Maddie was playing in the front yard when I heard her shout, excitedly, "Mom LOOK! There's Africa people!" And then, because she thought I couldn't hear her from where I stood inside the kitchen, she shouted a little louder, "MOM, LOOK! THERE'S AFRICA PEOPLE!"
I'm sure the African family crossing the street at the time thought my little blonde-haired blue-eyed girl was expressing deep-rooted, family-inherited racism, but really she wasn't. She was just SO excited to see some people who looked like, and dressed like the people in the pictures I brought home from Africa. Remember, this is the little girl who believes that EVERYONE should and will be her friend, and the thought of a whole CONTINENT full of people she hasn't met yet just fills her with glee. She especially wants to learn to dance like the Africans on the video I brought home.
Some day, I want to take my little blonde-haired blue-eyed girl to Africa so she can make a few more friends. In the meantime, we'll keep our eyes open for the African family who live in the co-op across the street and maybe take the time to say hello. And perhaps offer an explanation/apology. :-)
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4 comments:
The more I hear about Maddie, the more delightful she seems.
Tee hee. I can just picture her doing that.
I doubt that an apology/explanation will be necessary, Heather. Children as young as Maddie are incapable of racial hatred. Another reason to love her.
She said it as only a 3 year old can express what she was thinking.
I am sure the next time you see them, they will be able to tell that nothing negative was meant. If they indeed thought that, which may not have happened.
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