NYPD_Child

By Paul · November 8, 2011 · 1 Comment
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The mural in the lobby of the 77th Precinct depicts a child shielding itself from the world with the arm of a cop.

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About the author

Paul writes to explore the undeserving privileges gifted to him and inspire others to do the same. This space provides him with an opportunity to inspiring a more equitable and sustainable world. By the amount of cheese he eats, he might also have lactose hyper-tolerance.

One Comment

1. 

   Raphael says:

   March 3, 2012 at 11:55 am

   deManda thank you for your reply your explanation was the best I’ve heard. There are ralley two parts to my concern, although that was not exactly obvious.First was quite literally the use of vulgarities, and demeaning language. There’s a world of potential allies out there that their over-riding concern leading them anti-racist forums and sites are their genuine desire to show the utmost respect to all around them. They will refuse to participate, read, or promote sites that use vulgarities and name-calling of any sort. I might consider those folks prudes, but these are their standards negative and foul language will not prevent them from learning from some very smart people.Second I don’t mean to suggest you should use vague and imprecise language quite the contrary we should be specific. Sorry if I left that impression.Consider when a parent visits a site like this they usually have already established some level of interest in learning about the anti-racist cause. Should we respond to their curiosity by categorizing their lack of diverse children’s literature as part of a “global white supremacist capitalist imperialist patriarchy”? That might seem incredibly precise to you, but to a newcomer and potential ally, it’s anything but precise and likely counterproductive.Think of it this way you already moving at 65 MPH on the anti-racist highway. Others are at a stop in a rear wheel drive car on a wet road nearby. But they can see the highway and are interested in what it’s all about. If we tell them to throw it in gear and floor it, they will spin their wheels.I think I like the concentric circles of influence PureGracefulTree suggests as well because it allows for anti-racist discussion between folks at similarlevels of understanding without stifling the more in depth study of society. If you listened to some of seminars hosted by New Demographic for parents, you’ll hear very specific but gentle language helping people to understand first how different aspects of anti-racist parents are positive for children and society. That’s what I’m talking about.

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