Thread by @thepedimom

I’ve needed to take some time prior to posting this as I’ve had to reflect and listen and learn.

The events of the past several weeks breaks my heart, and the sadness I feel when I hear the cries of my African American family and friends bruise my soul. 1/?

I am white. My husband and child are white. We have a clear and noticeable privilege in all aspects of society simply because of the color of our skin.

My step-father, the only man who cared to be a father figure to me, is African American. I have 3 mixed race brothers. 2/?

They are beautiful, kind, intelligent, compassionate, and hard-working black men.

They do not have the inherent privilege I do and that is NOT fair and it is NOT right. 3/?

There are so many mothers, sisters, and children of black boys and men who are terrified for their loved ones right now, but make no mistake, this is not new for them. This is not new for us. 4/?

Nelson Mendela:
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

So, what are you doing to assure your children are not learning to hate?

What are you doing to assure your children are being taught to love?

We talk about race and racism in our home and with our daughter frequently and we have since she was an infant. 6/?

Are you speaking to your children about racism and the injustice that POC experience simply because of the color of their skin? Or are you avoiding the conversation because “they’re too young” or “they don’t understand” or “we don’t see color in our family”? 7/?

If you have said, or thought, any of the above (or similar) then you are NOT helping and are contributing to the problem.

Your children are not too young, too naive, or too innocent to be discussing racism. 8/?

We ALL see skin color and we ALL see discrimination, and as parents we need to be able and willing to admit that… because it is the truth. 9/?

For some it may not be easy, I get that, but it MUST be done. Having these discussions early and frequently is the only way to help our kids become part of the change and not part of the problem. 10/?

Talk, read books, watch documentaries and even cartoons. There are so many ways to get started.

Parents of black children should not have to fear for their kids because of their skin color.

I should not have to fear for my father or brothers. 11/?

Let’s help our kids be the generation that changes the world by teaching them that racism is unacceptable. Let’s help our kids grow up in a world better than the one we grew up in.

Let’s be the change! 12/12

@threadreaderapp unroll please.