Okay, this post may be a little Pollyanna-ish, but I'm feeling that way and that's me...
The girls were off from school on Monday and Tuesday of this week and on Wednesday, I guess Emmy's class learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. Emmy was enthralled with his story and told me all the little tidbits she could remember like:
"We're white!" to which I replied, yes we are, what did you think we were? She ignored me of course
"Martin Luther King, Jr was black and black people weren't treated well"
"They had to sit in the back of the bus!"
"So they stopped taking the bus and the bus company went out of business" Uh, not quite, but go ahead
"Martin Luther King, Jr made a speech about having a dream"
"Then black people got to sit in the front of the bus!"
"Black kids couldn't go to school with white kids!"
"Martin Luther King, Jr is dead now"
Okay, a little piece-mealed from a 6 year old, but some of it may have been from her excitement about this history. I got the impression that she thought this happened a long, long time ago (although 10 years ago is F.O.R.E.V.E.R for her!). I shared with her that Mommy and Daddy's generation was the first generation where desegregation was tried (she wasn't impressed).
My Pollyanna-ish feeling comes from the fact that this is new knowledge to her; she and her sister are growing up not feeling that delineation that we knew growing up and our parents lived with. They don't see color the way we grew up seeing color; to them it's just a feature like blond and red hair. Isn't that great?!
Then I realized, they are being told that this is such a historic election and inauguration and they don't truly get it...again...how awesome is that?!
BTW, this guy's name, not President Barack Obama....
per Emmy, his name is Obach O-Hama...It makes me giggle each time I hear it and she WON'T be corrected on it...she insists on this pronounciation!
9 comments:
My 5 year old told about the same thing. She also learned that we MLK's speech was about how we should all get along.
Kids don't see color. They learn it from adults. Hopefully, your children and my children will stay as pure as they are!
(not pollyanna-ish at all, just proud and hopeful)
I love it! I hope that our generation is going to change a lot of the crap from our parents....
Dane however is a little Bill...
It is a sad sad day in history... I just look at the kid and wonder where the hell he came from... then again I am sure that is what my parents were thinking when I was going to the Clinton rally
So sweet! Kids are so special in that way!
My husband grew up in an area that was awfully prejudiced! He saw some really awful things...our children (mine are all in their 20's) can't comprehend what happened! It just seems like a past so far away...but not to people of my generation! This is such a beautiful event and I am so proud of the American people! I know that does sound Pollyanna-ish!
Great post...lovely daughters!
That is a great post.
Yes, (most) kids don't even notice colour differences now.
I grew up in East Africa where I was definitely in the minority, and a novelty. I love seeing more and more 'black' people living in Australia now, although a lot of them are not arriving via happy circumstances (refugees/asylum seekers).
Although the original owners of Australia are the Aboriginal people, it is rare to see really dark skin around.
Cute name for him! I like it.
That's fantastic that they're learning about it in school...
I too love how our kids don't notice color differences. What a difference a few decades make!
I wish my kids were taught that in pre-school. I was shocked that there were no lessons on MLK or Obama. It's preschool, but still!!!
And regarding the book-- I figured I had to start from scratch either way and I'd heard good things about Blurb. Wonder if it would have been easier with the Mac program?! Hmmm...
It is amazing how far we've come in just a few decades. I am happy that my daughter will grow up in a world where race is just a feature not a defining factor.
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