Maddie was playing in the front yard when I heard her shout, excitedly, “Mom LOOK! There’s Africa people!” And then, because she thought I couldn’t hear her from where I stood inside the kitchen, she shouted a little louder, “MOM, LOOK! THERE’S AFRICA PEOPLE!”
I’m sure the African family crossing the street at the time thought my little blonde-haired blue-eyed girl was expressing deep-rooted, family-inherited racism, but really she wasn’t. She was just SO excited to see some people who looked like, and dressed like the people in the pictures I brought home from Africa. Remember, this is the little girl who believes that EVERYONE should and will be her friend, and the thought of a whole CONTINENT full of people she hasn’t met yet just fills her with glee. She especially wants to learn to dance like the Africans on the video I brought home.
Some day, I want to take my little blonde-haired blue-eyed girl to Africa so she can make a few more friends. In the meantime, we’ll keep our eyes open for the African family who live in the co-op across the street and maybe take the time to say hello. And perhaps offer an explanation/apology. 🙂
The more I hear about Maddie, the more delightful she seems.
Tee hee. I can just picture her doing that.
I doubt that an apology/explanation will be necessary, Heather. Children as young as Maddie are incapable of racial hatred. Another reason to love her.
She said it as only a 3 year old can express what she was thinking.I am sure the next time you see them, they will be able to tell that nothing negative was meant. If they indeed thought that, which may not have happened.