Wow.
WOW.
Okay, it's a small step, but we're living in the same place I grew up. A place where, when my sister's best friend was valedictorian of high school, they decided that that year, they would have 5 "Valedictorians." Nelda was African-American, you see.
Somehow, my son made it to 10 years old with no inkling about the word.
The question was prompted not by the recent news, but because he's reading a book about dealing with bullies, and one of the things it talks about is people using racist language.
So, he and I talked about the word, and why something so "silly-sounding" (to him) carries such power.
"I don't think people still think like that," he informed me.
Oh honey.
You might want to fill him in on the 'C' word and the 'P' word while you are at it.
ReplyDeleteI wish he was right.
ReplyDeleteI love this story. I've been thinking about it and hoping that lots of kids have this same experience.
ReplyDelete