This means that last week learning about Dr. King was in lesson plans in schools across the country, including in my granddaughter's kindergarten class. In honor of Dr. King, I offer up what she learned, as told by her to me during a snowy car ride last night.
Me: What did you learn in school today, honey?
Grandchild (GC): We learned all about Martin Lufer King.
Me: Tell me what you learned.
GC: Martin Lufer King was a man who wanted to make things fair for everyone. He was fighting for that and then he got shot. He got shot by a white man. But even though he got shot they still took down all the white signs.
Me: Why do you think the man shot him?
GC: He didn't want things to be fair. He was a white man who didn't want things to be fair.
Me: Did you learn that Martin Luther King was African American?
GC: Yesssss! Grandma!!! (As in, "Duh!")
Me: Did you know that you are African American?
GC: What the??!!! (Truly shocked)
Me: Yes you are. Martin Luther King especially wanted things to be more fair for people who are African American.
GC: Like taking the white signs down.
Me: Exactly. Do you know what your mom is?
GC: A regular person?
From the mouth of babes.
Me: That's right. She's a regular person who is African American like you.
GC: Grandma what are you?
Me: I'm a white American.
GC: Can I be white, too?
Me: You are part of all the colors of people.
GC: I am not! I am light brown. I am right between you and Mommy.
Me: Yes you are right between us. Always. (Emphasis: nestled between us with love)
GC: Grandma did you know we don't have school on Monday to celebrate Martin Lufer King? Can we go ice skating and sledding?
Me: Yes we can. If it's not too cold.
And so we celebrate our dream.
I love this, Ann!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! My pre-school MLK conversation with my mom didn't go quite as well (historical-accuracy-speaking). Something like this, as I recall:
ReplyDelete(MLK Day - I come home from school)
Me: MAMA, do you know who Martin Luther King was?
Mom: Yes honey, I do.
Me: Did you know that he got shocked [shot]? It was horrible!
Mom: Yeah sweetie it was.
(Convo continues, then I come home from school on Presidents Day)
Me: MAMA! We learned about Abraham Lincoln today. Did you know that somebody shocked him?
Mom: I did. Do you know who it was?
Me: Martin Luther King!
(Mom proceeds to clean up this historical/moral mess.)
I got a little bit confused by the proximity of the two holidays. :-/
Korla -- Thanks for sharing your story. Love it! And love hearing about the view from a child how they take in what they are seeing/hearing/learning . The holiday confusion is very funny! Ann
ReplyDelete