-awoken in me a true desire and a willingness to take action to make the world a better place and to be a better part of that world as a result.
Peace,
Tony Fuentes
Posted by: Tony at Milagros | February 07, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Just for the record, Tony, I was once given a "Love is Colorblind" tee shirt by a black boyfriend in Texas. Granted, this was in the mid 1990's when maybe this was new and "in," but I thought it was a nice thought at the time and I had never heard the phrase before that time.
Posted by: Debby | February 07, 2009 at 09:05 PM
Little diversity in Portland? Come on out to East County, Gateway, Russel neighborhoods and you'll never say that again. Our schools, grocery stores, parks and community centers and multi-colored, multilingual, multi-ethnic, multi-whatever you want. We aren't as fancy as other parts of town, but if diversity is truly important and not just a nice-to-have, come on out.
While childless, I enjoy this section of town, but when our children reach school age we'll probably move because a quality neighborhood school in safe walking distance is my priority.
I wish I didn't have to make that trade-off, but that's where my priorities are. Not particularly activista of me, I know, but I'm honest about it.
Posted by: EastSide Mama | February 15, 2009 at 12:24 PM
And I think that's the difference for us, we can't prirotize other "qualities" over diversity.
It may be different for other families of color, but there is always a danger of kids being influenced by the stereotypes of how they're "supposed" to be in certain environments. If you don't live up or down to what people believe about your group, you're rejected. My daughter has had many conversations with peers about stereotyping. Certainly more than I'd had at her age.
I can't have my kid in a school where teachers and adminstrators believe that certain "types" of children can't or don't want to learn. Or encourage "certain" children to dress up like Flava Flav for Halloween.
There are only a handful of schools I would consider as okay for my kid in this city and probably none of them are the schools that mamas get breathless about on uMs.
So the question becomes if you have the privilege that your race or class offers you, how do you educate your children to be change agents rather than accept these privileges as their birthtright without question? Nope, I don't have the answer either.
Honestly, whether you talk to your kids or not the school system, housing, legal system, etc. are not color-blind.
What I really wish is that we as parents could have conversations about this topic honestly and respectfully. preferably face to face.
::::::::::glances at Tony::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::bats eyelashes::::::::::::
hmm, I wonder where a conversation like this could happen. . . .
Posted by: ProtestMama | February 15, 2009 at 09:10 PM
Amen, ProtestMama. Amen!
Here's one example of how our community institutions and policies aren't color-blind. The link shows the result of our school district's K-12 student transfer policy, which could just as accurately be called the school funding transfer policy. Schools that need it most lose millions of public education dollars each year (around 1/4 to 1/3 of their per-student funding) as a result of the transfer policy, and many schools in the richer, whiter neighborhoods gain public education funds.
http://ppsequity.org/2009/02/13/the-numbers-paint-a-picture/
Posted by: anon | February 15, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Yes, Tony, Protest Mama, let's bring this to a conversation. I think that's a fantastic idea!
Posted by: abby | February 17, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Here's a link that I found on the Portland Mocha Mamas website to a discussion about talking to kids about race:
http://citymama.typepad.com/citymama/2008/04/hot-links-for-4.html
http://www.portlandmochas.org/
Posted by: Nicole | February 24, 2009 at 10:05 AM
A good website:
http://www.antiracistparent.com/
PS, There is no such thing as color blind.
Posted by: JMac | March 31, 2009 at 10:10 PM