Wordless Wednesday

Biographies and Blackface and Missing the Point

As part of their study about biographies, the kids in 2nd grade at X's school created a wax museum.  The kids created informational posters about their person and then on the night of the wax museum they dressed like their person and posed at their station.  Whenever someone came by and "pushed their button" (they had paper circles glued on a wristband) they would come "to life" and and give their biography (in the first person as if they were that person)

Which brings us to the issue of blackface.  X was Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  and could not understand why he couldn't make his skin darker.  And considering that he was in no way, shape or form making fun of Martin Luther King- I was hard pressed to explain why he couldn't in terms that an 8 year old would understand.  He said there was nothing wrong with being black so why couldn't he make himself black so people know he was Martin Luther King.  Despite the advice from several (Black) co-workers who said to let him do it- I just couldn't.  We did though dye his hair (temporarily) black.  

Here is Martin Luther King

But as I went around to the other Martin Luther King's (there were several) and the Rosa Parks (also several) I noticed that the kids really stuck only to the facts and didn't really mention the why of what King and Parks did.  And truthfully, initially that is what X did as well.  He presentation was along the lines of "I was born, I went to school, I was married"  with little mention of the context in which King did his work.  In fact, in most presentations there was only a little   not even one mention of race or justice or why Martin marched and Rosa sat.  Now I realize they are only 2nd graders but if you are old enough to recognize race you are old enough to start to talk about racial issues.  X and I talked about the why and he really started to understand the context.  And he began to understand the point of what they did.

Once he understood why King protested and gave his "I have a dream" speech he was able to talk about that in terms that 2nd graders could relate to.  But he didn't shy away from putting out there that what Martin protested was laws that kept Blacks from having the same rights as Whites.

I am proud not only of the speech he wrote but also of the fact he was able to talk about the issues in order to get other people to understand the unfairness also.  

Here is his speech (I taped this at home since on the tape from the "wax museum" the background noise is too loud to hear what he is saying)

I love the conviction in his voice-

Newsflash- Newsweek-

You do understand that being a supporter of gay marriage is not actually the same thing as being gay right????

 

Fail.

What the ----?, Bethany Christian Services

I found this on their webpage promoting sending e-cards to first moms on May 12 which is  Birthmother's Day  (although it seems to me that first mothers should be as celebrated on Mother's Day as much as any other mom.  Yet another example of how first moms are treated as "other")

But this really really rubs me the wrong way.  

They are some of the unsung heroines of today. Their bravery, selflessness, and ultimate display of love are inspiring. Birthmother’s day is May 12 and we want your help in letting these amazing women know just how loved they are. Below are three ecards that we would like you to share with your birthmom, friend, or colleague who is one of these courageous women.

Thank you for supporting birthmothers!

Of course if we really wanted to support birthmothers maybe we could support them so they could parent- not just "support" them after they have placed their babies.  

Here are three cards you can choose from and honestly- they all feel "icky"- but I can't imagine how hurtful this one - the one from the adoptee- would be.

The idea that their life would have been less than, incomplete, or worse if not for the adoption just seems to be more of the same tired message- ignoring all the complexities of any individual story.  

Sure it's a nice sentiment and makes us adoptive parents feel warm and fuzzy inside- we acknowledge the sacrifice first mothers make (if only in a superficial thanks for what you gave us kind of way)

The real question is how does it make first moms feel?

Oh- and Happy Mother's Day to ALL moms

Weekend Wisdom

I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

-President Barack Obama

Family Day

Wordless Wednesday