Okay bear with my long question
I come from a large Irish family and we are all white. Except for my two twin mulatto cousins. The mother of the twins left her husband for a short time and dated a black man for a while which should explain the twins. Anyway, they live in a very small town which is almost completely white. One of my younger cousin innocently pointed out one day that the twins do not look like the rest of the family. (Not to be mean or anything, just asked in a way that children with no concept of race will ask). And they asked there mother about it. The mother refuses to discuss it with them. So for the time being these children seem to not realize that they are not just white. No one in my family is racist obviously but my aunt (the final authority on the matter) seems to want to avoid the issue which is probably because of the affair. So my question is, Is my aunt in the right not to discuss the issue of their race with them for now? Is it even an issue?
2006-12-20 17:29:02 · 9 answers · asked by korngoddess1027 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Oviously when the go to high school the issue will come up and my mother is worried it will come up in a bad way. Somebody calling them bad names or something. Should she talk to them about now? I have no say in the matter but I was just curious as to other people's thoughts. Thanks for the help guys!
2006-12-20 17:31:15 · update #1
I'm sure somebody in every family is racist but my aunt pop anybody in the mouth who said something racist. So I'm not sure who is or not.
2006-12-20 17:33:28 · update #2
Lacking knowledge of the age of the kids involved, I'd say this isn't an issue.
Heck, my best friend from age five to fourteen turned out to be half philipino...I had NO idea, until a high school gf asked if he was asian...
Kids not exposed to racism, don't generally grow up racist... when the time comes, when the twins have experienced intolerance, or themselves ask why they look different from the rest of the family, then it would be prudent to discuss skin colors (not race - we're all the same race... just different cultures, different skin colors, eye colors, hair colors - or whatever you want to distinguish by...).
And at some point - all the kids will need to understand the 'dirty little secret' that your aunt wants hidden. The kids will figure it out on their own eventually, at its better if the adults frame it for them...
Peace,
-dh
2006-12-20 17:38:19 · answer #1 · answered by delicateharmony 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your aunt is in the right because it is within her right to do what she darn well pleases. She's an adult so no one can really tell her what to do (except the IRS if she has to pay taxes). As far as it being an issue... yes, it's an issue. Someone needs to talk to the kids to make them aware of who they are, what challenges and prejudices they may face in society, and to be comfortable and proud of themselves and who they are. What I don't understand is does your aunt "own" the entire family? Just because she refuses to discuss it doesn't mean everyone else has to keep quiet, too. Certainly there should be other responsible adults around (including the twins MOTHER) that should take it upon themselves to address the "issue". Trust me, it's going to hit the family, or those twins, BIG, one day. You can't just ignore it forever.
2006-12-21 01:35:17 · answer #2 · answered by gabound75 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait a minute! The twins are a product of an affair and the guy so happens to be black. I don't envy your aunt and I feel the sorriest for the twins.
2006-12-21 02:30:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it depends on how old they are. For right now I just wouldn't discuss it unless the kids asked about it. But I guarantee that eventually they'll ask their mother about them being different and that's the time to discuss it.
2006-12-21 01:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by Amber 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone should know their heritage. It is important that they know and understand their racial makeup early so that when someone does finally make that racist remark (and they will) they can respond with knowledge not anger. Talk to those boys now!
2006-12-21 11:00:53 · answer #5 · answered by Shikibeeks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She needs to tell her children they come from two races if she does not tell them then serious problems will arise at school. So yes it's vital that she talks to them about it.
2006-12-21 01:41:50 · answer #6 · answered by 412 KiD 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is an issue. and its nearly impossible that nobody in tour family is racist.
2006-12-21 01:31:14 · answer #7 · answered by Doc Manhattan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The human race makes me sick to my stomach. What a stupid question.
2006-12-21 02:04:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It should not be an issue.
2006-12-21 01:32:23 · answer #9 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋