From Devontes mom: An elderly man was standing at the end of the bagging area conversing with the woman checking us out. He spots our son – looks him up and down. Man: I can tell you are going to be a baseball player when you grow up. Son: *Pauses, tilts his head and gives a closed mouth grin* Actually, no. Baseball isn’t really my thing. Man: Well, I can tell you are going to be a ball player. Son: (As his mom, I can tell there is a slight frustration inside of him) No, I don’t even play baseball. Checkout lady: Oh, I bet you’re going to be a basketball or soccer player then! Son: No, I don’t play any sports. It’s just not my thing. There’s nothing wrong with sports or anything, I just have other interests. Checkout lady: (in a befuddled nearly astonished voice) WHAT!?!? I have NEVER met a kid that looks(!!!) like you that doesn’t play sports. Man: *chuckling* Right?! never. They all do! ***My face was as red as my hair at this point. It was so obviously clear what was happening. While I wanted so badly to step in and protect my son from the ongoing racial stereotyping, I didn’t. I let him step into his own power and he handled it brilliantly*** Son: Well, of course you’ve never met a kid like me. I’m one of a kind. There’s not another person like me. Man: Well, what do you want to be when you grow up? Son: I’m here to help people. I’m here to inspire. Now. Man: Oh, so you’re going to be a doctor? (as he laughed while he said it – not kidding) Son: No, I’m not. Man: Well, being a doctor is the best way to help people. What are you going to do to help and inspire people? Son: (putting the last of the bags in the cart) I’m going to be myself. No matter how much people try to make me something I am not. Have a great night! *flashes ginormous smile* “I think this kid will be alright. No matter what is tossed at him,” Jen says. Jen hopes the question, what do you want to be when you grow up? extinguishes from our cultural lexicon. “Perhaps we can replace it with questions that don’t catapult children 20 years into the future. What are you passionate about? What inspires you? What excites you? What makes you feel good? “I think society needs all the reminders they can get that they are not defined by their careers. And for the love of the universe, let’s not categorise abilities by skin tone. Let’s move forward, shall we?”
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:18:59 +0000
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