Monday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. with schools closed and an extended weekend to celebrate a special person. Today actually is the special day we set aside to honor him. But what is the big deal?
This is a day to think and talk about the importance of what King did. He ranks high in history because this is the first national holiday to honor an individual black American. This alone is a good reason to make a big deal of it but there is more.
We are living in a time where black people are working hard to be given equal rights. This is a right that is guaranteed in the Constitution but at times is ignored. Blacks rates of employment are significantly lower than whites. The percentage of blacks who are in jail is much higher than for whites. Poverty is far higher in black communities and black homes than in white homes.
Dr. King not only championed the rights of blacks, he also spoke up for the disadvantaged and impoverished. His non-violence stance helped set an example around the world. This day in his honor is a reminder that there is still work to be done if our society has everyone equal and respected.
This is a lot about what we should know about him but much of this wouldn’t really reach to our young people. The part that would is when you talk about prejudice.
Children begin to understand prejudice by the time they are 3 years old. They recognize physical traits such as hair color, height, weight even before the age of 3 but by the time they enter preschool they recognize skin color and gender and they see how these traits affect people and their peers.
As children get older, this can lead to intolerance and discrimination in schools. One California survey found that one-fourth of students across the grades reported being harassed or bullied at school because of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Gays and lesbians have been confronted with prejudice by 90 percent being verbally harassed at school, 44 percent physically harassed and 22 percent physically assaulted (“Is It Possible to Teach Children to Be Less Prejudiced?” The Atlantic, March, 2104).
So how do we help prevent prejudice from continuing in the next generation? Schools have struggled to find an effective way to confront diversity. We know that talking about race, gender and sexuality decreases prejudice yet many people still remain skeptical that this kind of talking can actually work. One place to try this kind of prejudice prevention is in your home.
My family had a great opportunity to talk about prejudice when we adopted a child who was black. We had a chance to see prejudice from the other side. We also had a chance to see it in Sequim. Most people here always have been accepting of our son. The hurt that comes from those who don’t accept people who are different in any way from the majority of people is real. Not only do we need to talk about this kind of hurt with our children, we need to be intolerant of those children who are not accepting of others because of race, gender or religion. We need to do as much as we can in this time of our history to help our children learn to be accepting of others who might be somewhat different.
No one can change the world overnight. However, each of us can do a significant amount of good for helping those who are different. Every child in school will meet children who have experienced prejudice. Maybe it is because they are in special education. Maybe it is the way they dress or talk. Help your child to learn to be accepting of others. Talk about the hurt that occurs from prejudice and how your child can be a force for good. Make sure your own behavior and discussions are free of prejudice against others. Let the modeling you do for your child about acceptance of others who are different sets an example for your child.
Your child can make a difference. Start a conversation on this special day. That will make the day really special.
