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What A 3-Year-Old Taught Me About Racism
The truth about salt and pepper
I was 6 years old when I was introduced to racism.
It happened in first grade. Before my elementary school was predominantly black. Before white flight. Susie introduced me to it.
A chubby white girl with brown hair and a round face. She wasn’t the nicest kid. In fact though I can’t recall having issues with most kids my age back then, Susie made it a point to remind me that she didn’t like me.
Imagine a 6-year-old coming home to unsuspecting parents in tears because, “Susie said that Ronald Regan is sending all black people to the moon.”
I was terrified. This was what Susie said to me early on in the school year of first grade.
Ronald Regan is sending all black people to the moon.
I didn’t understand why he wanted black people to go to the moon.
Why would all black people have to go to the moon? How were we going to get there? Would I see my friends there? Would it be safe there? I didn’t want to go. I was mortified.
My mom assured me that I had nothing to worry about and that there was no way possible for all black people to be sent to the moon. Mom’s words and affection brought me comfort, but 30 years later I’m still…
