What's segregation? my 9 year old asked me tonight driving home. Startled I said "the separation of people". Not wanting to get deep. "Why would people want to be separated? he asked me. I glanced at him trying to see if he was serious, and he had this frown on his face letting me know he was thinking hard. I paused, and told him that there was a time that blacks and whites did not live in the same neighborhoods, go to the same schools, churches or shop at the same stores...
My poor baby was shocked. I guess they are discussing it at school and the fact that I had him watching Michelle and Barack Obama this past week, I guess he just decided to bring it on home.
He asked me if his grandparents lived during this time. (I guess this is a testament of how far we have come for him to think it was soooooo long ago). I told him yes. Both of his grandfathers have passed away, but my mom and my husband's mom are alive and in their 80's. He was impressed.
I then told him that I remembered integration of the schools in middle school. I had to explain integration to him as well. I grew up in Richmond Heights, a small suburb of Miami, FL. Our neighborhood was self contained. We had our own schools, park (with a pool, big time) library and predominantly home owners. We were content and did not realize anything was up, till some of us got bussed out of the neighborhood. The first day of gym, we all had to hit the showers and I think, well I know me and my best friend were both surprised that the white girls were just like us!
Now I know that sounds silly, but there was so much ado about the mixing of races, that as kids we really did'nt get it. It was then as we sat next to white kids in class and talked to each other, that the walls came down. We all had the same problems and concerns.
My son was so into my story, that I realized he really had no clue of this country and the vast gains and strides we have made. In first and second grade my son was very literal, if he referred to anyone by color at all they were various shades, beige, tan, dark or light brown. In first grade his girlfriend was Anna. It was not until I went to his class for a project and met Anna did I discover she was latin.
Our kids get it. This generation, with the excetption of a few, are about the individual. I have noticed that if any of my three children dislikes someone, it is not because of their color, but their personality or habits.
When Obama's uncle was shown on TV at the convention, many people were shocked. We hear so often that Obama is an African American, that we forget he is of mixed heritage. I remember thinking, he is really pale. My son, true to form did not blink when John Kerry introduced him. No big deal.
While I know it's important that he remembers our heritage, and I am teaching him our ersonal history as well, I am also proud that this generation appears to be colorblind and for that I am grateful.