Girls,
Right now, things seem very crazy and I know you have so many questions about these huge topics. My greatest hope has always been that you would grow up in a world where kindness, justice, and hope reign supreme, but sadly we’re not there yet. There’s so much I want to explain and so most of it I wish I didn’t have to.
You’re all so smart and you pay attention to the world around you with so much wonder. Most of the time that’s a blessing, but when it comes to these big topics—inequality, the holocaust, death—I just wish I could preserve your innocence as long as possible. You’ve been asking questions that are so hard to answer in a way you will understand (at ages 6, 4 and 2), and often my answers lead to more questions, but let me do my best here.
Living overseas right now puts in a place were we’re somewhat disconnected from this movement. We see news stories and pick up bits and pieces, but it’s hard to get the full scope of what’s happening.
Why are those people so mad? The people you see on TV are angry because in our country black people haven’t been treated fairly—ever. You see, before America was even a country, black people where forced to be slaves. They were forced to work really hard their whole lives and they were beaten and treated like animals instead of people. Then, 157 years ago our President said that all slaves should be free, but people still treated black people badly. Some white people, like us, said they couldn’t live in the same places as us or eat in the same restaurants or go to the same schools because they looked different than us. But 66 years ago, the Supreme Court said that black people where allowed go all the same places and should be treated the same as white people, but they still get picked on.
Why do they get picked on? Some people still think black people are different, just because their skin looks different. Some people aren’t kind and judge them by the way they look, which is wrong. We should treat everyone with kindness and respect, no matter how they look or talk or where they come from. Can imagine if someone told you you’re not allowed to play with any of your friends that look different from you? Can you imagine if someone said your friend is bad, just because their skin looks different? Well, that’s what happens to a lot of black people still. Some people think they’re bad or mean, just because they have dark skin, and they hurt black people or they’re mean or call black people bad names.
Can we tell them they’re not bad and not to hurt them? Yes, we can. That’s what the people on TV are doing; what people all over the world are doing. People are standing up and saying that black people aren’t bad or mean or any different that us. Americans of all colors are telling the people in charge that we want black people to be treated fairly. We want to make sure everyone is treated with kindness and that no one is judged because they look different. We want America to be free and safe for everyone.
Can’t the President just tell they to be nice? Well, yes, but it’s not always that easy. We want to make sure there are rules that say everyone gets treated the same, kind of like at your school. Because if we make it a rule, then people will have to listen and won’t be able to be mean anymore. We want to make new rules to ensure everyone—including black people—are safe and now one can hurt them.
Some of my friends have black skin and they’re not bad. You’re right! Just because someone someone looks different, doesn’t make them bad, and we know that. But a long time ago, some people thought they weren’t as good as white people and they taught their kids to thing that too. Then those kids grew up and had kids and aught them the same thing and it just kept going. So now there are still people who think black people aren’t as good as white people. It’s our job to tell those people that’s not true. It’s our job to tell people to stop if they say mean things about someone.
I know these a very simple answers, to not-so-simple questions. I know you probably won’t fully understand what’s happening until you’re older and, Gods willing, by then it will seem so dumb that equality took so long. I hope you girls will always see past what’s on the outside and love people for who they are inside. I hope your Uncle Cal and Mr. Sam will always be how you think of black men: smart, funny, kind and loving. I hope you never racial slur or comment, especially from someone close to you. But above all else, I hope you will have the guts and the integrity to always stand up for equality. Be the change our world needs.
Love,
Mom
Amy Clark Creative Blog 