"The Rainbow" is the the term I've been using to explain race and racism to Katie. Since we decided to go ahead with the adoption from Ethiopia, we realize that we have a huge responsibility to prepare our kids (adopted and biological, black and white) for the sometimes really ugly side of the world. We have always been really careful to protect them from the things we don't want them to learn--thinking that if they knew about the not-so-nice part of life too soon, they would lose that beautiful innocence that we love about them. Katie still calls me over as if there was an elephant in the backyard, to show me a bud bursting on one of my plants--she is completely enchanted with pretty things and I have been afraid to add any ugliness to her world.
I originally thought that we would teach her about treating all people equally, etc. simply through our own example. But since I've researched so much, I now know that we have to do a lot more than that. We have to teach all members of our family how to recognize and deal with racism. Which means she has to know it's out there.
Which suddenly meant that I had to explain that there are unkind people in the world--a concept she has never been exposed to. So the other day I started researching Rosa Parks on the internet. When Katie came in and started asking questions about the pictures of Rosa Parks it was just natural to begin teaching.
It was really hard actually. I told her the bare bones story and answered her questions fine at first. Then she wanted to know why the white people wanted Rosa to get up. And then why didn't Rosa get up. Which is why 'the rainbow' came in handy. I used this analogy to explain that not everybody in the world has been taught to love all the colours of the rainbow, but that Rosa began teaching people about the beauty of all colours, and because of her, today in many places people of all colours sit together on buses, etc.
Since that conversation, Katie has repeatedly asked for the story of Rosa. And I have found it easier to explain, the words seem to come more naturally. I feel it's a good first step in preparing her for what she and the rest of the family might face in the future. I can't wait to get some books about this--I'm still researching kids lit. on African-American heroes. Seeing people standing up for themselves is the best example and preparation I think we can offer our kids. We will continue to make it part of our everyday conversation.
Paula
