It’s not easy looking back at the
America of 1950’s, but one scene here reminds me of colourism in my schools as
a student and how some children used the local N word to refer to those with
the darkest skin. This was before most of us learned the word "bullying,"
and I'm glad that as a child I didn't care much about my dark complexion as I
was always surrounded by good friends, no matter what shade of brown they were:
light or dark. Sometimes I would also be one of the tallest in class or one of
the officers, and the bullies would cower and walk away when I looked at them.
Just a look. With a poker face. Just to check if they weren’t teasing the
littlest ones who were trying to keep up with my pace as I walked home. And
that was in grade 1. I thought then that I could perhaps be a police officer or
a soldier when I grew up…
Now that kids are (or will soon
be) back in school, I hope that parents, teachers, and caregivers remind
children to look beyond skin colour and be compassionate always, and to stand
up to bullying. Here’s to a fun and safe school year! MLJ/27/08/2022
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