Little Girl: Mommy?
Mother: Yes?
Little Girl: Why did you just tell someone they can’t sit with us?
Mother: Because she is a black woman and black people are not allowed to sit with white people.
Little Girl: She’s black?
Mother: Yes.
Little Girl: It’s the color thing again?
Mother: Yes.
Little Girl: Is color that important?
Mother: Sometimes.
Little Girl: The color of people is important?
Mother: Yes.
Little Girl: Do black people talk differently?
Mother: Sometimes.
Little Girl: Uncle Alfred talks differently. Is he black?
Mother: Good heavens, no.
Little Girl: Are black people bad?
Mother: No more questions please.
Little Girl: Johnny Russell is bad but he’s not black, right? I mean because he sits on the bus with us sometimes.
Mother: That’s enough.
Little Girl: Mommy?
Mother: Yes?
Little Girl: It’s really hard being blind.
Mother: I know dear.
Little Girl: How will I know when someone is black?
Mother: Don’t worry, dear, I’ll teach you.
Copyright © 2006 Robert D. McKinley
All rights reserved.