How to Help Children Understand and Cope with Racially Charged Presidential Verbal Attacks

Now that a social divide that has defined our country since its founding has been lifted with the election of President-Elect Barack Obama, the racial slurs and hatred of those living in the past have reached an all-time high. While we pray that everyone will open their eyes in the near future as this remarkable leader takes his first steps, some of our children are being exposed to racially charged comments on the streets, in their schools, and perhaps even from unsavory citizen-produced media outlets (blogs, social networking pages, etc). That's not even to mention media coverage of racially charged comments at political rallies. As we finally enter a long awaited new era, keeping all children, regardless of the color of their skin, from having a conflicted experience due to the ignorance of others is absolutely essential. Consider the following suggestions on how to help children understand and cope with racially charged comments and verbal attacks against America's newest leader as we look forward to a brand new day in politics.

First, explaining the truth about America's unfortunate history is key to helping children understand why racially charged comments are occurring, and why they are ungrounded. Because children are so easily influenced, they may in their innocence interpret racial slurs against our newest President as being attributed to some sort of character flaw. Helping your children understand how slavery, segregation, and other past wrongs that transpired in the name of economy, religion, social mores, and other faceless scapegoats contributed to racial tensions may help them begin to see why race is even an issue at all. Not only that, but understanding our dark history will give them a greater appreciation for just how monumental this change is for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. While learning more about our bleak past will be difficult for any child, doing so may open a door to greater understanding during this time.

Next, take steps to deflect cruel comments directed at our President-Elect by humanizing him and his family for your children. Because those who would make racial slurs and hate-filled declarations are apt to dehumanizing their targets, children can become immune to their intensity. Speaking of the newest children to grace the halls of the White House, of a wife and mother, of a husband and father, and of the new puppy coming to Pennsylvania Avenue will help children understand that the First Family is very much like their own.

Consider next addressing the fears expressed by the dying racist culture in America. While we understand that their "worries" are grounded in ignorance and little else, children have a way of adopting the fears of others if they are not reassured. Address some of the more rampant racially charged comments and questions that might evoke fear in your children and help them see that you, as their greatest example, are not affected by any such nonsense.

On that note, consider simplifying the reasons for this ignorance to make it easier for your children to understand. Racially charged presidential attacks can most often be attributed to a lack of formal education, a lack of social sophistication, and a lack of firsthand multi-cultural exposure. Helping your children understand that most of those making verbal attacks against our first black President are not, shall we say, the most enlightened of our national community may aid them in comprehending the invalidity of these sources and their outcries. Stress to your children during this time that they make learning about different people a priority in their own lives so as to prevent the acceptance of the attitude of those less informed.

Finally, emphasize the greatness of this historic moment as your children, regardless of your own political affiliations, learn to welcome our first black President. Even those who were on the losing side of the election are winners in the global spotlight as the world celebrates our breakthrough. Even the staunchest Republican was prone to a few well shed congratulatory tears at eleven o'clock Eastern Time on November 4^th, 2008. Explaining to your children that this election was a win for all Americans will help deflect any racially charged negative portrayals they may be so unfortunate as to come across in the years to come. Hopefully, when our nation's children grow old enough to cast their own ballots, this article will seem archaic and completely irrelevant to their worlds.