I just have to wonder if the time will ever come when an interracial or transracial family is no big deal, not newsworthy, no cause for jokes and snide remarks.
I guess I was naïve enough to think that we had become used to bi racial families. After all, President Obama is bi-racial as our many popular celebrities.
I was really surprised that MSNBC anchor Melissa Harris-Perry thought it was okay to poke fun at Mitt Romney’s adopted African American grandson.
If the media is okay with this type of banter and joking, what type of teasing and exclusion might Kieran (Romney’s grandson) be subjected to at school in a few years?
For all of the Kieran’s in the world, how does this type of reaction to their difference impact their self-concept and self-esteem? I daresay it is hard enough to grow up today as a “normal” kid. When we continue to put labels on and judge those things which many would consider “abnormal”, we do so much harm.
The typical reaction to these types of inappropriate comments is the fire the perpetrator, teach him/her a lesson, let him/her know that our organization does not tolerate this type of behavior. Firing Melissa Harris-Perry is not the answer. We need to engage in more dialogue about the impact of our biases and judgments on those who are on the receiving end. Why not have a program dedicated to helping all of us better understand how stereotypes and prejudice eat away at our ability to create a civil, inclusive community.
I think what’s not being said is the assumption that Mitt Romney was perhaps using his grandson to appear more racially tolerant than some people think he is. Of course that assumption falls flat because what’s he to do — leave his grandson out of the picture? I do think that our society will become increasingly tolerant, and, at the same time, politicians and others will probably always be criticized for what they do to say who they are and using/aligning with others. There will always be pictures taken of politicians and others aligned with people or animals or things that help them showcase an aspect of themselves that make them look good to others.