One of the things I enjoy the most about being is a parent is educating and enlightening my kids. Recently Alpha Boy and I were talking about football. He mentioned that West Mesquite High School had the most black kids on their football team that he’s ever played against. Of course, I thought that was funny. After he told me about their game, he also mentioned that there was only 3 colored players on his team.
Immediately I asked him, “where did you hear the word colored?” He told me that some of the kids at his school use the term. I know he lives in a hill-billy redneck area and he isn’t offended at the term, but it reminded me of the following episode on the Boondocks.
I explained to him that the term colored is outdated and there’s no need for kids his age to use it. This turned into a lesson in history. I explained how people his grandpa’s age used the term instead of using Nigger. It was at that moment he had a puzzled look. I took a few minutes to explain that if he met a 70 yr old man and they used the term, it’s because that’s all they know. I also mentioned that anyone under the age of 60 using saying it in the 2009 using the term colored is either ignorant, stupid, racists or all of the above. Using the term is being disrespectful, because the term isn’t even used in society. They don’t use it in movies, music, or anywhere else.
I didn’t ask which one of his friends use the term. But Alpha Boy looked at me and said, I’ll correct them.. they won’t use that term any longer.”
I’ve trained my boys to be mentally strong and to handle people with brains over fists. But it was interesting to see the look on Alpha Boy’s face when he realized that his school mates was insulting him. Even when you have bi-racial kids, ignorance and stupidity surrounds us.
Am I the only one dealing with ignorance?
PS. Actual picture of Alpha Boy.
*Side note – Alpha Boy is a starting Wide Receiver and Corner Back. He averages over 100 rec. yards per game & 2 Touchdowns per game. ( proud dad chest poke)
You might also like:
I~Swirl Apparel Now Available
Model-Ashlee Feldman
