MLK Day

To me one of the ugliest traits someone can have is racism.  As a parent there are so many parts of your child's character you want to help mold and shape for good.  Everything in me hopes that Wade & I can raise these two boys to be disgusted by racism.

Today I talked with Tate about Martin Luther King, Jr.  It was the first time I had ever told him that people with dark skin used to be discriminated against.  Of course this was on the conversation level for a 5-year-old, but it made me tear up even explaining it so simply.  I explained why MLK was a brave man trying to help people not be mean to others just because of the way they look.  And I tried to remind him that God created every single person and loves them all the same no matter what color skin they have.  So should we.

We did this craft from this website.  We watched a little bit of MLK's I Have A Dream speech and then this video, which Tate seemed to really enjoy.

A few years ago, Newsweek had this cover story with some pretty fascinating and sobering research studies about how kids at a young age already discriminate.  I'm sure there are different schools of thought out there, but this one resonated with me.  It said that many parents in an effort to not seem racist by pointing out differences inadvertently communicate what they're trying to avoid.  

I want to try this approach.  I want to try when appropriate and the right opportunity to point out that people look different, but that is how God made us.  I want my boys to be offended when they hear someone make a racist remark.  I want my boys to appreciate and value diversity.  I want my boys to show the same love to everyone that God has shown to us.

I guess I have a dream, too.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'"