I am experiencing similar sentiments from the kids I'm working with this summer...they'll make statements to me along the lines of "you don't know what it's like to be a minority"; I then have to remind them that I do indeed know what it is like, that just because I'm lighter-skinned does not exempt me from life's struggles.
I'd talk about this more, but I'm just too worn out at this moment.
My children aren't really racist and they don't really resent me. But they do use "white" as a slur, in sort of the same way some people use "gay."
Your dilemma reminds me of this story:
This one student, who's no longer in my class, Malik, approached me saying, "Miz Alex, you give me a your phone?"
I said, "No."
He replied, "You give me your wallet?"
Again, I said, "No."
He persisted, "You give me your house?"
"No."
"Your car?"
"No."
"You give me all your money?"
"No."
"Just a dollar?"
Finally, I said, "Will you give me a dollar?"
"I don't got a dollar."
"And you think I do?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I don't."
"Really?"
"Really."
But apparently he did not get it, because he still persisted, "But you got a house, though?"
The children I'm working with are in such desperate circumstances that my need really doesn't compare to theirs. However, very few seem aware of our difference in wealth. Malik was certainly an exception.
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I'd talk about this more, but I'm just too worn out at this moment.
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Your dilemma reminds me of this story:
This one student, who's no longer in my class, Malik, approached me saying, "Miz Alex, you give me a your phone?"
I said, "No."
He replied, "You give me your wallet?"
Again, I said, "No."
He persisted, "You give me your house?"
"No."
"Your car?"
"No."
"You give me all your money?"
"No."
"Just a dollar?"
Finally, I said, "Will you give me a dollar?"
"I don't got a dollar."
"And you think I do?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I don't."
"Really?"
"Really."
But apparently he did not get it, because he still persisted, "But you got a house, though?"
The children I'm working with are in such desperate circumstances that my need really doesn't compare to theirs. However, very few seem aware of our difference in wealth. Malik was certainly an exception.
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in all seriousness though, its fascinating stuff, and I look forward to hearing more
also, your address.... where is it? i'm holding up my letter writing blitz until a few more people such as yourself provide them.
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My address will be up on facebook tomorrow. I promise!
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