Reply to MLK Day education-Teacher not equipped to handle questions on race

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Compassion fatigue? Seriously?  I am not looking for your opinion, then.  You don't need to participate in this discussion as it is trivial to you and will contribute to your fatigue.

DC was upset--that is real. I am looking for insight on how to address it without having to move.  BTW, she is very clear about her heritage and we have discussed race relations, slavery, etc.  I have always phrased certain types of treatment as happening in the past.  Obviously one comment from a child does not lend to an overall feeling of being different.  It builds up over a series of experiences she has had which include seemingly innocuous comments about black people, dark skinned people, black people's physical makeup, etc.   I am sorry I summarized this series of experiences into the Elsa comment--I assumed people could read between the lines.  Interestingly, those who have been through it could understand this summary statement. When you have to field questions from your child about skin color, race, etc. on a regular basis, it is quite....fatiguing.  If it was only just fatiguing, I would be fine.  I worry more for her mental health and also for the kids in her class that are growing up with built in biases--that may have a real impact on how they behave as adults.  Maybe they will do something "really" racist to catch the attention of the fatigued PP.

The incident in question took place in the class and I felt that the teacher should have reinforced how wrong the treatment was, that MLK moved America forward by showing how bad this treatment is and that the idea that skin color would determine what kind of person you are, where you go to school, etc. is wrong.  Show positive examples of different types of people through literature/media.   I feel that if you are going into a topic such as this, you should be better prepared to ensure a child does not feel singled out.  Glossing over a comment does not help.  I appreciate the answers from the teacher who said it is good not focus on it at the moment.  However, I would want her to circle back to it.  [/quote]

Another minority mom here.  I think what you describe in your first paragraph is a huge challenge of being a minority child in a homogenous environment.  Your kid will always be picked to play the darker character.  When she's older, she will be asked "why do Magenta people do xyz?" as if she represents all of them.  I'm not sure there is an external solution for it.  I can only try provide a solid foundation and instill a sense of pride in my DC so they're prepared for when those situations do happen.

As far as this particular classroom incident goes, I agree with a pp that the teacher probably thought going into such detail then and there would have made your daughter even more uncomfortable.  I went to a predom white primary school, where we learned very little of my culture outside of the negative things that occurred in the past.  Anyway, I just remember how uncomfortable it was to sit through those history lessons where once again I was the representative for all Magenta people.   
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