Imagine a young child working on his first painting, grinning from ear to ear, wrapped in an oversized smock while facing a blank canvas that he has yet to explore. Intrigued by royal blues and warming yellows, he has no more knowledge of how they will fit together on his page than how to hold the brush. Do we point out to the boy that some colors might blend better than others? Should we tell him that red and blue mix well, but green and orange should remain separate so he does not make a mess of his paper?
No. We allow the young artist to explore, to take fingertips to color and experience the richness of every hue. We do not decide for him that purple is his favorite. We do not hinder. We do not judge. However, these theories have less practicality in the real world.
Take into consideration the philosophical riddle, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” We have all pondered this thought provoking question at some time in our lives. Ideally, we can apply the same theory when it comes to the evolution of racial perception. If one’s skin falls a shade darker than another’s and there is no one is around to condemn it, does it make a difference? I would like to believe that raising a garden that minds no shade is a reality. The core of realism, however, sparks the debate of whether or not a component of raising our youth to disregard color as a factor is even remotely possible without drawing attention to what we hope to overlook in the first place. I believe it to be possible.
How does one raise a colorblind child? There is no strategy for the masses to follow. However, initially, raising a child that is either oblivious or sensitive to differences will have to start with parents that have given their children reason to love themselves in their own skin. When we are in the midst of embracing and loving our own make up, we are less likely to find fault with others. When we feel entitled to the same experiences that are culturally rich and beautifully diverse in their nature, submergence occurs.
Shelly Lowe, a 31-year-old educator and mother, lives in Tampa, FL, where a chance for cultural exposure is abundant. In regards to her daughter’s happiness she states, “I want her to be comfortable in her own race and understand that she may have different experiences compared to other races .Unfortunately, she may need to prove herself more than her playmates. I am aware of this, but I want her to be culturally sensitive and educated. I want her to be secure in her own body and what her race means to her before I worry about anything else.”
As a fellow parent, Shelly’s words hit home. I want to protect my child from the harms of the outside world. My daughter is an absorbing sponge, soaking in her surroundings with an accepting eye. Although she is young, she is aware of the color of her skin. She knows that she is a beautiful brown that her mother praises daily. She sees its many tones and textures through our family and close friends. She also understands that not every person mirrors her bronze image. However, as she grows into a young woman, she will see that those who are different still mirror her common values, passions, and interests. This will be made clear as we visit museums to discuss the artwork of historic painters, sit in awe of Alvin Ailey choreography and live in the moment of people we love who just so happen to be bi-racial, multi-ethnic, diverse, proud and part of our world.
I had a chance to speak with those I love, and their voices are representative of the melting pot I speak of. Molorro, a Kansas City native, is the mother of a teenage daughter, whose personal experiences reveal that raising a colorblind child is not only a lesson in contrast, but a lesson in truth.
"We had an occasion where, unfortunately, we were at a basketball game in which some Caucasian people said some directly insulting things about African-Americans. My daughter and I discussed that these kinds of comments usually come from people who have not been educated on diversity and about others backgrounds. If they are so sheltered and do not ever venture outside of their own area, their community, then they tend to think that other people are different and tend to view their own culture as superior.
Unfortunately, in America we have a long extensive background of racial prejudice. I do believe the younger generations are learning more because they have much more exposure to different cultures than people of an older age. I explained to her that it is also important to know this, and when she hears these kinds of things, she should for the most part, ignore it, and recognize it as ignorance from that person."
Unfortunately, this type of experience is common for the minority parent. Exclusion is an unfortunate reality; but on this aspect of life, Molorro shines a positive light.
"I believe that raising a "colorblind" child is not necessarily more important or less important than other aspects. I believe it is something we do in everyday life. Exposing our children to different cultures and different beliefs is a tie-in with a good education.
One can teach a child to be "colorblind" through school, through social activities and even in their own religion. I think it goes hand in hand with teaching our children the importance of respect and honor towards our fellow man. My daughter has been exposed to many things. As a sign language interpreter, we attend many functions for persons who are Deaf at the School for the Deaf and at our church. Additionally, as I belong to a salsa dance group, my child is exposed to Hispanic culture where she learns their traditions and cultures. We have been lucky that our own family is diverse in that we are a bi-racial family. I can truly say my child has been exposed to just about every culture that can be found in Kansas City. We attend fiesta with Hispanic friends, we attend African-American celebrations at 18th & Vine."
I believe parents have a responsibility to allow their children to branch out. It is too easy to stay in the comfort zones of our surroundings, letting our sons and daughters believe that the world is solely made up of what is familiar. Shelter from the unknown inevitably breeds ignorance. The end result will be an indulgence of fear that alters self-perception, and ultimately obstructs the development of what could be a chance for perceptual growth. For this reason, the marriage of cultural pride and universal knowledge must outweigh a society that still holds much resistance to racial equality.
Parents do not stand alone in the hopes of raising a colorblind child. Educators are in a unique and valuable position as well. The influence of multi-cultural based curriculum, interdisciplinary studies, and collaboration provide a strong base of tolerance for differences and an optional viewpoint for students who may not be given the same message at home. Kelly Montgomery is an eighth grade Social Studies teacher. She understands the value of utilizing her subject matter as a catalyst to fuel student interest in the historical value of diversity.
“I feel that I have a great opportunity to expose my students to being a part of meaningful instruction and a classroom dialogue that allows them to question how our world is different and what steps need to be taken to accept differences as a part of the makeup.”
Colorblind does not have to be synonymous with overlooking the differences of others. As human beings, it is in our nature to observe, to compare, and find the commonalities. Like the canvas of a young boy, it is not how we arrange the colors; rather, it is that we all have the chance to see the big picture.