Being taught history by my seven year old.

Last week Elaine was assigned to find out five to ten facts about a famous African American.  She was given Rosa Parks.  She was thrilled with this assignment and even more pumped that she had gotten Rosa Parks.  I asked if she knew who Rosa Parks was and what she was famous for.

"Duh mom.  She was an African American lady.  And she sat on the bus after a long day at work.  Then some white people got on and there wasn't enough space for them in their section of the bus, so the bus driver told her to move.  And she didn't.  She didn't move mom, but the other people did.  But she thought that was dumb that she had to move to the back where the other African American people had to sit.  She didn't move and the police arrested her.  Can you believe people thought you had to have African Americans and white people sit in different spots on the bus?" 

She shook her head at that last part as if it was beyond her why this had been allowed to be a rule in the first place.  It was Elaine's version of the 'tsk tsk America.  What were you thinking?'

We looked up more facts about Mrs. Parks, and Elaine filled her sheet.  She refused to stop at just five facts (the minimum requirement), she needed more.  Did you know Rosa Parks lived until the age of 92, passing away in 2005?  And that in 1992 she wrote her autobiography?  (Also, I did not know she sued OutKast (and LaFace Records) for using her name without permission in their song.  We didn't write that one on Elaine's list.  Otherwise I would have had to play OutKast and um, that's not appropriate for seven year olds.)

The best part of this assignment for me was that Elaine didn't know America had been like this.  Yes, she definitely needs to be aware of our history.  But in her mind, this whole separation of black and white makes absolutely no sense.  I'm glad we've made it to that point.  I know not everyone has, but for me, it's a small sign of progress.  Elaine and Warren really don't describe people by their ethnicity.  I plan on doing everything I can to help keep it that way.

 

Comments

[KPo]

hold up, OutKast is not ok for 7 year olds? damn, i played it for MoPo at age 4