| September 2007 |
| Here is the deal. My family lives in an area that is mostly Caucasian. We have Hispanic and Asian neighbors but only a couple of African-American families in our neighborhood of 140+ homes. That was one reason I was excited about our family trip to Philadelphia and Washington DC this summer. I knew that my kids would experience lots of different places and many different types of people. Fortunately for us, we have a 15 year old, special needs daughter who speaks to everyone. So we get to meet lots of really nice people everywhere we go. One day, as we were riding the train into DC, my daughter noticed a lovely African American woman (who I will call Miranda) really getting in to her music. Because Miranda was swaying and moving, my daughter started doing it to. This made Miranda laugh. My daughter interpreted Miranda's laughter as an invitation so, she went and sat by Miranda and said in effect "I can listen to your music with you." Now, most parents would have vetoed what might seem like an invasion of personal space but we have sort of learned to let this kind of thing ride. Miranda was thrilled. For three stops, my daughter and Miranda entertained the entire train by chatting and singing. As I watched this beautiful moment of human connection, it occured to me that the kind of love being shared by my daughter and Miranda was the solution to all the ugly 'isms' that exist in the world. And my little child led me again for the umpteenth time. |