Multicultural Minneapolis

Spiderman, spiderman........

2011-08-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

A new Spider-man has been revealed.......and he is 1/2 black and 1/2 hispanic!

From USA Today:

Marvel's editor in chief, Axel Alonso.

"What you have is a Spider-Man for the 21st century who's reflective of our culture and diversity. We think that readers will fall in love with Miles Morales the same way they fell in love with Peter Parker."

Full article here.

Quoted

2011-07-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man.
Nelson Mandela

Adult Book Shelf

2011-07-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Cover of The Grace of Silence: A Memoir

I finally finished the Grace of Silence, which I really liked by Michele Norris of NPR. It was great to read about Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul through her and her families viewpoint.
Some parts of the book really spoke to me:

Here is the conundrum of racism. You know it's there, but you can't prove, beyond a reasonable doubt how it colors a particular situation.

Many steps lead to the crossing of a threshold, and many are the people, often anonymous, who play minor roles in history's grand tales. I am betting that some of them might be sitting at your family table.

Daycare and Dolls

2011-07-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Image by Darwin Bell via Flickr

Seen on Jezebel:
Colorado has proposed new day care rules, among them- dolls must be provided in at least three races.
A lot of controversy over all the rules, but I have to say- I love the diversity requirement for dolls.
I don't know that I agree that it should be mandated, but on the other hand, it probably wouldn't happen without it.

Thoughts?

Beautiful Art

2011-06-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the look out for art that depicts multiple skin tones, especially for my children's rooms- I am always excited when I can find pieces that depict my daughters multiracial heritage.
So, I was excited to see the work of Ida Pearle. Peruse the site and fall in love!

Classic Beauty Across Cultures

2011-06-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

From CNN Living:
Dr. Nancy Etcoff, a Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist who studies the science behind the brain and beauty, believes that the shift in our perception of beauty is a sign of the times.
"Our standards of beauty are changing and ethnic women are at the forefront today," she said. "It emulates our growing sense of cultural awareness."
Etcoff, who also authored "Survival of the Prettiest," adds: "If you study plastic surgery textbooks, the notions of an ideal feature have changed. In the 50s, the ideal look featured thinner lips, upturned noses, smaller eyes, and paler makeup," Etcoff said. "Now you see broader noses, darker skin, and larger eyelids. All these attributes suggest shifts in demographics and an appeal to a more multicultural look instead of an overly Caucasian appearance."

		At the request of Dr. Nancy Etcoff, Karen Taylor drew the idealized face of “beauty” for a television feature production entitled Survival of the Prettiest. California-based Termite Art Productions developed the hour-long program for the Discovery Channel, based on Dr. Etcoff’s book of the same name. Dr. Etcoff conferred with Karen to arrive at a universal “template face” of beauty in conjunction with Etcoff's belief that physical attraction is innate and biologically-based rather than learned behavior.
Taylor's template face fits classic beauties Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Halle Berry, Lucy Lui and Vanessa Williams.

Quoted

2011-05-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.

This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.
-Coretta Scott King

Americans-by race

2011-05-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

Multiracial Americans

9 million: People belonging to at least two races, up 32% since 2000

4.2 million: People younger than 18 belonging to at least two races, up 45.9% since 2000

57: Race combinations marked on the 2010 Census

1.8 million: People who marked black and white

1.7 million: People who marked white and "some other race"

1.6 million: People who marked Asian and white

1.4 million: People who marked American Indian or Alaska Native and white

Note: The Census Bureau considers Hispanic/Latino an ethnicity, not a race. Respondents to the race question who reflected a Hispanic/Latino origin were classifed as "some other race."

Source: 2010 U.S. Census

50th Anniversary- Freedom Rides

2011-05-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone, Happy Mother's Day!

May 4th was the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides, a consorted effort by students-both black and white-to highlight the South's continued racial segregation.
Minnesota Public Radio highlights a Freedom Rider, Charles McDew, below. What a beautiful voice this man has!

More information Here and Here and the Presidential Proclomation.

Quoted

2011-05-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Image by foxspain via Flickr

Do not call for black power or green power. Call for brain power.
Barbara Jordan

Obama and the Birth Certificate.

2011-04-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

Image by the__edge via Flickr

Argh. This whole thing makes me sick.
This Article from the grio mirrors my feelings.

Indeed. This is how far we have not come.

Teaching Children about Slavery-for Educators

2011-04-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

An interesting article, giving advice on how to teach children about race. It touches on some of the recent news stories about teachers trying to make the slave experience resonate with children and the subsequent public outcry. This portion resonated with me:

This means not intentionally engaging in activities that will either shame or demean African American children, or evoke feelings of shame or guilt for white children. Feelings should be talked about and the teacher should acknowledge that this is an important and intense topic that is sometimes difficult to discuss. However, I think that the biggest challenges arise when teachers are actually afraid to teach about the institution of slavery because of their own fears that they will “not do it right”.

So many problems arise from people worried about not "doing it right" or "saying it right"- in my eyes, this this just underscores the need for open and non-judgmental dialogue on race.

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!
I made dyed eggs for the first time with my daughter. What are your Easter traditions?

In an effort to do more creative things- my friend Toni and I have launched a new blog on crafting:
Crafters of the Universe.

Let me know what you think!

Image via Wikipedia

To Check Out

2011-04-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Where Did He Get Those Blue Eyes?
A Mom talks about raising mixed race kids- the joys and the struggles. A nice, thoughtful article.

I'm so curious what my sons eyes will turn out to be- they are blue/gray/hazel dependent upon the clothing he wears. Most definitely not the warm chocolate brown that is my daughters and mine.

Diaries of a Mixed (Up) Kid
An interesting blog, giving voice to the mixed race experience.

I'm always impressed by people's memory- mine is terrible. I remember certain instances of my childhood, but by and large, its a blur. I keep a few notebooks that I kept my thoughts in, and it brings me back. I wish I would have kept more and in a diary format.

Advice for parents from Bicultural Mom

2011-04-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

A nice post from Bicultural Mom on how to raise confident multiracial and multicultural children.
I particularly like the last bullet- Let them choose thier own label.
Something to keep in mind for my own children. I know I didn't like people telling me what I should be, I defined myself in ways that made sense to me.

Mixed Race Profile, Langston Hughes

2011-04-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Langston Hughes forever
For some reason the change in seasons prompts me to read more poetry.

In Time of Silver Rain

In time of silver rain
the earth
puts forth new life again,
green grasses grow
and flowers lift their heads,
and over all the plain
the wonder spreads

Of Life,

Of Life,

Of life!

In time of silver rain
the butterflies
lift silken wings
to catch a rainbow cry,
and trees put forth
new leaves to sing
in joy beneath the sky
as down the roadway
passing boys and girls
go singing, too,

in time of silver rain
When spring
and life
are new.

Food and Culture-intetwined

2011-03-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

“Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are,” ~Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Check out this PBS special on Culture and Food. The Gonna Eat That portion is interesting-- most I have heard of due to my vicarious travels with Anthony Bourdain via No Reservations.

Some of the foods my siblings and I greatly enjoy are Pannukakku , and Riisipurro- two things my husband, despite his best efforts isn't a fan of. His loss, more for me!

Quoted

2011-03-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Image by Andrew.Beebe via Flickr

To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or color is like living in Alaska and being against snow.

~William Faulkner, Essays, Speeches and Public Letters

Mixed Race Population in the US-Growing!

2011-03-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

A recent article on the growth of the multiracial population in the U.S

In the first comprehensive accounting of multiracial Americans since statistics were first collected about them in 2000, reporting from the 2010 census, made public in recent days, shows that the nation’s mixed-race population is growing far more quickly than many demographers had estimated, particularly in the South and parts of the Midwest. That conclusion is based on the bureau’s analysis of 42 states; the data from the remaining eight states will be released this week.

....in Mississippi and in other states, some growth may also be a result of older Americans who once identified themselves as black or some other single race expanding the way they think about their identity.

The full article is here:

Talking About Race

2011-03-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

A great post on Motherlode addressing race and children. Some insightful thoughts including the one below:

Because we live in this new America that celebrates diversity, I have to remind myself not to forget these little happenings. The real danger lies in being lulled into complacency, erasing race from our national dialogue, checking off the completed box. Racial stereotypes in America run deep; they are woven into our everyday expectations. And we can’t let them go unexamined.

The little happenings are important and I think remind us to continue to educate and empower.

Inspiration

2011-03-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

Image by elycefeliz via Flickr

My book club just read The Diary of Anne Frank- it was really interesting to reread. I found it amazing as to what I didn't pick up on as a teenager.
My husband and I visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam 10 or so years ago and after reading the book I found their website. I am so impressed with Otto Frank, from all accounts, he really made himself available to children around the world.

“I think it is not only important that people go to the Anne Frank House to see the secret annexe, but also that they are helped to realise that people are also persecuted today because of their race, religion or political convictions.”

Otto Frank, 3 August 1970

Adult Book Shelf

2011-03-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

Image by Lua Ahmed via Flickr

Peggy Orenstein, author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter, is in an interracial marriage with a mixed race daughter. She briefly mentions her interracial relationship in the book, but the topic is the princessification (I just made that up) and the pinkification (that one too) that she see’s happening. Loved the book, it was a quick read and explored or identified many of the issues that I think about.

It also validates my hatred of pink.

Her website is a great resource for books, movies and a variety of other things that every parent that is mindful of the mixed messaging and media targeting to little girls can appreciate.

Turns out I did not make up Princessification.

Or for that matter Pinkification .

Skin Tones

2011-03-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I opened up a package from my favorite cousin and discovered Skin Tones colored pencils-designed to represent skin tones from around the world.

I've used them for drawing, but think they will be a great teaching tool for my kids as well.

Quoted

2011-02-28T19:12:00.000-08:00

Image by tassie.sim via Flickr

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to change you is the hardest thing of all."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chrildren's Book Shelf

2011-02-27T19:11:00.000-08:00

Cover of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

I love Helen Oxenbury, and old favorites in our house include Tickle Tickle and Say Goodnight.
This book was recommended to me some time ago and I finally managed to pick it up-Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes.

I'm loving the word flow and the adorable illustrations. My daughter loves the interactive ending and the kisses we place upon her nose.

Mixed Reality

2011-02-23T19:20:00.000-08:00

Minneapolis Native-Julia Ann Mann has several performances on mixed race posted on YouTube.

You can find a longer performance here.
What do you think?

Black History Month

2011-02-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

February is Black History Month, and I haven't been able to attend any of the special events around the Twin Cities. I am hoping to remedy that by the end of the month-the Minnesota History Center has several cool things that end this weekend. I am really interested to see the Tuskegee Airmen exhibit.

By the way, did you know the Census Bureau has a Fact for Features document? For Black History Month one of facts listed is that Minnesota is one of 23 states in which Blacks make up the largest minority group (2009).

Blog Talk Radio-I'm Interviewed!

2011-02-21T19:56:00.000-08:00

Image by thomaswanhoff via Flickr

So, I'm totally impressed with Michelle McCrary, she interviewed me today on Blog Talk Radio, "Is That Your Child"

It was fun to talk to her. Not only is she a radio host, she is a busy mother and somehow has two other blogs (here and here) as well as an active facebook page! When you have some moments in your day- take some time to explore the archived shows and her blogs.

2011-02-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

A lovely video on Minneapolis..........I particularly like how much diversity is shown!

Why We're Here: Twin Cities from Seven and Sixty Productions on Vimeo.

Best New Artist

2011-02-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

Cover of Esperanza Spalding

I was excited to see that Esperanza Spalding won best new artist at the Grammy's this year. I just discovered her about a month ago....perhaps I am not as disconnected from the world due to baby induced, deep sleep deprivation as I thought!

I like this quote from her that I found on jazzreview.com:

".........like most brown people in this country, I don't know my exact ethnic heritage, but I do know that my family has Welsh, Hispanic, and Native American roots in addition to the un-identified roots from Africa.”

1 in 7

2011-02-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

An interesting article from the NYTimes on counting mixed race in America.........

The chameleon-like quality of ........ racial and ethnic identification might seem trivial except that statistics on ethnicity and race are used for many important purposes. These include assessing disparities in health, education, employment and housing, enforcing civil rights protections, and deciding who might qualify for special consideration as members of underrepresented minority groups.

But when it comes to keeping racial statistics, the nation is in transition, moving, often without uniformity, from the old “mark one box” limit to allowing citizens to check as many boxes as their backgrounds demand. Changes in how Americans are counted by race and ethnicity are meant to improve the precision with which the nation’s growing diversity is gauged: the number of mixed-race Americans, for example, is rising rapidly, largely because of increases in immigration and intermarriage in the past two decades. (One in seven new marriages is now interracial or interethnic.)

Quoted

2011-02-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

"When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last! free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Image by DrewMyers via Flickr

Where Are You From?

2011-02-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago my husband, the two kids and I gathered at a photo studio with my mother-in-law for some grand-baby pictures. As we were waiting for the other family members to arrive we met the photographer. The very first thing he says to me is "wow, where are you from?!" Me: "Minnesota." Photographer: "Really?!"

Slight awkward silence ensues. The photo shoot goes downhill from there.

When did where are you from replace the what are you question? The most irritating part was that the photographer was about my age and the studio was in a metropolitan area.

Honestly, I would have been less annoyed if the question came from an older man or woman. Not that it is ok, but I guess I just assumed that people my age had more exposure to diversity. Silly me.

Related link: What are you?: voices of mixed-race young people By Pearl Fuyo Gaskins

Racial Awareness among young children--it starts early!

2011-02-04T18:40:00.000-08:00

Image by LunaDiRimmel via Flickr

My daughter has been pointing out eye color, hers and mine are the same (brown), and daddy's eyes are blue. So this article feels appropriate.

Stages of Racial Awareness
found on PBS.org, by Barbara Biles

When does it start?

The foundation of self-awareness is laid when children are infants and toddlers. At these stages, children learn "what is me" and "what is not me." Toddlers are sensitive to the feelings of the adults around them, and they begin to mimic adult behavior. By age two, children recognize and explore physical differences. They are also learning the names of colors, and they begin to apply this to skin color. Natural curiosity will lead to questions about differences.

THE PRESCHOOL YEARS (age 3 and 4). Children of this age are better at noticing differences among people. They have learned to classify, and they tend to sort based on color and size. They can't yet deal with multiple classification, so they get confused about the names of racial groups and the actual color of their skin. They wonder why two people with different skin tones are considered part of the same racial group. Many preschool children will comment - in words or through actions - on hair texture, eye shape, and other physical characteristics. They want to know how people got their color, hair texture, and eye shape.

Children at this age believe that because other parts of their body grow and change, skin color and other physical traits could also change. Some young black children prefer white dolls over black dolls (Clark, 1963). More often than white children, they may say that they don't like their skin color, hair texture, or another physical trait. By age four, children begin to prefer one race.

At this age, children's thinking is limited, distorted, and inconsistent. For these reasons, it is easy for them to believe stereotypes and form pre-prejudices. In the Anti-Bias Curriculum (1989), Louise Derman-Sparks states, "The goals are to facilitate children's awareness that their racial identity does not change, to help them understand that they are part of a large group with similar characteristics (not "different" from everyone else) and to foster their desire to be exactly who they are."

KINDERGARTEN (age 5 and 6). Kindergartners continue to ask questions about physical differences, and they can begin to understand the explanations for these differences. They can now make distinctions between members of the same racial or cultural group. At this age, children are developing social skills and becoming more group-oriented. They enjoy exploring the culture of their friends. By age six, most children understand the concept of fair and unfair, and they often use these concepts as they try to deal with issues.

THE EARLY PRIMARY YEARS (age 7 and 8). At this age, children acquire racial constancy. They now understand that a person's skin color will not wash off or change but will remain the same as she grows up. At this age, children can also consider multiple attributes at one time. They can now understand how one person can be a member of several different groups. For example, a person can be part of a family, a classroom, a culture, and a race.

Children can also understand feelings of shame and pride at this age, and they are aware of racism against their own group. They are able to empathize, and they are interested in learning about the world. It's the perfect time for giving them accurate information so they grow out of "preschool" ways of thinking (York, 1991).

Quoted

2011-01-31T06:46:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

"If you absolutely have to hate, hate HATE."

~Henry Oertelt, Holocaust Survivor

TV for Tots That I Can Get Behind

2011-01-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

Image by aftab. via Flickr

Last weekend was a lazy weekend, lots of staying in the PJ's and couch lounging. My husband put on HBO family and we all started watching what was essentially The Frog Prince with several twists. A Prince marries a frog to become King and then in the end the frog turns into a Princess, revealed through true love, blah, blah, blah, - and here was the shocker- she is Black! Why shocking? The Prince is White! How great is that? I did a little research and here is what I found:

"Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child" is a series which retells the world's most famous fairy tales with a cast of animated characters from many ethnic backgrounds. For the first time ever, children of different races will find themselves represented as the royalty, fairies, and folk of the fairy tale world. The charm and mystery of the original tales are enhanced by this diverse spectrum of cultures. As the title suggests, these are truly fairy tales for every child.

Racial Justice at your Local YWCA

2011-01-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Did you know the YWCA has a racial justice program?
On the Minneapolis web page they have workshops and helpful links and articles- such as this: 10 simple ways to eliminate racism:

Also, the YWCA in Charleston West Virginia launched it first ever support group for interracial families through this program.

Children's book shelf

2011-01-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Amazon delivered a weekend package full of fun things...and I was able to sit down and read one of them- Of Thee I Sing to my daughter today. What a lovely book- written by President Obama and illustrated by Loren Long. My daughter at 2.5 is probably too young for this, but she loved the illustrations and I loved the wide variety of people depicted and the beautiful messaging. Released in November 2010.

Quoted

2011-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.

~Carol Moseley-Braun

Happy MLK Day!

2011-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Cover of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Found on Kaboose.com: MLK day history, crafts and activities especially formulated for kids.
A sample from the site:

Why Do We Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Just days after his death in 1968, Congress introduced a bill intended to recognize his birthday as a national holiday, but it took almost 20 years for the bill to become law. Although King’s ideals were embraced by many, there were certainly those who resisted his call for change, and, after his death, worked against recognizing his many achievements.
These groups pointed out the cost to the country (said to be in the billions) of another national holiday on the calendar and questioned why the United States should recognize King over any other well-known person. Yet King’s supporters pressed on, offering up petitions and conducting marches--just the way King would have done things himself--until the bill was signed into law and the first official Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in 1986. In the state of New Hampshire, the holiday is officially called "Civil Rights Day."
How to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Schools across the country take advantage of this time of year to teach students about Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement, and the importance of racial equality.
But you don’t have to let your children’s teachers do all of the talking--MLK Day offers a perfect opportunity for families to spend time together learning about King's legacy.

At long last........

2011-01-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

I'm back. Thanks for your patience!

I am getting slightly more sleep and my now 4 month old (!) is on an acid reflux medication and is much happier.
Having 2 kids is hard.
Friends warned me......but I couldn't fully comprehend.
My mother had 8 children, I can't even imagine. We all make fun of her memory-but honestly its impressive that she can form a coherent sentence..because my friends,- it is difficult for me to do that on a daily basis. I pity my co-workers and my husband.

Anyhoo.......from my house to yours- wishing you a happy and healthy new year!

Hair Love- from Sesame Street

2010-10-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

This song from an October 8th episode of Sesame Street makes me love the show even more.
Written by a writer who noticed his adopted daughter wasn't embracing her hair.

Personalized Growth Chart

2010-10-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

Do you use a growth chart for your children? I don't have one for my little girl, but am reconsidering......

Look at this one: You can personalize skin tone, hair texture and eye shape!

counting books

2010-10-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Do your children read counting books? My daughter loves Ten Little Ladybugs (really a funny book- the first time we read it to my daughter, my husband and I thought the ladybugs were being killed), and her new favorite is Ten Rubber Duckies-a visualy appealing book with a great mix of children represented.

new baby

2010-09-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Finally, after a little bed rest and weeks of false labor, baby boy made it into the world on September 11th- 3 weeks early weighing a healthy 8pounds 2ounces.
At first we were saddened that September 11th-a day associated with shock, horror and grief-will be a day of celebration for our child. But then we looked at the upside-our family will never forget his birthday!
Check out this article from babble on a Sept. 11th birthday here.

Quoted

2010-09-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Image by kevindooley via Flickr

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.

-- Anne Frank

baby preperation

2010-08-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

We are on the home stretch for baby number two and have been for some time trying to prepare our 2 year old for a new baby in the house. We bought an adorable backpack that she can take to grandma's house and have been talking about baby brother....that he is in my tummy and soon will come home with us from the hospital. I started looking for books that would help and found this great one featuring a family of different hues: We Have A Baby. She loves it and we'll see how she does with a new baby!

On Being asked if your child is yours....

2010-08-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

From the Motherlode blog-scroll down to a guest post titled A Questionable Question, in which the author explains her feelings on the question "Is That Your Baby?". I love the end of her post:

I know that the question isn’t coming from a malicious place. Maybe these folks are just trying to figure out the nature of my son’s curly hair. Who knows? But I plan to find out. The next time the question is floated my way, instead of seething, I plan on seeking out some answers by making a few queries of my own. The first being, “I’m curious, why did you ask me that?”

Positive TV

2010-08-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

USA Today reports that Dora the Explorer is a "rare positive role model for preschoolers" in this article.

My daughter is a big fan, I love the bilingual teaching and I do think Dora's adventures provide good modeling for a modern girl. However, it kills me that I know the theme song and it plays through my head at random and completely inappropriate times. The life of a parent I guess!

Race Exhibit- in MN and around the country.

2010-08-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

Mayo Clinic and the Rochester Public Library are partnering to bring the national touring exhibit
RACE: Are we so different? to Rochester, Minn.
The exhibit will be on display at the library from May through September 2010.
For more information, see:

About the exhibit

History
Sorting people by physical differences is a recent invention. Discover how the development of the idea of race is closely linked to the early development of the United States.
Human variation
Racial and ethnic categories, which have changed over time, are human-made. We now know that human beings are more alike genetically than any other living species.
Lived experience
Discover that race and racism is not inside our heads, but in fact is built into our laws, traditions and institutions.

For more information, see RACE Web site.

I'm excited to see this-- I didn't realize it was in Rochester since May!
Exhibit information around the country can be found here.

Children's Book Resource

2010-08-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

A resource for Children's Multiracial books................here.

What books are you reading in your household?
We have been in a bit of a rut, The Big Red Barn, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Good Night Gorilla
Over and over again, every night.
Time to buy some new books I think!

Baby Names

2010-07-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Naming my son (due date in 2 months!) has been a task that my husband and I haven’t completed. It doesn’t help that the lovely list of names he came up with for us to discuss has been lost by me not once but twice-and this time I fear for good. I can only remember one name on the list. He is not happy. But really, what do you expect when you give a pregnant woman who can barely remember her own name a post-it note?

I came across this article on naming your multiracial child.

We specifically chose a Finnish name for our daughter to honor the strong cultural roots that I grew up with.

For our son though, it has been much harder...and the search continues.

diversity on a rug

2010-07-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Check out this lovely rug by designer Sheila Bridges.

Sheila Bridges, a Manhattan interior designer, has reinterpreted the traditional floor cloth, using images “that are more reflective of our diverse population,” she said.
Her new floor cloths depict children of various ethnicities; in one version, above, two girls play hopscotch. Each piece is custom-designed, so the children’s hair and skin color can be specified by the customer.

Too expensive for me, but I am loving everything she does. In particular her use of diverse children.
Check out the wallpaper!

Blogging

2010-07-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

The upside of writing a blog:
I have become

more appreciative of writers

Writing is hard work! I have a new-found appreciation for writers and the great bloggers who write every day, and recognize the art in writing as I never have before.

more aware of race issues in the news

I love reading, I love keeping up on the news, and I actively seek out articles that might be of interest to other like minded people.

more vocal on calling people out on their words and actions

I made a vow after the birth of my daughter to try and be better at this. It is hard for me, I like to keep the peace and make sure everyone is comfortable- but realize that keeping myself comfortable is more important. A recent call out: Why was it important to mention that your teacher was out with "a random black man"- what do you mean by that? But, I haven't been perfect: At a lovely dinner this summer a woman commented that she didn't know why there were band-aids for different skin tones-it must be because they didn't stick as well. I managed to say in a neutral tone of voice, that actually there are some brands that have risen to the occasion- while inside screaming- What? You think people with different skin tones have skin that is physically different than yours- like maybe it is covered in a slimy substance or something?!!! aaaaa!!!!!!

Happy July 4th Weekend!

2010-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Image by ImageBang! via Flickr

The more freedom we enjoy, the greater the responsibility we bear, toward others as well as ourselves.
-- Oscar Arias Sanchez

Watching Roots in 2010 | Parade.com

2010-06-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Check out the article (link below) from Parade magazine, from Sunday's paper. The writer reminds people that three decades after Roots aired, it still is relevant and important.
I haven't seen the series- the book is one of my all time favorite books.
This article reaffirmed my need to watch the series, but will have to wait until after pregnancy.
While pregnant and for awhile after, my hormones are crazy and I can barely read the paper without crying.

Watching Roots in 2010 | Parade.com

Something to do this weekend...

2010-06-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

Image by ...-Wink-... via Flickr

For the entire month of May, this blog from one of the creators of Mixed Chicks Chat; Heidi Durrow--is dedicated to Mixed Experience History Month. A short profile is given of a wide variety of multicultural or multiracial people, highlighting their achievements. Check it out!

Loving Day

2010-06-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Argh! I've missed Loving Day again!
My only excuse is that I am crazy busy around this time of year, trying to meet work deadlines.

For those who don't know: Loving Day is held on June 12, celebrating a 1967 Supreme Court decision that allowed for interracial marriages. Loving Day is named due to the last name of an interracial couple who married in 1958 and were arrested --Mildred Loving was Black and Richard Loving was White. They only avoided jail time by leaving the State of Virginia. More information is found on my blogroll- see Loving Day.
If you peruse the site, you'll see a map showing which States interracial marriage was illegal. In 1958 for example, 24 states still had laws that prohibited mixed race marriage.

Ahh, High School

2010-06-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

A favorite site of mine- Jezebel - recently posted the question below.........the ensuing discussion by Jezebel staffers and the readers of Jezebel is fantastic!

Rachel Simmons, advice columnist to Teen Vogue, sent Jezebel an interesting query from one of her readers. The question? "I Like Him, But What If He's Not Into Black Girls?"

Agh. I hated high school. It wasn't until college that I felt comfortable in my own skin. I didn't ever think about if guys were into "brown" girls, but I did worry about what the guys parents thought.

Kids that do better

2010-06-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

An article in Time Magazine on a study of children with lesbian parents:

Although active involvement isn't unique to lesbian households, Gartrell notes that same-sex mothers tend to make that kind of parenting more of a priority. Because their children are more likely to experience discrimination and stigmatization as a result of their family circumstances, these mothers can be more likely to broach complicated topics, such as sexuality and diversity and tolerance, with their children early on. Having such a foundation may help to give these children more confidence and maturity in dealing with social differences and prejudices as they get older.

Quoted

2010-06-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

Image by Brian Fitz via Flickr

"It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate."
-- James Baldwin

Interracial marriage in the military

2010-06-02T05:08:00.000-07:00

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

On Monday, inspired by Memorial Day and thinking of the Military, I wondered what the percentage of Multiracial individuals in the Military was. I couldn't find a statistic, but in researching that question, I came upon this article discussing the prevalence of interracial marriages in the Military and the high level of acceptance.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend.

Interracial Marriages

2010-05-29T19:28:00.001-07:00

A census report on interracial marriages show that growth while still rising, is not risng as fast as it has in the past, and that multiracial Americangs are growing.

Due to increasing interracial marriages, multiracial Americans are a small but fast-growing demographic group, making up about 5 percent of the minority population. Together with blacks, Hispanics and Asians, the Census Bureau estimates they collectively will represent a majority of the U.S. population by mid-century. Still, many multiracial people - particularly those who are part black - shun a "multi" label in favor of identifying as a single race.By some estimates, two-thirds of those who checked the single box of "black" on the census form are actually mixed, including President Barack Obama, who identified himself as black in the 2010 census even though his mother was white.

The estimate of 2/3 is interesting-I wouldn't have guessed so high. I've been asked only occasionally why I don't identify soley as Black and have felt that my explanation of not wanting to deny any part of me has been met with understanding and acceptance. I have to guess that President Obama's choice was purely political, although maybe my understanding and perception of the openeness of a Multiracial label is skewed!

The full article can be found on MSNBC.

teaching racism?

2010-05-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

The Arizona's contriversial immigration law is addressed by a blogger asking if it teaches racism to our children.
An excerpt:

....And what about American children of Latino ethnicity? The most dangerous aspect of a racist culture isn't any overt act of discrimination. Instead, it is a personal sense of feeling "less than" created in early life through media messages and the like. Are we teaching some American children that they are less valuable? Full post here.

I think the author raises some valid points, parents do need to be aware of how a topic so widely discussed as this will be perceived by their children.

Hair. a Rant.

2010-05-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

So, I can't help it. I am annoyed when I read message boards that are full of people saying they don't know what to do with their children's mixed race hair. I understand they are looking for help and a place to vent- but to me, when I read the hair cries for help- I imagine the parents trying to force their children's hair into what they believe it should look like or lay like. Few seem to want to let the hair do its natural thing and throw around the hated words-nappy and frizzy. Oh and by the way, your children hearing you talk about how you can't do anything with their hair and how it won't lay right- talk about reducing self esteem and teaching self hate.
Hair parents: approach it like anything else you know nothing about but want to learn-- read about it, research and experiment.
Here is a start from Tightly Curly- a biracial woman's site on curly hair:

A kids answer on race bring mother to tears

2010-05-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

(CNN) - A 5-year-old girl in Georgia is being asked a series of questions in her school library. The girl, who is white, is looking at pictures of five cartoons of girls, all identical except for skin color ranging from light to dark.
When asked who the smart child is, she points to a light-skinned doll. When asked who the mean child is she points to a dark-skinned doll. She says a white child is good because "I think she looks like me", and says the black child is ugly because "she's a lot darker."
As she answers her mother watches, and gently weeps.
Her daughter is taking part in a new CNN pilot study on children's attitudes on race and her answers actually reflect one of the major findings of the study, that white children have an overwhelming bias toward white, and that black children also have a bias toward white but not nearly as strong as the bias shown by the white children.

Amazing right? I missed the show, but you can see multiple videos and summaries on the Anderson Cooper 360 blog.

Paper Dolls anyone?

2010-05-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

This paper doll kit is adorable, from one of my favorite stores- Paper Source.
I love the wide variety of skin tones!

Quoted

2010-05-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Image by tomeki28 via Flickr

I'm not alone, I'm free. I no longer have to be a credit, I don't have to be a symbol to anybody; I don't have to be a first to anybody.
Lena Horne

bullying at school

2010-05-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

A blog post on the bullying of children at school:

http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/two-little-boys/#more-597

Top three reasons why children are called names, harassed or bullied according to a 2005 report:

they are or people think they are gay, lesbian or bisexual,
how masculine or feminine they are,
their race or ethnicity.

I was surprised that homophobic bullying was listed so high on all the polls in this report-but then again, sometimes I feel as though I live in a bubble. I'd be curious how Minneapolis would rank with it reputation as a gay-friendly city.

Babble's Ten Things Adoptive Parents Shouldn't Say

2010-04-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

Advice for adoptive parents on Babble. The lists has a focus on race: stereotyping, culture, and on being color blind. Seems like common sense, but I have heard similar comments from adoptive parents. Guaranteed they aren't thinking about their children or the long term impact it could have on them.
Ten Things

Quoted

2010-04-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

“Racism isn't born, folks, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list."
Denis Leary

race and children

2010-04-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

A nice article from the Greater Good, by Allison Briscoe-Smith, a psychologist, on how children learn about race and how parents can foster tolerance. Briscoe-Smith starts off with a story of how a child tried to rub the black off of her and then explains how children seeing race is a good thing-- see below.

....in and of itself, recognizing racial difference is not a cause for alarm—quite the opposite, in fact. For years, studies have found that children who recognize these kinds of differences from an early age show a stronger general ability to identify subtle differences between categories like color, shape, and size—which, in turn, has been linked to higher performance on intelligence tests. Researcher Francis Aboud has found that children between the ages of four and seven who show this advanced ability to identify and categorize differences are actually less prejudiced. So parents, rest assured: When children notice and ask about racial differences, it's a normal and healthy stage of development.

Interesting research. My father, who is black, while attending an all white church that we belonged to, used to have children run up to him and touch his arm before running away giggling. Witnessing this as a 5 or 6 year old left me feeling uncomfortable-and similar to the story, it was never spoken about-not by the parents of the giggling children and not by my parents.

Children's Books

2010-04-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

My daycare provider showed me a book they have been reading all week at daycare: Please, Baby, Please.
Totally adorable with great illustrations! This explains the "please, please, please" in really exaggerated tones that I have been hearing on the way home from my little girl.

Thinking of baby names

2010-04-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Image by p!o via Flickr

So, I'm almost at the half way point of my pregnancy, soon I'll know if this baby will be a boy or a girl. We've been thinking of baby names, and I read this great blog post on baby names:
I read a study a few years ago ( I can't find it anywhere) that was about the implications of names on adults. It specifically addressed how employers discriminated based on the names of applicants. This is a similar story that speaks to housing discrimination based on names in the Los Angeles area.
So for the parents out there-- did you choose your childs name thinking about this?

Growing up Multiracial in America

2010-04-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

I've posted about Kip Fulbeck before, and here is a link from the Today show about his new book, Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids.
You can see the video here.

MIA

2010-03-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends:
Sorry for the long absence. I am struggling with Hyperemesis,but expect to have it under control by next week. Happily, the cause and the light at the end of the tunnel is a beautiful baby--I just have to make it through this rough patch.

In the meantime-- I video I meant to post last month during black history month titled: The End of Black History: A Postscript to My Son.

Blessings Project

2010-03-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Look at this lovely photography site.....
The author, elizabeth messina has a lovely post on her "blessings project".

there was a moment when my four year old daughter looked up at me & asked me, “mama, if i scratch my skin….do i look like you underneath?”…my heart dropped to my stomach & i looked at her sweet face….i realized my answer was both yes & no…her brown skin would always be hers…just as my fair skin was mine….yet if you scratched either of us, we would bleed….we are, as all humans are…utterly & in the most important ways, simply the same….we love…we bleed…we dream…we are….

Beautiful pictures and a beautiful post.

Sites to Check Out

2010-02-25T07:01:00.000-08:00

I've found a lot of good sites lately, and will try to feature them one at a time.
The first: Interracial Family OrganizationThis site was inspired by Beth and Terence McKay’s experience of blatant prejudice when their petition for marriage was rejected by a Justice of the Peace in Hammond, LA simply because their union was of mixed race.
The sites MISSION STATEMENT- To facilitate the cultural recognition of interracial/multicultural families and disassociate this culture from longstanding stigma by exposing and discrediting stereotypes.

My favorite: under topics, articles by different writers on important topics like family, news topics and blended living.

Minority status rethought

2010-02-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

Check out this Newsweek article explaining the history of how people categorize "white". The author explores the point that the white category (as defined by the census) will most likely broaden and people who maybe in the past were considered minorities may in fact become "white".

Quoted

2010-02-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

Image by Martha★ via Flickr

I hope that people will come to realize there is only one "race"-the human race- and that we are all members of it.
~Margaret Atwood

Ten things you can do......

2010-02-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

Image by dmachiavello via Flickr

Be honest: Recognize your own biases and biases through open discussion with others. Examine your own prejudices, biases, and values. Discuss your own experiences of being hurt by prejudice as well as the ways you have benefitted from discrimination.
Be secure: Explore and find realistic pride in your own group identity. Having a sense of your own background and group identity will help reduce anxiety and defensiveness in relation to others. Knowing your own strengths will also help you to see strengths in others.
Be a partner: Work on projects with members of groups different from your own. Working as an equal alongside others from different groups on a common project is one of the best ways to undo prejudice and increase familiarity with others.
Be an anti-racist parent: Expose your children to diversity at a young age. Children can benefit from knowing other children from different groups at very early ages, before prejudices and biases get in the way of their making contact.
Be a role model: Be vocal in opposing racist views and practices. And don't just criticize, but help educate others about issues and about your own experiences.
Be an ally: Support victims of discrimination and prejudice. Offer support on whatever level you can. For example, offer yourself as a mentor for someone in your field of work.
Be an activist: Challenge "top-down" or institutional racism. Work to reduce institutional discrimination and prejudice in government, corporations, the media, and other institutions.
Be a member: Support anti-prejudice and anti-racist organizations. Click for a partial list of a some organizations or find one that addresses an issue particularly important to you.
Be a teacher: Teach tolerance. Fight prejudice and racism by proactively teaching understanding, openness, and conflict resolution skills. (The Teaching Tolerance magazine is one resource for teachers and others to get ideas and resources--it is put out by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Be a student: Educate yourself and others. Reading books, seeing movies, going to hear speakers about the experiences of other groups is an enjoyable way to increase understanding and empathy.

No Difference Between Them

2010-02-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

Check out this book by Robert Kalman- Great portraits of mixed race couples.

Black History Month

2010-02-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

An interesting article on Black History Month. Should it continue or not? An excerpt below:

Andrew P. Jackson, president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. “By now we shouldn’t have to remind anyone of the contributions of black people.

"We should be past that, but we're not. Not until you can go to school and not have to take African American classes, not until you can go to classes and learn about Langston Hughes as part of American literature instead of African American literature.”

I agree with Mr. Jackson, but I am still of the mindset that the attention and media coverage brings good information to people. Your thoughts?

The Browning of America-Part One

2010-01-30T21:07:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure to attend a cultural competence workshop titled: The Browning of America: Learning to Appreciate and Embrace Diversity. The speaker: Dr. White-is affectionately known as the "Godfather of Black Psychology".
It was really great- really thought provoking and really, much, much too short.
Dr. White was equal parts charming and informative. I could go on and on.....but then this would be a really long post. So- I'll break it into parts and leave you with my thoughts.
The First:

In speaking of Multiculturalism: A broader term inclusive of individuals who may identify by race and/or by (a) intersecting identities such as gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, different ability, size, social class and by (b) by different ways of life (Quaker communities, etc.). White, J.L. and Henderson, S.J. (2005).

This definition is much broader than I have defined for the purposes of this blog, but I came to understand the purpose of such a broad definition is to encourage everyone- and everyone fits into one if not multiple categories-to be open to your own biases and to be open to understanding the viewpoint of someone who is culturally different than you.

Important thoughts to have as the world gets smaller and smaller and people connect in new and different ways.

Movie- Away We Go

2010-01-26T19:10:00.000-08:00

Cover of Away We Go

I've wanted to watch Away We Go since it first came out- I was really excited when I heard the main characters were an interracial couple- John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph.
I really enjoyed the movie. It was refreshing, race was mentioned but not dwelled upon. It was just a natural portrayal of a young couple, unexpectedly pregnant and trying to find their way.
One take on the movie and something we can hope for:

.........the married screenwriters, Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida (both novelists and magazine publishers), reflect a society in which race is no longer the primary defining characteristic.

-from Roger Ebert. The full review below. .

Children's Books

2010-01-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

Lately my daughter has been really into pointing out babies or other little people. So, it makes sense that her new favorite book is Global Babies.She loves looking at the different faces, and I love the exposure she is getting to different skin colors and clothing styles.

Plus, how can you argue with their philosophy?

The development of each Global Fund for Children book is influenced by three guiding principles:
•   to present positive images and stories of children;
•   to promote cultural diversity; and
•   to foster global citizenship.

These books integrate children’s perspectives and inspire young readers to explore diverse cultures and global understanding. Children learn to respect differences as well as appreciate the values and oneness that bind us together as human beings.

Adult Book Shelf

2010-01-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

Finally, after a bit of a break I've started back on my reading list.Caucasia by Danzy Senna was such a fabulous read that I finished in only a few days.
Set in Boston in the 1970s, the novel explores racial identity of two biracial girls and the family dynamics of an interracial couple (the mother is white and the father is black). The main character, a young girl named Birdie becomes aware of the fact that although she and her sister Cole are extremely close, others don't see them the same way because of their physical differences.

"Her (Cole's) hair was curly and mine was straight, and I figured that this fact must have had something to do with.............. the way that eyes of strangers flickered surprise, sometimes amusement, sometimes disbelief, when my mother introduced us as sisters."

The book follows Birdie from around age 8-15, and gives you a great sense of the strong and unbreakable bond between the sisters. A great read, especially if you are interested in books exploring biracial identity.

MN Bloggers Unite!

2010-01-20T18:41:00.000-08:00

I attended a great event last night, the first MN volunteer blogger event, organized by TheMarketingMama. I met bloggers who I've chatted with online (Amelia Sprout and the fabulous May and Kay from Cribsheet), and others who are newly discovered (Prior Fat Girl, the winner of the best buisness card-Girl Meets Geek, and many, many others). After meeting and eating, everyone gathered at Feed My Starving Children.
Some quick facts:

Every day, 18,000 children in the world die from starvation
The food we packed will feed 38 kids a meal a day for one year
The packs we helped with are on their way to Haiti
Feed my Starving Children is faith based, but was respectful of all faiths/beliefs

A great event, I can't wait for future events!

On the Calendar

2010-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

After a brief period of relaxation after the Holiday season, I am ready to gear up again.
Events I am looking forward to this month:

On Monday, Martin Luther King Day- celebrating at the Midtown Global Market
On Tuesday, The Minnesota Blogger Volunteer Event, organized by Marketing Mama. I am excited to meet local bloggers and to find out more about Feed My Starving Children.
Rock the Cradle 2010 on Saturday January 25th

Image via Wikipedia

Quoted

2010-01-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

L'union fait la force -- Unity is strength
~National Moto of Haiti

Health

2010-01-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

My little girl is 20 months old. Time flies by. She is Hilarious. Healthy. Happy. She was born almost 5 weeks early and despite a 5 day stay in the hospital, has completely made up for her early birth and is average or above average on all the normal tests. We were so lucky.
Other families are less so, but could be made so with help.
This story raises awareness of bone marrow transplants, the need for more donors and the difficulty in finding a match for mixed race recipients. Excerpts from the article:

"It's difficult with Maya because she comes from a mixed genetic background," Chamberlin says. "I myself am from India, and my husband is Caucasian — German and English descent — so the combination of the two is making it more difficult to find a match."

Chamberlin says the perfect match for her daughter could have a completely different genetic background.

"I don't want the listeners to think, that, you know, 'I'm not mixed, I'm Caucasian. My marrow is not going to match; therefore, I'm not going to register.' But listen, Maya is one child. There are many, many kids that are waiting."

Beautiful Movie Trailer

2010-01-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Check out this documentary, to be released in April: 4 babies in 4 parts of the world. From the preview it is so clear-- despite different cultures, our skin color, where we live, who we live with, we are all the same.

Spotted on Cribsheet.

Experience of a Biracial Man Adopted by a White Family

2010-01-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

From MSNBC, The Daily Nightly blog: an article on interracial adoption and the most fabulous video. The son and mother offer great advice for those adopting and adopted children-- but their message could be applied to every parent. Seriously. This video made me smile.

Mixed Race Around the World: Britan

2009-12-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

An article from a British newspaper reveals that:

One in 10 children in the UK now lives in a mixed-race family..... raising future hopes of a non-racist Britain.
Mixed-race relationships are now so common that some ethnic groups - starting with African-Caribbean - will virtually disappear, the research states. Young people are six times more likely to be mixed-race as adults. Experts believe the findings........ mean that future generations "will not see race in the way we see it".
Lucinda Platt, author of the report and an academic at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at Essex University, describes the shift towards a mixed-race Britain as "dramatic".

Chinese and African American in China

2009-12-27T18:55:00.000-08:00

A biracial woman in China causes a stir:

There are 56 different recognized ethnic groups in China, but more than 90 percent of the population is Han Chinese. So people who look different stand out.
"We lived in a small circle before," said her mother. "But after Lou was seen nationwide, some Chinese people couldn't accept her."
It has been a shocking ordeal for someone who says she always considered herself just like every other Chinese girl.
"Sometimes people on the street would ask me, 'Why do you speak Chinese so well?' I'd just say, 'Because I'm Chinese!'" Lou said.

The video clip below explains further. I love how her classmates and teachers rally around her, and I find it a really interesting look into what may be cultural differences- Lou didn't really question her different appearance most of her life and at least in the video does not express an interest in learning more about her African American heritage. She identifies as Chinese. As a testament to her mother -she appears to be a well-rounded, confident, young woman.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

Obama Ornament

2009-12-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

A Minnesota designer, David Strand, has made a President Obama ornament.
Its titled the"Whole World in His Hands". What do you think?

Christmas Traditions

2009-12-22T19:13:00.000-08:00

Wow. Posting is really, really hard to do in December.
Forgive my absence.

Image via Wikipedia

I've been thinking about holiday traditions. Over Thanksgiving, I was able to see old family videos from when my hubbie's sister was a baby. They have a 15 year age difference, and it was great to see how much fun everyone had at Christmas. A fair amount of time was spent laughing hysterically at the hair, glasses and clothing. But still.

So. Our new resolution is to film the Christmas celebrations we have with family, starting this year.
First order of buisness: charge the camcorder.
Second order of business: find the cord.
Third order: order a new cord with expedited shipping!

Raising a Child Who Respects Difference: Raising a Child Who Respects Difference

2009-12-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

I'll be the first to admit, I don't find Parents magazine particularly inspiring or on the top of my to read list. However, since I received a gift subscription I keep a stash to read on long car trips. As I started paging through the December issue, imagine my surprise when I found an excellent article on parenting and race.

Raising a Child Who Respects Difference: Raising a Child Who Respects Difference

Its a great article, with tips and guidance-a few excerpts are below.

We don't talk about race and difference enough. Parents of color may wish to avoid painful discussions -- but then they don't prepare their children for handling racist comments that may come their way. White parents often stay mum because they fear they'll say something offensive. Thanks to this misguided censorship, kids think race is a loaded subject and that translates to "something bad."

Books and festivals are great -- but true respect sinks roots when diversity comes in the form of friends and neighbors. "I've been thinking about this for a long time, and I believe that modeling is more powerful than teaching," says Cynthia Garcia Coll, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Brown University who focuses on the role of ethnicity on children's development and is herself Puerto Rican. "As a parent, if I have diverse friends then my kids will take diversity for granted."

Santa

2009-12-09T18:55:00.000-08:00

Image by Orin Zebest via Flickr

The first time I saw a black Santa, I was in St. Lucia eating Christmas dinner about five years ago. It was, I admit a shock, all my life I have only seen the white Santa. Love Isn't Enough has a post Why not a black Santa, and the editor's note on the bottom makes sense. She was taught that Santa could look like any of the children that he visits. Simple- I like it.

Multicultural Minneapolis

Spiderman, spiderman........

Quoted

Adult Book Shelf

Daycare and Dolls

Beautiful Art

Classic Beauty Across Cultures

Quoted

Americans-by race

50th Anniversary- Freedom Rides

Quoted

Obama and the Birth Certificate.

Teaching Children about Slavery-for Educators

Happy Easter

To Check Out

Advice for parents from Bicultural Mom

Mixed Race Profile, Langston Hughes

Food and Culture-intetwined

Quoted

Mixed Race Population in the US-Growing!

Talking About Race

Inspiration

Adult Book Shelf

Skin Tones

Quoted

Chrildren's Book Shelf

Mixed Reality

Black History Month

Related articles

Blog Talk Radio-I'm Interviewed!

Best New Artist

1 in 7

Quoted

Where Are You From?

Related link: What are you?: voices of mixed-race young people By Pearl Fuyo Gaskins

Racial Awareness among young children--it starts early!

Related articles

Quoted

TV for Tots That I Can Get Behind

Racial Justice at your Local YWCA

Children's book shelf

Quoted

Happy MLK Day!

At long last........

Hair Love- from Sesame Street

Personalized Growth Chart

counting books

new baby

Quoted

baby preperation

On Being asked if your child is yours....

Positive TV

Race Exhibit- in MN and around the country.

About the exhibit

Children's Book Resource

Baby Names

diversity on a rug

Blogging

Happy July 4th Weekend!

Watching Roots in 2010 | Parade.com

Something to do this weekend...

Loving Day

Ahh, High School

Kids that do better

Quoted

Interracial marriage in the military

Interracial Marriages

teaching racism?

Hair. a Rant.

A kids answer on race bring mother to tears

Paper Dolls anyone?

Quoted

bullying at school

Babble's Ten Things Adoptive Parents Shouldn't Say

Quoted

race and children

Children's Books

Thinking of baby names

Growing up Multiracial in America

MIA