I recently read a book called Calling Me Home. A thirty-something, black hairdresser, Dorrie, is driving one of her most loyal clients turned friend, Isabelle, from Texas to Ohio for a funeral. She’s a spunky 89-year-old woman with a story to tell. Along the way, Isabelle reveals she was once in love with a black man when it was not just uncommon but deadly for both of them, and shares her life story with Dorrie. It was a wonderfully insightful book and a heartbreaking love story.
While I was reading in the backyard, my six-year-old asked me what my book was about. When I told her, her exact words were: “well, daddy is black” (he’s not) “do people not like that you’re with him?” Thus led us to a conversation about how far we’ve come in America (and all over the world) and how much further we still have to go. And my realization that I cannot merely teach my children to be “colorblind” because there is no such thing.
- Because I believe in Christ. This is the number one reason Black Lives Matter, and why I will make sure my children know. I believe in God, and I believe that Christ rose from the dead after dying for you and me. “You” being whoever is reading this; never mind the color of your skin. He didn’t give his love freely to others, but withhold it from you. He didn’t make some work hard for His love because of the color of their family while giving it on a silver platter only to those with ivory skin. We cannot praise Moses for saying “LET MY PEOPLE GO!” only to continue not to support the black community trying to be freed from stereotypes and oppression.
- Because no one should fear walking down the street in their own neighborhood. In Calling Me Home, the small town Isabelle lives in has a sign at the city limits that says anyone of color in town, after dark, basically has a death wish. They could work for them during the day but needed to be gone by nightfall. This broke my heart. Schools teach you about Martin Luther King and all of his peaceful protesting, about sit-ins, and Rosa Parks but they never get into the nitty-gritty of the before, let alone the after. There are censors over the truth, over anything REAL. To protect the children from the scary realities. What about the children that lived through it and their kids, and their kids, kids? How can we tell them everyone is equal when the very people who are raising them know that it’s not because they’ve lived it? And what about when they witness first hand that it’s not? The fear or the disdain they were taught becomes justified and usually before they’re even old enough to understand! How do we continue to preach the absolute success of movements from more than half a century ago when there are people, people, still living out what we claim is fixed? I will not teach this part of history to my children with a sense of finality. I will teach it only with an open end.
- Because equality does not look the same. Unless The Giver becomes a reality (Lord help us all), there will not ever be a day people are “color blind.” We SEE IN COLOR, but in doing so, we should not assume one color is better than the other. A child knows their friend is lighter or darker compared to their skin, they just don’t pay it any mind because it doesn’t matter to them. They’re children with no agenda other than play. I will teach my kids a pound of apples and a pound of oranges are equal but not the same. Society tells children to embrace their uniqueness but does not always practice what they preach.
- Because Black people are not dead. I am not a sympathizer. Black people are not dead and gone. This is not a funeral where you hand out cards of sympathy and condolences. They need support. Whether it be standing in a picket line, being the first in your family to openly admit and agree that Black Lives Matter, or teaching your children the truth and not the watered down, textbook version of Civil Rights. The BLM movement is not a group of people claiming race superiority; they’re a group of individuals seeking support not just from within their own race, but outside of it as well.
Support for Black Lives Matter stands for real equality. Stands for real change. And stands for real information. The real question should be why the majority of us are not supporting our future? If your only thought after reading this goes to the BLM extremists, please consider whether or not Westboro Baptist, too, represents all Christian beliefs.
I teach my kids that all lives matter. Black, gay, polka dotted. We are all humans 🙂
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Unfortunately the evil media puts the extremists in the spotlight. Only damaging the cause. It is out job to teach our children. I will have to check out the book you are reading
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You’re so right. The media is after ratings, and negativity is the most popular. It’s sad.
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I love this post! It is so important to teach our kids about equality, and you explain well how to do just that.
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Thanks! 🙂
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This is such a touchy subject for a lot of people. Thankfully, being from the south, we have a lot of different ethnicities and cultures. It is easy for us to teach out children the value of life in general.
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Yes it is, and you’re right. I love the diversity of the south! 🙂
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It makes me sad when people are judged by the colour of their skin. Black lives do matter and we need to encourage awareness because like you said noone should be afraid to walk down the street!
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This is a great post. I always teach my kids to treat everyone with kindness and respect.
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I have been teaching my kids to respect all life. All lives matter and we should all be treated equal. It is so sad that we still need to teach this and it is not just a fact everyone can accept.
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This is a great idea. I can tell you’re a dedicated educator!
XOXO //
SINCERELY OPHELIA | NYC Petite Fashion Blogger
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With mixed-race children, I can definitely say that racism still exists and it needs eradicating.
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Great post. It’s important to teach our kids about equality so they wont turn up in some weird stupid adults who think they are the most important person in the world. Great job!
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I grew up in a very multicultural environment, I can count on one hand how many Caucasian children (including myself) were in my primary school classes. It is one of the things that I am proud to say about my children, that they are both aware of equality no matter what race or religion their friends are.
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It all starts at home, the way we teach our kids about how they see people. I think it’s great that you’re doing this. We have come so far but we still have a long way to go unfortunately.
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That’s so nice. I love your first point,because I’m Christian. I really applaud your message. Lovely post
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It is definitely our job to teach our kids that all lives matter because the media and sometimes at school they get other information put into their heads it’s not cool
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All Lives matter. We should all learn and teach about respect and kindness to everyone we encounter. We should stop judging and spread some love.
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This is a great post indeed and the book really does tell the true story that most are blind too. It is so right in say that the we live in a society that doesn’t actually teach what we preach. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the book.
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It’s definitely as parents to teach to respect others irrespective of the color of their skin. God made us in different color, shape and sizes. As human, we must all learn to coexist and be kind to one another.
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I teach my kids that we should treat everyone with respect and that all lives matter. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is or what race you are.
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When it comes to black lives matter I become speechless. I have no idea why blacks are being treated differently as if they are not human with feelings like everyone else. It is good to raise your child from early regarding to these situations… so they stay more alert and educated.
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