Race Matters: A story about White privilege
Raising Race Conscious Children created this comic in response to a comment on our Facebook feed after we shared this comic about class privilege. The commenter wrote that they wished there was a similar comic that addressed White privilege. So we created one (in collaboration with artist Kayan Cheung-Miaw) that does just that. The characters draw from the lives of two real people. The comic isn’t written specifically for young children but it can be shared and discussed with them towards the goal of naming Whiteness and dismantling White privilege.
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All of the folk and institutions must tell the truth and treat both fairly. Whites must understand that most of them are privileged throughout their life course and must be taught not to exploit others because of their privledged status. Knowing the truth is one thing hut it is white behavior that must change.
I was very very blessed to have had a wonderful friendship with a man of color for 10 years. I am white. He recently died. He was a tenured college professor, and had a rich carer as a classical ballet dancer, among other endless talents. [In fact, my friend’s lifelong dream of opening a school catering to the under-served communities in Tacoma Washington came to fruition in spite of his death. The school ‘s name is T.U.P.A.C.. Feel free to explore it. It is a wonderful story]. Even tho I had other friends of color, somehow we never got deep enough or cared enough to ask each other about our life experiences. My friend and I could talk about anything, and through our friendship I came to understand the world thru his eyes. So I encourage anyone who has an opportunity to make a friend who is different than themselves, to hopefully begin a dialog about your experiences. I guarantee your lives and your world will be richer for it.
It’s what is inside, and a choice we all make, all people have strengths and weaknesses, just because you don’t like someone does not give you the right to discriminate, love one another for one day we will all stand as one before God and he looks at all of us from the inside only, God bless all who try to be as one in unity in all things.
I can relate to David in the cartoon, substitute Bronx with another inner city project and that is me. It wasn’t until I became a foster care parent and adopted my two black sons that I truly understood white privilege or at the very least had my eyes open to it. Yes, I grew up poor but I can distinctly remember, looking back now, certain advantages I had later on in life over some of my friends. I want nothing more than my children being accepted for their actions and work ethic versus people judging them by a stereotype created before they were born that they had nothing to do with. We talk to them and their friends who are white and black to let them know they can become anything they want but at the same time talk openly with all of them about how people look at us differently and why. I would love any kind of feedback or direction in learning more and trying to convey this in a way my kids my understand.
This is extremely valuable, thank you!! I’ve been searching for children’s books on white privilege but have only been able to find this.