Dealing with Racism...

I was a bit stressed out the last few days because I couldn't log onto blogger to update the blog. It said the password was invalid and the security question would not work. Maybe God was trying to stop me from ranting about the racism that we have experienced over the last few weeks.

From inappropriate comments that Jordan had to deal with from his camp counselor to the therapist that came to our home, we have wrestled with how to handle the situations. It is so frustrating when a well educated child therapist can have such prejudicial thoughts and be completely unaware of them. Awww...white privilege..those of us in the majority culture must attempt to understand what it means to possess this mindset that we all, who will be honest, view the world through.

The therapist that came out to our home was doing an assessment for one of the boys. She was appalled that this child was not on an IEP (I guess because he is black because I did not raise any questions about his academic progress.) She assumed he came to us through the County system (again, because he was black...I guess that black Mothers are unable to make adoption plans for their children...) and this was just the beginning....
Oops...I was trying not to rant. Guess I just did...I will leave it at that.

So, all of you human beings (of any racial identity)  please, please, just be willing to acknowledge that all of us, black or white, have and will make assumptions about others based on the color of their skin. Because what is far worse than having to address comments made to my children, is hearing the defensiveness (ultimately arrogance) that comes from the one who made the comment. A simple   "I'm sorry" goes a long, long way.... we have so much to learn from each other..be willing to take the opportunity to think differently than you have always thought before. It is worth it. My kids are worth it.