This morning I spoke at an event at Lehigh commemorating the 50th anniversary year of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech. A few people from the university were asked to give a “reflection” on “The Dream.” Here’s what I said.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is surely one of the most quoted sections of MLK’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, and I, like many people, have thought about this idea countless times throughout my life.
Especially since becoming a mother.
Some of you may know that 8 years ago my husband and I adopted our twin sons from an orphanage in Haiti.
Like all moms, I am fiercely protective of my children.
And as a white mom, I am vigilant in constantly doing everything possible to make sure that my black sons are being thought of, and treated, fairly.
I find myself constantly wondering if my boys are being judged by the content of their character, rather than by the color of the skin.
Some of you may also know that 4 years ago, I gave birth to my third child– a blond haired, blue eyed, pale skinned girl.
It has come as a surprise, even to me, that since my daughter’s birth I have found myself thinking of MLK’s quote even more than ever.
I find myself constantly wondering: How much of what is happening, and will happen, in the life experience of my daughter, is the result of the color of her skin, rather than the content of her character?
How much of what people think of her, and how she is treated, is shaped by white privilege?
Over the past 50 years many of us have been inspired by MLK and other great people in our lives to deeply question racism and to stand up against it.
But how often can any of us truly say that we deeply question white privilege and stand up against it?
My personal hope is that in the next 50 years we will put white privilege and the cumulative advantages of whiteness squarely on our radar.
I have a dream that one day my three little children will be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their black and white skin.
<3
amen
I had the privilege of being at a function that Dr. Peggy McIntosh talked about the invisible knapsack that all white people carry. I then took a course from Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum who had us read the article that Dr. McIntosh wrote about white privilege. Growing up, I always thought my white classmates knew about their privileges, and knowingly flaunted it. What I didn’t know at the time was that they were truly unaware of their privilege. Thank you for being the kind of mother you are to your children. They are lucky.
*nodding in agreement*. A great reflection and I truely hope that more and more people choose to recognise this issue and do something about it.
– Kate
Great Post, found your blog today and fell in love. I even dd a post about your family on my blog: http://lunionsuite.com/2013/01/22/a-mothers-mlk-dream-for-her-white-daughter-her-2-black-adopted-haitian-sons/
And posted your story on my Facebook fan-page with over 300 likes already we all agree, you are a very beautiful person with a beautiful family! Stay blessed
Mrs. Wanda
Like!
Thank you!
Recently giving birth to my first child who looks similar to Meera, I was adamant that he not have a European-American name like the rest of my family. I wanted to challenge our society’s racial prejudices based upon names. My husband agreed that we could name him Djembe which comes from the saying, “Everyone gather in peace.” I’ve never felt totally comfortable articulating this decision to use my child’s name as a way to push against prejudice until I read your post about standing up against white privilege. Thank you for giving me the words to express my heart-felt decision.