I recently saw a photograph of multicultural crayons. They represented many different Skin tones. Every crayon of every skin tone was labeled “Flesh.” I thought that was awesome because I remember when I was a girl and the “Flesh” crayon was only similar to my skin tone but not similar to other children in my class. Power and privilege cause us to create things like one flesh toned-peach crayon, make statements and have opinions that reflect only the majority.
Children see differences. A very common question from children in the early childhood years is about skin tone. Unfortunately, many people were led to believe that a kind and inclusive response is to tell children that there is no difference, we are all alike and dismiss their curiosity. Denying that people are different is part of your power and privilege – it says, “We don’t need to learn about you.”
We cannot Teach Children to value differences, be curious, learn about different ways of living and value many viewpoints of the world while we are saying that what they see doesn’t exist.
We need to acknowledge and discuss the differences in the skin tone of all the people in the room when they notice. We need to tell them that skin is skin – all skin protects our bodies and yes, it comes in many colors. We need to encourage them to ask about each other, to value learning about each other’s backgrounds, practices and cultures.
We need to teach children to categorize people by the goodness of their actions and that there are good people of all different races, religions, genders.
Our classrooms need to reflect many cultures and the diversity that exists in the world. Our attitude has to be that of a learner. Teach them that we will not be so superior that we will deny people their heritage by saying, “We are all alike.” Instead, demonstrate that you love to learn about different people.
We are not all alike. We need to teach children that different people have different customs, holidays, traditions, rituals, values and opinions based on their culture…. And all cultures are welcome. Children need to see that all cultures have value and they make our world a better and far more interesting place.
I am likely not like you. I am both majority and minority.
I personally have a tenuous relationship with power and privilege. I am white (privilege and power), financially comfortable enough (privilege and power) but Jewish and female. I am a religious minority and I experience the distaste for strong, ambitious and achieving women. I can walk into a room and blend into the religious majority, but I would never want to.
I am not the same as someone who is Christian. I have my own beautiful holidays, rich traditions and deeply held beliefs…. As does someone who is Muslim or Hindu or Sikh.
We are not all alike and that is a beautiful thing.
You may also want to read When #lovewins, So Does Future Generations and Teaching about Thankfulness While Respecting Cultures
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