Racially Naive
Living in Idaho, we are what I call “racially naive”. I know you’ve heard the stories of the White Supremacists in the North, but honestly – that’s not how I grew up. It was only recently that there were enough “blacks” in Idaho to pass 0% on the Census – and even now, we still haven’t surpassed 1%.
But what I mean when I say “racially naive” is that we don’t have much of the history of slavery and segregation that so many other states are plagued with. When a question is raised or a comment is made in regards to someone’s race, it’s usually an innocent, honest inquiry. I am not ignorant enough to think that racism never happens. It just hasn’t been something that we have personally experienced as a family.
As naive as I am with the term “White Privilege”, it’s my desire, as the white mom of bi-racial children, to understand it to the best of my ability.
What to Teach My Children
This article on White Privilege went viral recently. It was an incredibly insightful perspective from a young black woman about white privilege. Her friend “Jason” asked for clarification about it on Social Media. If you’ve ever wondered about “white privilege” and what it means, I highly suggest you read it.
As the mother of these three seriously gorgeous children, it’s often tough for me to know what to teach them. I know they do not have “white privilege” like so many of their friends do. I want them to be aware and sensitive to that. On the other hand, I don’t want them to look for it. They don’t need any reason to think they can’t accomplish what their white counterparts can.
As a white woman, I need to be sensitive and aware of situations where my “white privilege” is apparent. But my bi-racial children? That’s a different story.
It’s Our Job
When discussing White Privilege, it’s obvious we are still a nation in pain from the unspeakable atrocities that have occurred in the past. No matter our color, let’s move in a forward direction. It’s our job as parents to propel children into a successful future, believing in themselves and their capabilities. Let’s make an effort toward reconciliation and bring our beautiful multi-colored children along side us.
After all, shouldn’t the color of their skin should be a celebration of God’s kaleidoscope of humanity, rather than a reason to be divided amongst their peers?