‘Only White People,’ Said the Little Girl

[teach1st]

This is a compelling, well-written look at the complexities of parenting in our "post-racial" country.

‘Only White People,’ Said the Little Girl
New York Times, Topher Sanders, 10/13/16

Just the other Saturday at Maplewood’s Memorial Park, I was watching my 5-year-old playing with his friends from day care. The kids have just started kindergarten and are now split up among four schools. Some industrious mom had the idea to get them together again.

It was a great idea. It was also the moment when I saw the messy birth of my son’s otherness.

They were playing on one of those spinning things — you know, the one where kids learn about centrifugal force and as a bonus get crazy dizzy. They were having a blast.

“Only white people,” said a little girl.

I heard it, but I wasn’t quite sure that’s what I heard.

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[Arkansas Granny]

1. K & R

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. My 4 year old sone came home from day care and expressed a negative attitude towards black people.

in 1972.
I was stunned. He was merely repeating what some kid had said to him, but I could not believe they started that young.

Needless to say we had a talk...several of them over the ensuing months.

[teach1st]

4. There was a lot of that when I taught kindergarten

After first grade, most of the kids learn that they don't have to or shouldn't parrot their parents' racism - at least in my neck of the state. Then comes middle school! Actually, after 28 years of teaching, I've been seeing way improved racial attitudes on students. I hope the Trump crap doesn't bring that down.

[wcast]

5. Very powerful.

I watched my own son go through this from middle school to high school as one of the few black males in school. (My daughters, on the other hand, had a group of multiracial friends) It took him years to sort through his feelings and changed him in fundamental ways.