A Call to Antiracism

Obviously I am white, but my daughter is not.

It wasn't until we became a multi racial family that I began to see the world through different eyes. I only ever knew what it was like to be white. Once I had a Chinese daughter, I began to see just how much our world is built for people that look like me, not her.

For example...
Bandaids - white. The first time I slapped a bandaid on a skinned knee that was an eye opener.
Baby headbands - white. I took some sweet little headbands with bows to China. I didn't even think about it not matching her skin and hair until I tried it on her.
Most beauty ads - white. The idea of beauty that our society projects is very narrow. I don't want my daughter growing up never seeing Asian women portrayed as beautiful.
Barbies and baby dolls - These are only recently becoming more diverse.

And then there is the blatant racism we have witnessed. My children have had kids at school make racist comments about asians. Even kids that have the same shade of skin as my daughter. Several times people have made racist comments to me before they remember I have a Chinese daughter. Nothing gives me more pleasure than reminding them and seeing them try to backtrack.

If you are anything like me you just simply didn't understand. But in the light of all of the recent hate crimes against our black brothers and sisters and the asian community, that can no longer be an excuse.

For the last year or so, I have been educating myself on the work of antiracism. The thing that most impacted me was this statement, "You are either engaged in the work of antiracism or racism. You cannot be neutral" It is like standing on an escalator. If you aren't actively walking backwards (in the way of antiracism) then you are moving forward (in the way of racism). We cannot just stand still and think we are doing the work of antiracism.

So what can we do?

Make it your mission to see the world differently. It has been extremely helpful for me to diversify where I get my information. Read authors who are of different races. Follow people on social media who have different experiences. Actively pursue media that can broaden your way of seeing the world.

Teach your children to be friends with other kids that look different than them. When I witnessed a little girl who did not want to hold my daughters hand because of her differences it broke my heart. It was a sinking reality, knowing this is just the beginning of what she will have to face in life. As mother's and fathers, we can show our children that friendships don't have to only be with people who are just like us.

Speak up when you hear something that is untrue or racist.
Simply say, "I don't think that's true." or "I don't think you understand."

We can do better. We are better. And we are better together.