After George Floyd was killed last year, I received quite a few questions on how to talk to kids about race. And let’s be real, these questions weren’t coming from Black parents. These questions were from white and non-Black PoC friends. We know that for many Black families, these conversations happen early and are often necessary for navigating and surviving the everyday realities of Black folks.
I found myself assuming the role of educator, for anything related to race. In my head it seemed okay because I was in conversation with my friends and loved ones. After a while, I grew weary of this emotional labor. I started to wonder what it would be like to share my family’s story without feeling like I have to educate people or explain ourselves.
I share this because that is where we started but not where we want to go.
Our family wants to be able to talk about all of our experiences, not just the ones wrapped up in televised trauma. My husband and kids should be able to share their stories, their joys, their wonders, their missteps, their dreams. As a family, we need to be able to tell our stories for ourselves, and not for the consumption of white guilt and whiteness.
My family has stories beyond pain and trauma. And yes, sometimes we will share that pain here but only on our terms and for our healing. Our stories are our own. And we can’t wait to get started.
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