Racism, Sadly, Is not Dead

50 years ago this week, 9 students integrated Little Rock, Arkansas's Central High School. As we celebrate this day and look back on the pain and suffering of the students and the town, I ask you, do you find that in your life, in your world that racism is not dead, too?

Racism is not dead in my world. I am reminded daily, in very close proximity to me that racism is a very prevalent force in society. There are many examples in my life and I will outline a few of them.

First, I have two large Hispanic families as neighbors, one on either side of my house. They have been excellent neighbors. I have no complaints about anything about them, but many in our neighborhood do. They don't like the large extended family that lives in the house. They feel it's wrong for so many people to live in one home. They don't like the fact that multiple adults in a home mean multiple cars for the home that are parked near the home. Never mind that the yards are clean, the people friendly and generous. They are different with different values and we Americans are too ignorant and lazy to understand that so we are automatically intolerant.

At work, I deal with racism from co-workers. I was astounded at a conversation that took place between a co-worker and a customer about how it's okay for black comics to mock other blacks and whites but white comics can't mock blacks. Could it be that it isn't funny for whites to mock blacks when they are using highly offensive derogatory language to do so? Could it be that most white people don't understand how hard it is for blacks in America to reach any measure of success? My husband is black and my co-worker knows this? I couldn't believe her callousness.

The principal at my sons' school, I believe, has racist tendencies. Our school has a very large minority population and very few minority teachers. I believe the principal doesn't know how to engage parents who aren't just like her and has stopped putting forth even the most minimal effort.

I want racism to die. It is wrong to judge people in a negative light because they are different from you. Yet I realize that I am perpetuating racism in my community when I let people act like my neighbors and co-workers and don't challenge them. I didn't tell my white neighbor who made derogatory remarks about our neighbors' cars that I think our neighbors are wonderful, generous people, with a son who has helped teach my somewhat shy son how to stand up for himself. I didn't turn to my co-worker and remind her of my husband's race and ask her to find something else to talk to our customers about. I have, rather weakly, challenged the principal to have a more diverse staff.

I must do more. We all must do more. In the words of Frederick Douglas, "Agitate, agitate, agitate." We can't be afraid to stir things up and cause people discomfort as we struggle to ensure that right is done everyday for everyone.

How Did they Get so Smart?

I took my child to Kindergarten with a very smug feeling that this kid was on fire. He could read, write his name and phonetically write other words when so moved. He was doing simple math problems, addition and subtraction. I was certain that he had to be one of the smartest kids ever to enter Kindergarten. I was duped.

Friday, I was brought back into my son's classroom to see a project that he had worked on but couldn't bring home yet. It was a coloring sheet of Itsy Bitsy Spider with cotton webbing, & a plastic spider. The first part of the poem was printed on the page and the kids were to add "water spout" at the end. My son is left handed. He wrote the way he always writes. Some letters were upside down, but I could tell what it said. I was very pleased. Then I looked at the other kids' sheets and my mouth fell to the floor. These kids write like they are in 5th grade! I swear, each and every other sheet looked like the teacher had helped the kids. I asked my son if all his friends wrote the words themselves. He said yes. I asked his teacher the same question today and she confirmed that they had.

What gives? How in the world did these kids get so smart? I encouraged my son as a preschooler to try new things, but I never felt like I was pushing him. He did what he wanted to do. I would never have been allowed to drive him harder than he was willing to work. I'm sure most parents are this way. If a kid loves learning and asks for math worksheets, you print them. So how is it that we didn't get this 5 years ago? The kids in my youngest child's class are much more academically advanced than his brother's classmates were. Is it wrong to teach them and drive them, as many complain, when they are clearly capable of this level of achievement? How in the world did these kids get so smart?

What's New?

Hello, my faithful readers. After an unscheduled break, I have returned to entertain and enlighten, depending upon your particular mood. Or annoy, I guess.

The children have adjusted to their little elementary school routines and we, the parents are learning the trials and tribulations of the new grades. I am adjusting to working, whether I like it or not. I was hoping to work fewer hours but that seems to be a fleeting dream. We are too short staffed for me to take too much extra time off. I am only getting to the gym once a week so I feel like a slug. I think once the emotional exhaustion of Kindergarten wears off, I will be able to drag one kid to the gym at least one evening.

I am noticing the beginning of some of the downsides of knowing your community, and being known, even a small amount in it. You get asked to do a lot of stuff. In one day at church, I was asked to help with World Communion Sunday, and help with the Christmas pageant, and perhaps, take over running it next year. Huh? All because I taught Vacation Bible School for a few days? Is there a place to reclaim my anonymity?

I also, with the help of a very rational man, came out as the voice of reason in the pellet gun incident. Many people were very angry, looking for the principal's head on a platter. I was angry, but I have tried myself and encouraged others to channel their anger into something constructive. I contacted the School Board and offered to help with the Civility Project as it is developed for the elementary schools, and have asked others to do the same. The past is behind us, but should never be ignored. We must learn from it so we can be better, and more responsible parents.