How to answer question from my 7 year old

[Anonymous]

OP, are the neighborhoods predominantly African American? My neighborhood is primarily white, so the panhandlers are mostly white. Makes sense, doesn't it? "Well, most of the people who live around here are African American. If we were in a neighborhood that was mostly white people, most of the panhandlers would probably be white."

That said, I used to help at a food kitchen when I was a kid, and I remember asking why most of the families there were spanish-speaking/latino. I was given a basic explanation of immigration and how many immigrants come here because they have no jobs at home, and it takes a while to get on their feet once they arrive, what with the language barrier, etc. It was a totally understandable explanation for a kid. So, you could go that route, if you know these people are immigrants.

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you live OP but at least half the homeless where I live are white but as a PP mentioned they are all very tan from all the time outside.

I would simply tell her that people come in all colors and this includes homeless people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are the neighborhoods predominantly African American? My neighborhood is primarily white, so the panhandlers are mostly white. Makes sense, doesn't it? "Well, most of the people who live around here are African American. If we were in a neighborhood that was mostly white people, most of the panhandlers would probably be white."

That said, I used to help at a food kitchen when I was a kid, and I remember asking why most of the families there were spanish-speaking/latino. I was given a basic explanation of immigration and how many immigrants come here because they have no jobs at home, and it takes a while to get on their feet once they arrive, what with the language barrier, etc. It was a totally understandable explanation for a kid. So, you could go that route, if you know these people are immigrants.

New poster here. I was thinking along the same lines as that. But you put it better. I live in a very diverse area, and see all kinds of people asking for money on the side of the road. But if OP is driving through very segregated areas, I can see how it could look to OP's daughter. People don't travel too far away from where they live to ask for money.

[Anonymous]

"African American people in the United States were treated very badly in the past* and sometimes that meant that they could not get good jobs or go to school. That was unfair. What that means is that today sometimes African American people don't get fair opportunities in life and sometimes that means more African American people are poorer. That's still not fair and in our family we like to vote for people who we think will make things fairer and work against poverty. But you should also remember that there are lots of African American people who are not poor, too. Like Uncle B who is a lawyer and your teacher Ms P and your doctor (obviously specific to your family)."

That's how I would explain it to my kid. In DC, where I feel like homeless people are disproportionately black (we don't see a lot of white or Hispanic folks panhandling). And also for a kid who has friends who are black and middle class, so has fairly easy models for what that looks like.

*I realize that's an oversimplification, but it's what I've figured out is age appropriate for my kid.

[Anonymous]

omg

Life's unfair, folks! Statistically, if you're in an area that's majority minority, you'll find more poor blacks and Hispanics- and other people of color.

Ask my pal in the Midwest who sees either middle to upper class whites or poor whites.


Why is this such an issue? Are you afraid of raising racist kids? Kid asked a question. Give the kid the truth.

any people of color on this thread responding? What's YOUR view?

[Anonymous]

NP here. I wouldn't over explain it. I would say there are poor people and wealthy people with all different colored skin. I'd leave it at that and answer any other questions that come up.