Horrified, as a mother

It all turned out just to be the way we humans are, but here is my story.

In the car, Joey and I usually have great conversations, or we sing or pretend.  But, one day I wanted to hear the news with the recent story of Trayvon.  I explained to Joey I wanted to listen the news about a recent event.  After I listened, Joey asked me what it was about.  I explained (as simply as I could) that there are some concerns because it seems that a man may have shot another man simply based on the color of his skin.  I went into some more detail that if you are defending yourself you will not be in trouble with the law, but it appeared that this man wasn't a threat.  Joey asked what colors the men were.  Then, he asked what color the man was that shot the other man.  I replied, "White."  Joey answered, "Oh good!"    I tried not to panic and asked him why that was good.  In the rearview mirror, I watched him explain as he gently rubbed his arm, "Because that's the color I am!"  No!  This is not the way I have tried to raise Joey.  I thought quickly, "But Daddy is not white, he's a different color - so are Abuela and Tia."  Joey shrugged, "Yeah, but they're family."  I wanted to fix this quickly.  I explained that no person is better than another simply based on color.  I thought of other important people in Joey's life - Erika - his babysitter for four years since birth, two of the teachers in his classroom, some of his classmates.  We talked more about it - hopefully, I have made some progress.

Of course, I kept replaying this event over and over in my head.  I thought of a research study in a book I had read.  It explained it was natural for children to think others are better based simply on similarities to themselves - in this specific study, the children thought certain classmates were better based on the color of the shirts (red or blue) they had been assigned for a period of time.  I realize this will probably be a more extensive lesson than the 10 or so conversations we have had in the past.  I continue learning. . .