Thursday, January 15, 2009

Big Kid on the Civil Rights Movement

Big Kid today: Do you know 'bout Rosa Parks?

Ashley: Yes, do you?

Big Kid: Yep. She was a lady who said "I'm not sittin' where you say on da bus any more!" and she went to jail and den she got out of jail and den she dest sat where she wanted. Do you know Ruby Beatr--wait, am I finking of Junie B. Jones from da books about dat little girl? I'm not meaning to fink about her.

Ashley: I don't know. I can't think of a Ruby anyone. I do like Junie B. Jones though.

Big Kid: Do you know about Arthur Luthin King?

Ashley: Martin Luther King? Yes, I do. He did some really important things for people and helped change the way people think.

Big Kid: Yeah, I know. He was a doctor, and he had a dream, and he liked to tell eberyone 'bout his dream, and dere is a poem 'bout him, "Let freedom ring, Dr. King!" and that's why we don't have school Monday.

I started to go into the whole race thing with him, explaining that white people used to be mean to black people and the significance of the people he just mentioned, but it's all just so complicated and sounds so strange.

I'm just going to let the professionals (school) handle it. They seem to have it covered. Mostly.

In other news, we attended a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese (for Em, happy birthday Em!) and I realize that I need to revise my escape plans below to only include me and my cat. It will be way easier that way, although I will have less material for you all. We'll make it work somehow.

8 comments:

AmberW said...

Kids amaze me with the things that they know!
I love it. And I love your interpretation of the conversation. Makes me smile (I agree... leave it to the professionals to explain! lol)

Anonymous said...

It should be easier to find people to take you in with less people too.

Jeri is said...

I think the first person BK was trying to think of was Ruby Bridges. She was a little African American girl who was to attend an all white public school.....this was in 1960-ish. There was a big demonstration, lots of police, and people yelling at this little 6 year old girl who just wanted to go to school. All the white kids stayed home. She was the only one at school. That must have been very scarey for a little girl. I'm a big girl. It would be scarey for me, too.

This is my memory of the story of Ruby Bridges, some of the details may be wrong, but it wasn't my intention if they are.

Renee said...

I love how he pulled Junie B. Jones into the story. Lol. I hope your first stop on your road trip is HOUSTON, TEXAS.

-The Renee

Anonymous said...

Ruby Bridges= first African American child to attend an all white school in the integration movement. She was a kindergartener.

Former Fat Chick said...

I love your kid :) You can ship him off to me anytime...I don;t know about the rest of y'all....

PaperCourt said...

I think big kid and my son would be great friends. Deep thinking kids!

Jennifer said...

Lets hope that all our kids ever have to understand is that long before they were born some people were really stupid.