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Nearly thirteen years ago, my family became multiracial when my partner and I adopted our first child, a beautiful Black girl chosen by her birth mother. From that moment, we drew attention everywhere we went. Our family dynamic was unmistakable and often elicited a mix of stares, comments, compliments, and even insults. Two years later, we welcomed another Black daughter, and two years after that, a Black son. (Yes, we had three kids under four!)
As white parents, we had done some initial research before our adoptions, but it wasn’t until we became a multiracial family that we truly understood the pervasive white preference in society. I began viewing everything through the lens of racial diversity and awareness. It became clear that if my children were to grow up feeling confident and proud of their Black identities, we couldn’t depend on the education system to do that for us.
Right from the start, we noticed a stark lack of representation for our children. The preschools we visited had either one or no Black dolls and only a single book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Store shelves displayed predominantly white dolls and action figures, with the few racially ambiguous options tucked away on clearance. When shopping for clothes, the characters on t-shirts were almost always white. Books that featured Black individuals were typically centered on struggle, focusing mostly on slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.
Determined to provide a richer experience for our children, we collected books, toys, music, and art that showcased Black history and culture. We found mentors, expanded our social circle, and located Black hair care professionals for our kids’ hair needs. Over the years, we transitioned to a predominantly Black church, celebrated Juneteenth, and sought out festive decor that honored Black Santa for Christmas. We wanted our lifestyle to reflect our family’s diversity.
Today, Black history is still often treated as a supplemental topic rather than an integral part of education. It’s crucial to remember that ignoring the entirety of history—while emphasizing white accomplishments—does a disservice to students of all backgrounds. My children deserve to see themselves represented in their studies, but so do their white classmates. Shielding any child from the truth only perpetuates systems of supremacy and harms future generations.
Limiting Black history to February, the shortest month of the year, is insufficient for anyone seeking to understand the depth and breadth of this important narrative. There’s so much to learn—and even more to unlearn. None of us are untouched by systems of supremacy.
I’m grateful that I didn’t wait for public schools to teach my kids what they need to know about race. Thirteen years into our journey as a family, I remain underwhelmed by the progress. While there have been some positive developments, many efforts feel like mere surface-level changes.
I appreciate the strides being made in activism and awareness. There have been positive shifts in policy, like eliminating discriminatory dress codes that impact Black students’ hair. Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday, and discussions around Critical Race Theory are happening. But we still have a long way to go.
Parents cannot afford to sit back and wait for educational systems to catch up. My family doesn’t have that luxury. We immerse ourselves in reading, documentaries, music, and open conversations. My children are learning about Juneteenth, Black Wall Street, concepts like code-switching and white fragility, and the incredible contributions of Black inventors. They even discovered that Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, created by Black Civil War soldiers to honor their fallen comrades.
I fully support Critical Race Theory, comprehensive history, and the celebration of Juneteenth—everything I didn’t learn in public school. However, I refuse to wait for lawmakers to implement policies that ensure these topics are taught. Progress is vital, and the time is now.
I also don’t trust that white teachers will provide my children with accurate historical education. These are the same educators who often only mentioned MLK during January and offered limited Black history lessons. Now they’re expected to be fully aware? I think not. I have immense respect for teachers who are overworked and underappreciated, but they are not immune to the biases that exist in our society. Many were educated in systems that sidelined race and restricted Black history to only the most painful narratives.
We can advocate for racial equity while not waiting for it to meet our children’s needs. As many teachers rightly say, parents are a child’s first educators. It falls upon us to guide our kids, which means we must educate ourselves and learn alongside them. Mistakes will happen—but that’s part of the journey. I would rather stumble forward than wait for an educational system to acknowledge the importance of my children’s racial identities.
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Summary
In this article, Jamie Thompson discusses her family’s journey as a multiracial unit and the necessity of teaching Black history at home. With personal anecdotes, she highlights the shortcomings of the educational system in accurately portraying Black history and culture. Thompson emphasizes the importance of self-education for parents and the commitment to instill pride and identity in their children through diverse resources.
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