Again with the race thing

One of the blogs I subscribe to via Google is Anti-Racist Parent, a wonderful resource, in my mind. After writing my post yesterday, I noticed a new entry, "Teaching Diversity in a Diversity-Free Zone." I found it very thought provoking, since race, diversity, parenting, and my own"diversity-free" zone have all been on my mind as of late. I suppose "diversity-free" really depends on your own local situation, and I would say that even though my community is predominantly white, there is a lot of diversity (economic, ages, cultural backgrounds and social expectations, etc.). But I know what Ms. Harris means when she writes "diversity-free", and with respect to race, my home community fits that description pretty well. For those of us who are interested in living a life more enriched by a wide range of races and ethnicities, this lack of diversity is disappointing. Not surprising, given the continued segregation of American life, but a drag, none-the-less. And although I might joke about my musical tastes (and ignorance), and find joy in my child's openness to great music, it isn't all about the music. The last thing I want is a child who can name all the great African-American contributors to American music in the past 30 years, but not have any exposure to the full range and richness of African-American (or any other non-dominant) culture.

I don't have any great answers to the concerns I have, short of moving. I was fortunate enough to grow up exposed to a wide variety of cultures, and am all the better for it. I always imagined the same for my children, but it's not something that happens organically in a "diversity-free" zone. I'm not moving anytime soon, so the challenge is to provide authentic experiences and exposure while avoiding the trap of "cultural tourism" - visiting for a while without taking anything home to be responsible for in the way of creating a better, more just society. I haven't made may way through all the comments at Anti-Racist Parent, but I look forward to it.