Objectifying Black Babies
This is a post and comments taken from another blog I frequent. The thoughts expressed here as well as the comments rang a chord with me today. One of the things that was very annoying to me during the summer camp we participated in was this very activity. I did not have the words to express it, however, this mother did it very well.
American association of cancer researchers
3 years ago
2 comments:
I read the other blog – YIKES! I can’t believe a teacher in 2008 would make a comment like that, and then make it worse by singling out the student for her opinion. It was handled well by the administration, but stocking nonetheless. I remember one uncomfortable event from around 1970: I was in 2nd grade and a white boy made a comment (he did not mean the teacher to hear) that the money in his pocket had probably at some point been touched by a black person. The teacher overheard this and attempted to make some sort of point, I’m still not sure what she was trying to get across. There were 3 black children in the class, all of a similar darker complexion. She had them all come to the front of the room, so we could look at them and see they were indeed not truly “black”, but various shades of brown. She even used her hands to turn their faces around so the light would hit them better and we could get a good look. All the children in the class were most uncomfortable with this spectacle. I can’t even imagine what these 3 children were thinking/feeling. The teacher was an older white lady, probably close to retirement age, and in my opinion not good with children at all. Of course nothing came of it, I didn’t mention it to my parents, and I don’t think anyone else did either.
Mary63 is right - YIKES! Though what the teacher did is incredibly ignorant, I wasn't surprised. Sadly, I've heard that same type of comment in adoption circles.
I thought the writer did a beautiful job of handling the situation with grace. I commented on her blog that she took the opportunity to not only handle the situation, but also to educate. I know that's something I have to do often when I'm advocating for my son's special needs and it can be exhausting. Because sometimes people are downright idiots.
The comments on that post, however, have left me reeling. I didn't think my mouth could drop open with shock anymore, and then I read the comment where someone suggested they move to an area that is more friendly to black people. My jaw hit the floor.
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