In 1968, he had a Dream!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., had a dream that African American people would be afforded the same rights, privileges, and justice as the rest of mankind. However;
"....One hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition." ~MLK Jr.
It is currently the year 2020, one hundred and fifty years later, and not much has changed. Systemically, Blacks are still being shamed, stereotyped; seen as criminals (thieves, killers, rapists) and as monsters. No matter how much good we do, it never seems to be good enough.
Some White parents and grandparents of the Baby-boomer and Traditionalists generations have passed down these notions of Blacks to their children and grandchildren. Society has also played its part in how in the world depicts Blacks in a negative, less-than fashion.
My question to you is this, how do we change this narrative? How can we as generation Millennials help steer our children and our children's children towards a more inclusive equal society?
I have been reading 'Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria', written by Beverly Daniel-Tatum, PhD. In chapter 3 of part II, she discusses color through the eyes of children. I will not give any spoilers, but I will say reading the book, particularly this chapter, made me think about my growing 7 year old daughter and the questions she has and will ask as she grows older. Attending school in a predominately white community, she, like I growing up, have had different experiences with race and racism than some of our friends or family members who were in Black communities. Reading this book has made me realize that now is the appropriate time to introduce 'color' (race) to my daughter. She has already began to fold towards the myths that 'straight hair is prettier than her curly coils' and has a preference for White dolls over Black ones. She has also been more observant of absent parents in her Black classmates lives verses two parent households of her White friends. After reading this book, I have learned that she is at an optimal age to begin to understand race, racism and the oppressions of her people. Dr. Daniel-Tatum references some books that are great conversation starters for young children of any race to learn about these topics. I am going to begin introducing this to her slowly and encourage her to ask questions anytime she has them.
Understanding is KEY. Knowledge is POWER!
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today! ~MLK Jr.
Have any of you had to explain 'color' to your young children? Do you plan on having an open conversation with them about race? If so, how have these conversations gone and what type of questions were asked? How did you and your child handle these topics?
Let's change the way our children see themselves and others around them. Let us be the change we want to see in the world while uplifting our young Kings & Queens. Let's equip them with the knowledge and skills to LIVE! Let's teach them our history. Let's give them the facts about our people that no one discusses with them in the schoolhouse. Let's have those hard conversations with them so that they aren't fed the 'Fake News' B. S. from others around them who are the very ones suppressing us. It is our job to educate, nurture, uplift and love our children and one another. We are NOT who they say we are, we are
BEAUTIFUL KINGS & QUEENS
Martin Luthur King Jr. had a dream.....What is yours?
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