Hello Meltingpot Readers,
I hope all of you who celebrate Christmas had a joyous and peaceful holiday yesterday. I did. And I'm still basking in the holiday glow. In other words, today I'm enjoying the peace of the day after the holiday, when there's no place that I have to be, no presents I have to wrap, and last night's leftovers are filling my fridge so I don't even have to cook. Ahh...
But of course I didn't want to leave you, my faithful readers, without your daily dish of Meltingpot goodness. Here's an interesting article that graced the cover of today's Philadelphia Inquirer about Black Mennonites, specifically about Black children who are adopted into White Mennonite families. It's an excellent read and of course raises more questions than it answers.
Take a look and let me know what you think.
Peace!
5 comments:
I read that article too and found it interesting. I was most intrigued by the discussion of what to tell children about the use of the "N" word. I told my kids it's a really hateful word and they shouldn't use it. I wonder what you think of the way that mother in the article handled it?
What a fascinating article. Regarding the N word Andi, I think your explanation is direct and honest, which is really great. The mother who said it just means negro was denying (to herself and her daughter Autumn) the profoundly hateful and derogatory nature of the word. It's great that as an adult Autumn discusses racism with her kids openly, however I think her explanation that "color is only skin deep" is problematic in that it is almost dismissive of difference. While literally color may only be skin deep, it's often the first thing that people notice (your skin covers your entire body it's what people see on your face, your neck, and peeking out of your clothes) and brings with it many deeply embedded cultural/societal assumptions about a person. I think color should be noted and appreciated as opposed to being dismissed (like ppl who say I'm not racist I don't see color). But then again, it's hard when there are so few black or brown-skinned Mennonites. If minorities are not a critical mass, they tend to do their best to blend in and minimize difference.
I am glad to see that some of these kids like the twins are happy and healthy and content.
I wonder what it's like for Rolando, the Latino adoptee...if he has any role models or contact w/ other Latinos.
Here's a brief history of African-American Mennonites. There's even an African American Mennonite Association.
http://www.themennonite.org/issues/13-2/articles/Whats_next_for_AfricanAmerican_Mennonites
There are Mexican Mennonites, both native Mexican and then the Old Colony Mennonites and the offshoots of Reinlander, Sommerfeld, Kleinde Gemende (which my husband and I are--my husband is Mexican, I am Bosnian Croat X Low German)and the Konferenz (EMMC)Mennonites. There are plenty of chances for her Latino child to meet Latino Mennos.
Why they adopt black black children only? it doesn't have any sense.
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