Thanks a lot Beyonce! You taught my daughter the ‘N’ word and now I had to have ‘the talk” to my 6 year old. Actually, I ain’t mad atcha! Homecoming was straight fire and we can’t stop listening to it in our house!.
This may seem a little early, but you don’t know my daughter. She is in first grade but she is 13 socially and an emotional savant. She’s one of the most empathetic children I’ve ever been around and I’m a teacher and a coach!
So my wife calls me upstairs and goes,
“Your daughter just said the ‘N’ word.” then just stands and looks at me. “You wanna tell her what it means‽?”
(Not really a question by the way. Definitely…guided instruction)
So I do.
I tell her about racism in the past and the 6-year-old-version of the origin of the word. Being an interracial couple and having bi-racial kids, we are well aware of her need to understand both sides. She listened intently and asked a few questions about different restrooms and different restaurants and segregation in general. (told you she’s smart)
I told her about how my parents (who both have passed away) had to live in segregation and experience racism. My parents never talked about it though but I was well aware of my disadvantages (and advantages) as a black man in America growing up. There are different rules for us for sure.
Is it too early to talk about it at 6? Maybe, but then again, maybe not. She is a black girl (at least society will see her as such) living in an upper-middle class, majority white area. shorty needs to keep her head on a swivel! The streets will eat her alive if I don’t teach her to bite first.
Whatch’all think?
BlkMidlClas 