Talking about Race in Today's World: What's The Difference Between Race And Ethnicity as Told My Nigerian American Kids
I'm African American and my husband is Nigerian. I say that because it's important for you to understand our family's dynamic story.
Call me naive but I don't remember growing up looking at people's differences. Instead I searched for similarities. When I turned nine, I moved from a predominantly black neighborhood to a predominantly white neighborhood overnight. It wasn't until I got to high school did I realize I was a tad different. My coconut oil routine wasn't something I could share with my white girl friends that I had grew up with, simply because it wasn't something they typically did culturally. Now here I am entering high school all sorts of freaking confused about who the heck I am.
Don't worry folks, my relationship with so many cultures and being a dama in my best friends Quince to dancing the waltz in my Philippino best friend's Cotillion made me appreciate my childhood and my opportunities to grow lasting relationships with so many people of different cultures and ethnicity
I mean, I was eating lumpia on Monday, a torta on Tuesday, pupusas on Wednesday and Tandoori Chicken on Thursday. Totally normal right? I literally thought everyone grew up like this.
Now that I am a parent I just want to make sure my children understand who they are. To have pride about their heritage. And also be inclusive to everyone else, despite color, ethnicity, culture or race.
So let's talk about my 5 year olds response to "What is your race?" she simply said "I am a person". And that she is. At 5 there is such an innocence. Such a rawness to seeing people for who they are, not what they are.
My kids are Nigerian American and my job as their mom is for them to be proud of their heritage and accepting of others
Call me naive but I don't remember growing up looking at people's differences. Instead I searched for similarities. When I turned nine, I moved from a predominantly black neighborhood to a predominantly white neighborhood overnight. It wasn't until I got to high school did I realize I was a tad different. My coconut oil routine wasn't something I could share with my white girl friends that I had grew up with, simply because it wasn't something they typically did culturally. Now here I am entering high school all sorts of freaking confused about who the heck I am.
Don't worry folks, my relationship with so many cultures and being a dama in my best friends Quince to dancing the waltz in my Philippino best friend's Cotillion made me appreciate my childhood and my opportunities to grow lasting relationships with so many people of different cultures and ethnicity
I mean, I was eating lumpia on Monday, a torta on Tuesday, pupusas on Wednesday and Tandoori Chicken on Thursday. Totally normal right? I literally thought everyone grew up like this.
Now that I am a parent I just want to make sure my children understand who they are. To have pride about their heritage. And also be inclusive to everyone else, despite color, ethnicity, culture or race.
So let's talk about my 5 year olds response to "What is your race?" she simply said "I am a person". And that she is. At 5 there is such an innocence. Such a rawness to seeing people for who they are, not what they are.
My kids are Nigerian American and my job as their mom is for them to be proud of their heritage and accepting of others
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