I just finished an engaging conversation with a cohort of educators (I'm lucky enough to work with) after reading this article. We were discussing education of young children and how we can talk to children about racism. I am so hoping the conversation continues.

Here's a quote for you to nibble on: "Ultimately, words and books should not be the end of your child’s education about race and racism. 'The best advice I can give parents is to be models for the attitudes, behavior and values that they wish to see in their children,' said Nia Heard-Garris, M.D., an attending physician at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago."

Here are three questions from our discussion.

1. When are you most conscious of your race? Share an experience of being particularly conscious of your race.
2. When are you most conscious of the race of others?
3. Is there a time where you avoided a question from a child about race or difference? If you could change your response, what would you say?

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I invite you to explore these questions and reflect on them.

This is an interesting perspective and catalyst of self-reflection. Sure, I am also buying books, working to be more informed, working to make sense of what is happening. But I’m not joining a book group. I don’t need to discuss and I don’t need to listen to others discuss their shame, sadness, or shock of how things are.

A poignant quote: “What they do is never enough. This isn’t the time to circle up with other white people and discuss black pain in the abstract; it’s the time to acknowledge and examine the pain they’ve personally caused. Black people live and die every day under the burdens of a racism more insidious than the current virus that’s also disproportionately killing us. And yet white people tend to take a slow route to meaningful activism, locked in familiar patterns, seemingly uninterested in really advancing progress.”

So today... what are you going to DO?

A friend of mine shared a link about the National Museum of African American History and Culture Releasing a “Talking About Race” Web Portal. I have to be up front, as angered, hurt, saddened, and scared as I am... there are things about this time right now that are teaching me more about myself.
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1. My adoption alone has shaped my whole experience. I grew up with the privilege of being surrounded by White privilege. Therefore, my experiences of racism are not like others. It is important for me to understand that and own that.
2. Racism HAS happened to me whether I realized or not. I have become more aware of the vicious “subtle racism” as I have grown up, become more independent, and now have a family of color.
3. It is uncomfortable to share my experience, open up to conversations where others may disagree and feel that I don’t have the answers. But no one has the answers and it’s not about that.

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This is a time to reflect. YOU can take this time to reflect. What is your experience? What do you have to learn? What do you NEED to learn so you can DO and make meaningful change?

I am going to be brave and use this portal as a resource as I begin to become more comfortable talking about the difficult things that really, truly matter. JOIN ME.