Schools can only gloss over our history in the early grades, it's a wonder J even came home with the question as to why he was killed. And while it was oh SO hard to explain to him that sometimes people don't like others based on their skin color, it is also still unavoidable because there are still people out there who feel this way. So while he grasped that "tan and brown" people were kept apart because some felt brown people weren't as good, and some didn't like Dr. King's fight for equality, I was mainly able to bring home the point that if that fight had not been fought, he would not have the siblings that he does, and quite frankly he would not even be here himself.
Because a few people spoke up, it changed our country. While it didn't change who my parents were, neither grew up racist (and as I was a late baby, they were in their 20's during desegregation), so it didn't lead them to raise me that way, it did give me many blessings in the form of my children and my marriage, that I never would have experienced. So, while anyone else out there will still have their own opinions, I know they are the ones missing out on so much, even just one friendship that could enrich their lives beyond their imagination.
Thank you Dr. King, I can't imagine you expected my family as part of your dream, but it is more than I could have dreamed for when I first heard your speech as a child!
*As a side note, we do not use the colors black and white to describe people, those are the colors of crayons, not people. In reality, we are all different shades of brown anyway.*
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