Black History Month

You Are Really Brown

A Child’s Perspective on Race

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than it’s opposite.” — Nelson Mandela

My new friend’s four-year-old son looked at me as I sat down to eat dinner at his house.

The little boy came over, stood next to me, and rubbed my arm. “You are really brown,” he said.

His parents gasped and reached for him. I put my hand up to stop them. I smiled and put him on my lap. He squirmed around and looked into my eyes. “Do you like it?” I said. He solemnly shook his head yes. “Your eyes are brown too; if your eyes were yellow and brown, you would be like my teddy bear,” he said.

I told the child my dark brown eyes matched my brown skin. He was satisfied and climbed off my lap. We ate dinner, laughed, and talked, including with the four-year-old. As he left for bed, he said, “You can come to my house again. You can bring your brown friends.” I told him I would.

Toni Crowe retired to pursue her dream of being a writer. Toni has written six books. Her bestselling business book, ‘Bullets and Bosses Don’t Have Friends’ won a Gold Readers Award.

Visit My Facebook Community | Subscribe to My Newsletter | Visit My Website