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| LP & I having fun |
It's Black History month and as always, it's up to each family to celebrate the month their own way.
My kids are not aware we're Black and of the rich history of our ethnicity. It's up to me to educate them without bitterness. We're starting small. My son's favorite song is by Al Green - his choice totally. My daughter's dolls are Black - my choice totally. We are always emphasizing the fact that God created us all different and He loves us all because we are so special. Once they grow up more we'll start working on teaching the history of Blacks in Brazil, the U.S. and Africa. I want my children to be proud of who they are as well as aware of the sacrifices of our ancestors so we can have equality. Whether they know it or not, my kids are the dream and hope of the slave as Maya Angelou wrote.
In case you are wondering, every now and then I experience racism but I'm not gonna focus on that today. I choose to celebrate the fact that my children and I can make a difference by overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21). Loving others as God loves us is the best way to celebrate Black History month.
• Do you teach your children about different ethnicities? If so, how? Were you taught about your own ethnicity? How?
We try to focus on the hearts of people not on the color of their skin. I grew up in an era when racism was the theme of the day. My children have never heard the nasty monickers applied to people of different races alhtough the words were common place in my childhood home. This has led to educating grandparents about the words which would not be repeated around my children. In all of life's ironies, love conquers racism with the birth of black great grandchildren. Our God is wise and has a sense of humor!!!! I love your attitude and this post.
This is great you are teaching your children about the rich and intense history of your ancestry. I too like "Miko's Girl" focus on the hearts of people and not the color of their skin. Because it's the heart of the a person God searches. I can not even imagine living in the era of slavery but I do know if I was born back then I'd be like the few of my ancestry that helped free Slaves and find shelter in my home. I will continue to raise Natalie in an enviroment where she understands what God created her for - to love one another just as HE loved us! =)
Thanks for the awesome feedback ladies!
Great post. Love is the answer. I don't have kids, but we will be teaching nothing but love in this family.
I love this post and I'm excited about learning new ways to instill such a beautiful heart in my little one as well. Thanks!
Alissa and Nicole, I appreciate you reading and the comments too. It feels like a big {virtual} hug :)
Galatians 3:28 tells us, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." I honestly don't spend much time focusing on my ethnicity, I think my heritage, my legacy is so much more than my enthnicity. It is my belief that God seperated all of His children at the Tower of Babel, but we are all His children. I would rather spend my time teaching my children the love of Christ than the division caused by ethnicity. Living where we did for all of those years, my children never experiences racism, never knew that there was a difference until we left. They looked and continue to look at everyone through the eyes of Christ and I don't believe that Christ sees color. He many times asked his disciples, and others (ie, Abraham, David etc.) to step away from their biological family and to be grafted into the true family of God.
I am not trying to appear heartless, or a racist, I see it as a non-issue. My 11 year old daughters self declared favorite day of the year is MLK Day. She believes that he had the love of Christ in his heart so pure. His race isn't an issue to her.
I'm glad is a non-issue for you. I still suffer racism sometimes and I focus on overcoming evil with good. Thanks for the awesome comment!
I love this post AND the discussion. I think it is important to BELIEVE we are all ONE in Christ, AND to teach our children that GOD is the author of us all! That all cultures and the many shades of our skin are beautiful in His eyes, and in ours! :)
Love you
Kym
love you too Kym!
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