My Nana Is Black, You Know?

My daughter is in a place in her life where color is a big deal. She has to categorize people by the color of their skin. It’s not something we talked about much at home really. Since her oldest brother began kindergarten two years ago though, the subject comes up more frequently than it did in the past.

Her brothers often have discussions about what color they are. They fight over whose skin tone is closest to daddy’s or mommy’s. They seem confused as to why they are varying shades, each with a different hair texture.  My husband and I initially thought it would be a passing thing, something they would be curious about for a bit and then pick back up right around junior high.

They wonder why daddy is considered white, when the paper they use in school is actually white. “So Daddy’s not really white. What color is he then?  You’re not really black either, Mommy; you’re just dark brown.”

In a world in which the differences in color and race are still a big deal, I wonder how accepting people will be of the continued mix among races in the next ten years. These days, an individual could be a combination of races, and in some places, that’s okay. It’s a shame that in this day and age, there are still those who feel races should remain “pure”,that any mix of races taints a particular race over another. To make individuals feel less than based on the color of their skin is ignorance at its highest level. How does one judge another individual for something they are unable to change?

In my children’s innocence now, they point out their differences, as well as ours. I hope and pray that in the future, their curiosity will turn into an appreciation for their differences and those of others. Until then, I guess I’ll just have to get used to hearing comments like, “Our nana is black, you know? How about yours?”