ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

I personally think many black families provide their families more than many other families due to their involvement in religion. There is so many ways to enrich our children.

But there are lots of ways our environment is not supporting any of us in our effort to raise healthy, happy, social and intelligent children. I was recently at a training where they addressed the rising number of children with Autism as the new NORMAL. We have gone from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in less than 100. This is affecting all our children. Black, white, yellow, brown. And yet we continue to focus on issue of differences having to do with color and ignore the Elephant in the Room.

This new NORMAL is color blind. It has gone from being a condition of the rich white families to all our families. Obviously rich white families are willing to share something with all of us.

Our congress has recently voted for a bill that will make it unlawful to label foods containing GMOs. Many states have taken up this fight for the rest of us - most have not been successful at requiring labeling but Monsanto has spent a lot of money in each of these states and now has decided that the best defense is a good offense and is going straight to our Federal Government.

So now it is up to all of us to write our Senator and tell them to vote No to HR1599. The Vote will be coming up soon in the Senate. GMOs are not substantially equivalent to regular food and more and more foods are being GMOed - for lack of a better term. WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT GMOS. This does not mean that you can not chose to eat GMOs it is just that those who do not chose to eat GMOs will know which food/foods contain GMOs and which ones do not. GMOs are just the tip of the Iceberg but lets start here and keep going. We owe it to our children.

Black children respond to love, respect, free choices, singin, dancing just like other children do. They are all so different. Each one has to be allowed to blossom their own way. I taught public kindergarten from 1985-98, inner- city of Milwaukee, WI. As a 30 yr old white man teaching young black children, I was going through culture shock sort of like they were, so we held each other's hands through r it all. I will always be grateful for all of the families tha supported my process of learning and teaching. They volunteered in my classroom, and knew I loved their children as my own.

Excellent article! I might add that as a married, Black woman with 5 children much debate remains at the quality of education and equity of opportunity. I am debated on the "culture" of African Americans and their ability to assimilate into mainstream society. These perceptions are made based upon names on applications and addresses alone. I am concerned for my children- they have experienced both private and public schools, and I have supplemented their learning at home, because of the poor standards of both. Now that I've completed graduate school, I was greeted in June by a layoff, due to funding cuts from my employer, and now must survive by my husband's income, a link card, and unemployment. We pay a mortgage for a home that is "underwater," while renting a larger house with enough space for us and my aging mother. I am aware of the possibilities and opportunities of moving from my crime-ridden, yet neatly manicured community, to a nicer suburban, majority-white area; however I am afraid. My fears of police brutality and racial discrimination, in conjunction with "white flight" syndrome have left me despondent, unmotivated to entertain such a move. My fear of rejection has left me frozen in pursuit of employment. We have always worked. My mom has an MSW, but is now a disabled widow. I believe I speak for many by saying, I'm thankful for government assistance, but would much rather have self-sufficiency. Government can't change the hearts and minds of those who choose to hate or discriminate, nor can it restore the confidence and motivation necessary to evoke the courage necessary to achieve self-sufficiency... I've fought through graduate school at DePaul, and overcame many barriers in doing so, but I don't have much fight left in me.. I'm holding my reserves for the challenge of raising my children, wherever and however that may be.

Generational poverty in rural America (whites) and inner cities is a culture with similarities. Desperation is the same regardless of race; color or creed. The government has created a culture of learned helplessness and dependence to keep many of these families trapped in dependence on government.Children learn from the role models of parents/caregivers! The concept of dependent programs for food; clothing vouchers; health programs; assisted housing and other dependent programs is the image the second, third; fourth and fifth; etc generation thinks life is to be in America. Here is a consequence of raising minimum wages- In Seattle when the increased minimum wage increased and legislated to go to $15 in time, the workers are requesting few hours to work. How could that be you ask? The increased wages and same hours will disqualify workers for supplements for housing and medical benefits and other government assistance. Many of the "obstacles" of poverty and access to success are and have been created/designed by a government trying to keep people poor and dependent.

I commend you for writing such an article. I don't know if others have attempted to address the many issues that are faced by being an African American child. African American parents raise resilient, self reliant children. I am glad that you mentioned African American parents may put their children at risk if their parenting methods mirrored those of White Americans. Although this issue is a serious topic for me and it is hard for me not to be critical, I appreciate that the article was written.