Diversity

One consideration for moving to Houston was the opportunities our kids would be provided living in a bigger city. Academics, activities, sports, culture... and diversity. Mandeville, LA was a wonderful place to raise a family but it is also very white. I grew up in a small, rural, monotone town myself. I could count the number of black students in our high school on one hand (the only high school in the county). I don’t recall any hispanic or asian students. And while I wouldn’t consider them racist, I witnessed an undertone of segregation from my grandparents. They weren’t malicious in their beliefs, they just simply had lesser expectations for people of a different race or skin color. It was the time in which they grew up and ignorance from their own monotone upbringings. I can’t begin to imagine how growing up in a segregated society would feel or affect your way of thinking for a lifetime.

I want more for my kids. It is my hope and belief that with every generation we are slowly overcoming prejudices of the past - the opportunity is certainly there anyway. It is important to me that our kids grow up surrounded by the brilliant diversity that truly represents America.

One of Sydney’s daycare teachers came to me earlier this week and mentioned that Sydney was not very comfortable with her. She asked if Sydney had any black teachers in her previous school. That made me sad, but thankful at the same time - this is the sort of life experience I want our kids to have. Already, at 17 months old, Sydney was aware there was something different about this woman. That’s ok. Different is what makes us all unique and special. But she was cautious simply because of the color of the woman’s skin. And that’s not ok.

Will we ever be free of prejudices? I doubt it. There are stereotypes associated with all sorts of backgrounds and characteristics - Black, Asian, Irish, Italian, red-head... everyone carries some degree of stereotype. Heck, even Asian is too broad - there are varying stereotypes for Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and so on. Living in Miami, I learned there is a hierarchy among Hispanics - the order of which I’m sure changes depending on whether you’re in the company of a Cuban, Venezuelan, Mexican or Spaniard. Most of these are worn proudly and should be celebrated. But never should they imply a lesser ability or change the value of an individuals worth.

I don’t pretend there is any such thing as color-blindness and we are kidding ourselves as a society if that’s what we expect. What I want is for my kids to notice the differences but have the same approach and expectation of everyone as a human being regardless. God made us each one special and unique - but we all have brains to think with and hearts to love with. That was His blank canvas. How boring if he never used any paint.

That same teacher of Sydney’s told us yesterday that they are now good friends. Joy.