Posted on 03/15/2017 8:53:44 AM PDT by rightistight
Professor Jennifer Harvey took to the New York Times yesterday to ask: Are We Raising Racists?
She begins her article by recounting how dismayed she was that her daughter admired George Washington. Her daughter was signing the praises of the first President, which surprised Dr. Harvey.
I was dismayed, she writes, that the peace- and diversity-centered curriculum she gets at her public school had left her with such a one-dimensional view of history. Her 7-year-old daughter, she felt, needed to know the whole story.
Eventually, her daughter asked her about news. Professor Harvey, after discussing ethics violations with her 7-year-old, said, Well you know how youve been running around here celebrating George Washington? We always talk about George Washington fighting for freedom. But George Washington also owned black people as slaves.
Dr. Harveys small childs intrigue turned to horror.
Along with the conception of George Washington, Professor Harvey starts to wonder what affect society is having on children. And she pins the blame on parents of white children.
She explains, We know the youngest children internalize racist perceptions of themselves and others And lets be frank, its parents of white children, like myself, who tend to rely on these sincere, but ineffective, strategies.
Instead of teaching toddlers and small children to just be nice to everyone, we need to have them recognize racial meanness and understand that white kids have a particular responsibility to challenge racism.
One-dimensional, generic teachings are tempting, Dr. Harvey writes. They feel easier and safer. Thats the only reason my daughters school would settle for partial truths about George Washington.
But raising children who are resilient for justice and able to do their part to create an inclusive society takes more, especially now.
Just as I suspected. An ugly hippie dyke.
Such a racist he incorporated blacks in his army and freed his slaves—the only founding father who owned slaves to do so. Archaeological digs at slave quarters at Mt. Vernon show he even gave guns to his slaves! Lots of trust there. Not your average Virginian of his day.
Of course George Washington himself was a Virginian, a southerner, so maybe they will rationalize away the hate for America’s heroes that they have helped set in motion. And if not, they can try to escape the blame that they richly deserve.
Professor Harvey WHO?? What’s his last name??? ;)
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