From 18 Million Rising
Yesterday while we were driving home from her BMX practice, my 6-year old led me into a very important conversation about who she is in the world: what it means to be Hmong, Asian, Other. Her willingness to talk with me about her experiences with race and identity is a lesson to all of us in openness and truth-telling.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Talk to kids about race. Because even if you don’t, they’re trying desperately to figure out how to navigate the world around them. Help them. (18 Million Rising)
Lola: Mom, remember that man we saw at the dog park? The one with black skin?
Me: Yes. He was also wearing overalls.
L: Yeah! Yellow overalls. He also had a white wife. So they were mixed up like our family.
Me: It’s true. They also had 3 dogs.
L: They are mixed up with 3 dogs. We are mixed up with 1 dog.
[PAUSE]
L: Mom, everyone at school thinks I’m white.
Me: Who says that to you?
L: (Lists off the names of about 10 friends. I observe that only one of the friends listed is a child of color.)
Me: What do you tell people when they say you are white?
L: I say, “No, I’m not! I’m an Asian girl! With a white dad!” But no one ever believes me.
Me: How does that make you feel?
L: It makes me angry because I’m not white. And they just keep trying to be in charge to tell me that I am white. But they are wrong.
Read the full article HERE.
