Bandaids & the Default Body
Bandaids, and the systemic racism inherent in a single “skin color” option, is an example most are familiar with, right? But knowing it intellectually is very different from experiencing it firsthand. A couple weeks ago, my whole family got our Covid boosters, and each of us received a bandaid that was a very different shade from our skin color. [...]
Anti-Racist Parenting Conversations
Parents, and especially White parents, have important work to embrace around being, and parenting, in anti-racist ways. Let's start with two steps. #1: Understand “anti-racism.” I believe that most everyone in my life would describe themselves as “not racist.” If asked, they would disavow racist ideas and actions. However, as I have learned embarrassingly recently, it is not enough [...]
Mommy, did you ever get segregation when you were a kid?
photo: mikedish CC My 7 year old asked me this question not too long ago. It took me a minute to understand what she was saying—her pronunciation was 'creative,' plus the topic took me by surprise. But once I figured it out, I was both sad and grateful to her for asking the question. I told her [...]