3rd grade homework assignment was to discuss with the family why we live where we live. I tried to broadly answer, but my daughter kept probing. Qualitative researcher in the making?
The conversation I didn't want to have, that I ended up having, was about the racism we endured.
The conversation I didn't want to have, that I ended up having, was about the racism we endured.
I tried to focus on us moving from ATL to MD because of my job. But she's old enough to remember that this is not our 1st home in MD.
Why did we move from our 1st MD home, she askes?
Crap, truth or lie? Think quick. Truth won out.
Our neighbors kept calling the police on us.
Why did we move from our 1st MD home, she askes?
Crap, truth or lie? Think quick. Truth won out.
Our neighbors kept calling the police on us.
She wanted details, why? which ones? how often? was she happy or scared to see the police? She had all the probes.
I explained, everytime we'd enter the home through the front door instead of the garage, the neighbors would report a burglary in progress.
I explained, everytime we'd enter the home through the front door instead of the garage, the neighbors would report a burglary in progress.
We lived in an expensive part of town, and we're the only black family in the housing complex. I feared every night when my husband walked our dog in the rain with a hoodie on.
Final straw, my then 11 y.o niece accidentally locked herself out. She was scared and trying to get in
Final straw, my then 11 y.o niece accidentally locked herself out. She was scared and trying to get in
A neighbor ask her "how can I help? Can we call someone for you?" Nope! instead "Are you trying to break in? You better stop before we call the police!".
We lived there 18 months. The very next day, we put the house on the market.
Modern day redlining practices.
We lived there 18 months. The very next day, we put the house on the market.
Modern day redlining practices.
We picked our new house in a part of town with lower rated schools, smaller houses, BUT it had 3 other Black families on the block.
My daughter has been learning a ton about Black history this month, and today she learned that racism still dictates peoples addresses.
My daughter has been learning a ton about Black history this month, and today she learned that racism still dictates peoples addresses.
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