Happy MLK

I think MLK would be proud, because somewhere in the South, a little boy not only believes that the races are equal, but that black is superior to white.  America, we've come along way.

The boy is, of course, mine and, at 5 years old, he says his biggest dream is to be African American.  This cracks me up every time.  Garrett is not at all joking, and after a month of his father and I explaining how God makes skin in a rainbow of colors (and with the exception of Michael Jackson, you pretty much are what you are), he's just now starting to realize his dream will never come true.  Sigh.

On a side note, the fact that it has taken 4 weeks of almost daily conversation to explain something like this is overwhelming to me as a parent.

G has said so many hillarious things on the subject that I don't even know where to start.  It pretty much goes without saying that this whole thing stems from an obsession with basketball, because everything does.  I've told you all that bball is life around here right now, and I'm not kidding.  Someone asked him over to play the other day and Garrett looked them square in the eye and said, "I'm sorry, but you know how busy I am with basketball."  I bet you are not surprised to know that my basketball sports knowledge would not fill up a post-it note, but in the few ESPN clips and Youtube videos I've watched with my little fan, it's not hard to imagine how he would equate dark skin with skill.

Garrett's favorite player

That's the beauty of youth....he calls things like he sees them...free of predjudice or any preconcieved ideas....free of fear of offense or political correctness.  He can say anything he wants (within reason), and the boy says he wants to be black.  "Without stamps." (fyi, this is 5 year old speak for 'tattoos')

Here are a few other doozies of the last month,

"When I grow up, can I be African American?"

"I don't want us to adopt a brother, because he'd be african american and I wouldn't."

"Mommy, did you used to be African American?"

"I was hoping and thinking that when I got to slap the players hands before the game, I'd turn black."

"Daddy, will you draw me as an african american?"


"How about I go to Africa and get my skin painted?"  


Lets out the biggest sigh I've ever heard and says,  "I guess my dream is never going to come true."


Love that boy!! He's pure and innocent (except for all the times he's sinful and disobedient:).  I'm really, really thankful to raise children in this day and age instead of one before and hopeful that their children will never know a day of discrimination or inequality.