1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2: racial prejudice or discrimination
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the prefix Anti-as:
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the prefix Anti-as:
1a : of the same kind but situated opposite, exerting energy in the opposite direction, or pursuing an opposite policy <anticlinal>
b : one that is opposite in kind to <anticlimax>
b : one that is opposite in kind to <anticlimax>
2a : opposing or hostile to in opinion, sympathy, or practice <anti-Semite> b : opposing in effect or activity <antacid>
3: serving to prevent, cure, or alleviate <antianxiety>
4: combating or defending against <antiaircraft> <antimissile>
We live in a predominantly Caucasian area here in New York. One of our local radio stations, 810 WGY, posted on their facebook page earlier this afternoon about a mayor in Duluth, Georgia who is endorsing the "Un-Fair Campaign". The poster from WGY commented on their facebook page was this "Wow! Thoughts?". Apparently there is also some controversy with this campaign as well.
The term White Privilege was something that I learned about at session from KAAN's Conference in Boston in July 2007. I learned that when I walk down a street, I don't need to worry about being stopped by a police officer and questioned as to why I'm in that neighborhood like other races might experience. I learned that my children would experience white privilege when they are with me...something that I hadn't even thought about before. When they are away from me it is a totally different story and they wouldn't have this privilege.
I'd like to know your thoughts about the Un-Fair Campaign. Right now, I'm glad it is being brought to light and starting up the discussion on racism and more discussion on White Privilege. If you would like to talk more about this subject or other thought provoking ones, please attend the KAAN Conference in Albany, New York July 27 - 29th. I will be attending and hope to see you there!!
~Jen
2 comments:
Jen, I've read your blog off and on. I'm also a Korean-born individual. I have to say that I think you're handicapping your children, with the most recent example being this "white privilege" post. You're setting up your child for always being a victim due to race. I've read the white privilege list several times and do not think it applies to East Asians. I'm a "successful" adoptee, and I credit that to my parents. No dwelling on birth parents, no focus on culture, no white privilege essays.
JMHO.
Hi Anonymous,
I am so glad to hear that you are a successful adoptee. My husband and I do not dwell on the things you mentioned but our children determine what is discussed in our home regarding their First parents, Foster parents, and culture (which includes items being displayed or played with, going to Yahoo Kids Korea and clicking on the stuff in the Infant and Preschool sections, requesting to learn TKD, listening to KPop, and more). Our oldest two children will ask us to discuss their First Mother including identifying info that I do not discuss on here. One of our children discusses their foster mother wondering what she is doing right now, if she misses them, etc. We didn't ask them to go by their Korean names, they at a young age decided that themselves and in certain situations our oldest decides if he is going by his Korean name or not. We didn't make a deal out of it and went with the flow of it notifying our family and the children doctors what name they wanted to be called and how to pronounce it.
Our girls love all of the Disney Princesses but prefer Ariel. Our children requested that Korean items be hung up in our home (stuff like Norigaes, Korean flags, a map of Korea so that they can look at where in the country they were born, etc). I'm just following their lead in this.
I have also seen my son having issues in soccer where the coach skipped over him even though he was in line for the drill. Would this have happened if my son were with me or my husband?? Maybe but maybe not.
I've also had issues with a religious education teacher at our church who called my oldest 2 children "Hey You" instead of the name they requested to be called even though it was on the written registration forms and I had done the names phonetically too on paper and orally each day I dropped them off in the room. She also didn't evenly divide the group of 20 children at the 3 round tables instead allowed most of them to sit at two of the tables with maybe one or two children sitting at the table with my children (saw this with my own eyes several times after my children mentioned they felt lonely in their class because no other child sits with them). When another boy in the class called my son "Sushi Head", he didn't feel comfortable in going to his teacher. This occurred when he was about to turned 7 and didn't feel comfortable with his teacher to mention it to her (my guess is due to the lack of respect for request to be called by his Korean name and her refusal to do so) but told us, his parents, instead to handle the situation which I did by talking to the Director of the PreK to Grade 8 program. It was immediately handled.
We don't dwell on First parents, culture and I certainly do not discuss White Privilege essays with my young children. We however do focus on who loves us (their own questions came up as to where these people are located), how much we love others, learning how things are made, building with Legos, playing with our dogs, playing with the dollhouse and princesses and so much more.
I see how my children are treated by others particularly adults when they are with me and I see how my children are treated when I'm not around them when they are interacting with adults too.
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