Dear Parents, Let’s Be Mindful of What We Teach Our Children

Injecting conspiracy theories as knowledge is dangerous

I was recently asked by a prospective client who has a small business to come in and assist him in straightening his little shop up by organizing and creating a clean and efficient flow.

As I sat at one of the tables in the front part of the shop, a man and a ten year old girl came in. The guy was friends with the owner so they went to the back. They left the girl in there with me and she was curious about what I was doing. I was pleasant and began a friendly chat. She asked me plenty of questions including how I felt about the pandemic. I told her how hopeful I was that we were going to survive the big monster.

She looked at me with hope too. And then said;

“You know this thing isn’t even a virus. You and I don’t have to worry about it — it’s supposed to kill White people and wipe them out so Black people can have their coronation as the rightful leaders of the world.”

“What???” I thought to myself in disbelief.

I felt a huge sense of sadness flashing through me as I listened to that young woman spew this kind of rhetoric and hold it as truth. Shocked and careful what to say next I paused for a moment.

I’m not a devoted News fan but I know enough that the virus is affecting people of all races so where did she get this information?

Hmmm, so who told you that?

I asked curiously, wondering where she got that information.

“My dad told me. Don’t you know this?

She asked with disappointment.I ’m not sure if it was because she thought I was ignorant for not being on board with this type of reasoning or I wasn’t woke.I honestly didn’t know what to say. I was dumbfounded.

Luckily people started to come in, for their religious meeting which was about to take place in that shop and because I was done taking my notes, I said my good-byes to the little girl as well as the owner and left. And by the way the girl’s father is Black and her mother is White but is currently raised by her father. She’s a beautiful and intelligent young woman and talented too — she showed me her colorful eye catching artwork of a butterfly which I liked.

Granted everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions. While we had different schools of thought I kept calm even when her father came to the table and continued to say more unappetizing views. It’s always interesting to know what people think.I just listened and removed myself from the conversation.

My son is only two years old, but as a parent I’m sure explaining the current state of affairs to children has got to be difficult, but to teach children conspiracy theories as solid facts is dangerous.

It’s one way to teach our children to be proud to be black so they can be confident and comfortable in their skin, but conspiracy theories need to be kept away from polluting children’s minds. The same way we ask White people to stop polluting their children with hate is the same thing we ought to conduct ourselves.

Racism isn’t just a White people versus Black people it can also be a Black people versus White people. And if we really want positive change then we have a responsibility as parents to feed and nourish our children with love and teach them to love others regardless of how different they are or else this beast called racism will never be slayed.