tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2877454090421566197.post1255908027873755798..comments2023-05-17T01:18:54.538-07:00Comments on Our Own: Something to Read: "Blissfully Unaware"Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553145979283388517noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2877454090421566197.post-16504370355458157282010-10-21T10:23:21.722-07:002010-10-21T10:23:21.722-07:00just wanted to thank Kimberly too. Thanks Kimberly...just wanted to thank Kimberly too. Thanks Kimberly.becca albertsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2877454090421566197.post-12089605442357032372010-10-20T06:21:06.978-07:002010-10-20T06:21:06.978-07:00Related to this wonderful, insightful comment; Val...Related to this wonderful, insightful comment; Valarie Washington's Yahoo group discussed this idea - children who have to perform. Valarie was working with preteen girls during a weekend retreat. All the girls were African American. She described an incredible moment in the group when all of the girls broke down crying as they discussed the incredible energy they expend have to play the role of 'good little black girl.'<br /><br />At 8 years old I have seen Quinn act this out for the last 4 and 1/2 years. He is different when he is with all white people (although not my immediate family where I can tell he feels total acceptance) than when he is with all black people. We take him an hour an a half to art school on Saturdays so that he can be surrounded by brown skinned people. I know if he were in acting class or dance class with majority white students he would not feel free to make mistakes.<br /><br />This is not something we discuss with him. This is just what we do based on how we see he acts at home. After several years I can say he is never as exhausted when he comes home from an all black event as when he comes home from an all white one.<br /><br />The role switching starts very very very early. They get it before they can talk about it.<br /><br />When we vacationed in the Dominican Republic this spring, a place where everyone looked like him, he said to me "Mom, next vacation we go one we'll go to a place where you fit in." This from a child where we rarely discuss race. We don't avoid it, it's just in the day to day life of an 8 year old, soccer, and baseball and school and art class, race just doesn't come up. But that statement showed me once again, that although I may not be talking about it doesn't mean he isn't thinking about it.<br /><br />I need to do more talking perhaps.knhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01612658633007520397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2877454090421566197.post-66735920413785025002010-10-19T20:13:16.881-07:002010-10-19T20:13:16.881-07:00Oh wow. That was one powerful post. Thank you fo...Oh wow. That was one powerful post. Thank you for the link.<br /><br />Shaking my head. <br /><br />Shaking. Period.Casa Bicicletahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853253312120595615noreply@blogger.com