History and perspective

[aeditimi]

It hit me just now.

I was trying to explain to my daughter who the man on the CNN page was, and why he was special. I didn't even have a frame of reference for explaining that his skin was a different color than hers. She just kind of blinked at me. "Skin? I don't want skin." And that's when I got it, right between the eyes. She has no concept of

Comments

[plasticity]

wow, what an interesting point. I don't often think of the next generation, having no kids myself, but it's fascinating thinking of how prejudices shift and die off with each wave. My grandfather was horribly racist; my dad is not racist but is homophobic; who knows what our own children will point out about our generation's unseen prejudices.

(btw, I had a weird dream last night that for whatever reason I was staying with you, like I was renting a room in your house or something. And you gave me some wonderful advice about a situation I'm in. I guess reading your blog makes me feel like I know you?)

inheriting

[ckofke]

We, too, were having a conversation at lunch about Barack Obama. Specifically about how "older" people - the age they picked was over 45 see Obama's nomination as historic and momentous and younger people just think that it's as it should be. The point was that younger people don't see skin color. Now they weren't talking as young as 3, but rather for people of voting age 18-40 or so. Our conversation centered around those with children who had example after example of their kids, literally, not even seeing that someone else's skin was a different color! One teacher told of her six year old who said, "What do you mean Mom? Why do you keep talking about Alyssa's skin?" The mom decided that if her daughter didn't see the difference, that she shouldn't be the one to point it out to her. And of course, my own daughter who is now 23, who is open and inviting to all people's regardless of skin color, ethnicity, nationality, or sexual orientation. She is truly of a different generation than mine, and I am so pleased. She had

[ckofke]

oops! forgot to mention that aforementioned daughter is married to a wonderful Swahili Muslim man from Kenya.