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I’m a different PP who posted about a separate families of color gathering situation at my school, in which the non-white parents of children of color were quietly told not to attend a Families of Color event. What the PP just posted above is one of the challenges of having a mixed-race family. Our children are always perceived as the opposite of whatever majority situation they’re in. My child is seen as “too white” and not “enough” in minority race-dominant situations, but is definitely not white and will always be on the outside of white-dominant social situations at school. She’s left constantly having to thread the needle to be accepted in any situation while never actually being fully accepted. It sucks, and I’m just grateful that my school was quiet about it and didn’t turn it into written instructions about Families Who Are Not Welcome. Our school and many are shifting away from DEI and closer to an emphasis on “belonging”. It sounds fluffy at first but the more work we’ve put into it the faster it’s worked to sort through long-standing racial and socioeconomic resentments at our school. |
Actually, anyone should be welcome in any group. If it were just a group for white parents, it would be considered racist, so why is it ok for one racial group to self-segregate and not another? It's not ok for any group to be that secretive and exclusive at a school. The school is there for black students so any parent of a black student should be allowed. |
Um whomever you are you are not the OP, I wrote this because Im a black woman trying to find a school for my child. You didn't originate this post. - OP |
This group is signifcantly underrepresented at the school and likely there is ongoing discrimination. They probably wanted to form a parents group almost as a support group. The group would likely help with the school retaining more AA families if they had a way to connect and have their voices heard. I generally have a problem with deviseness etc but the DEI coordinator took a stance that was difficult and necessary. Why make an entire group of parents uncomfortable to please one Karen. (I diapise that term but you are being a Karen) why do you want to attend anyway? It was a kickoff for the Black Parent Group not an event for Black students. Now if the black student union told her daughter she was too light or mixed families were not welcome I could see the outrage and tears. This is an odd situation that probably would not have occured if they school was 20-30% AA. Sounds like the school has done a very poor job of recruiting AA families and most of the diversity is coming from mixed families which makes the AA families feel even less represented when they show up to POC events and most of the room is filled with white parents. It sucks but it's reality. Kudos to the DEI for trying. |
I feel the opposite about my mixed race kids. I think the have advantages to fit in either places and feel comfortable around anyone. My kids goto majority black school but spend summer camp with majority white kids. They were fine. They are fine when they are in groups of mostly Latinos because there looks they blend into there too. I see it as an advantage. We had a biracial president and vp. I do not see my kids at a huge disadvantagr based on skin color when compared to other groups. |
| Has anyone named which school this is? |
That is your opinion based on a lot of assumptions. As a mixed race person, I can tell you that is not the reality. It is a very difficult path to navigate and only gets more difficult (for your kids) as your kids get older. You will never understand it. You can sympathize just like you can with a gay or trans kid, but you will never truly live their experience nor will they even share it with you. Not to even mention HBCU, dating, Sororities, Fraternities. Their path will also vary as they continue to age and their looks will inevitably change. Kids can go from looking ambiguous to just one race or vice versa. It’s certainly not as rosy as you describe but good luck to you. |
Your opinion on white people is why we have such a race divide in this country and school. The parent has a black child. They should be welcome. Any school screaming they are diverse and will not let a parent attend a meeting representing their child is appalling. OP should find a new school. |
You talk as if it’s Black peoples fault. Black people don’t run any of the schools talked about on DCUM. Who ever made this decision had to have been white. And no Black persons opinion is why we have a racial divide. The problem is white supremacy. If the dominant society stops being racist, we won’t have such a divide |
Whoever you are, you seem so divisive. And I'm black. I just dont know what to say about this thread. I agree with some of the prior posters. Schools should be inclusive, and parent groups should also be inclusive, if they have a child of color, regardless of the race of the parent. You want a safe space, but don't we all? Why can't a non-POC parent with a black child have similar opinions and frustrations as you? Can they not join in to learn how to better parent a kid of color? |
Indeed. If OP doesn't, s/he is as guilty of racial discrimination as those maga folks in Georgia. |
+1 the school’s DEI Director needs to work on their critical thinking skills if they thought excluding parents of black students was helpful or necessary. |
I agree, but the only way to resolve this is to raise a complaint against the white person who decided that this white parent isn’t allowed in the group. |
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If the group is for parents only then I have no problem with it being only for black parents. If its families and kids are invited, all should be welcomed.
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Except, DEI and critical thinking are mutually exclusive categories. DEI is a dogma. |