My 9-year-old doesn't understand

[movingtous]

I have been watching the news a lot lately, and I didn't realize that it could have quite an impact on my kids. I thought it was no big deal. However, my 9-yr-old seems very confused right now. He keeps asking me, "Why is that man SO mad?" Of course, he asks that every time he sees a clip of Pastor Wright. It gets pretty hard for me to explain things to him, without going way back in history. Every time Wright comes on, he calls his brothers and says to them, "There's that angry man, again." "Why does he hate America so much? wow, he's really mad!" For those of you with children, have they started asking questions? And, how does one go about explaining all this to children? My kids have no clue what racism is!

[CGP]

Interesting. I don't have children so I am not sure. But would be interesting to hear from some parents.

[lucky-ann]

wow, that must be hard if children ask such tough questions, but i would explain the kids what racism is and why many blacks are still angry...i think it's the best to talk with them openly about such topics especially if they ask questions, but i'm not a mother and I'm sure you know best how to handle this:)

[Area504]

I have been watching the news a lot lately, and I didn't realize that it could have quite an impact on my kids. I thought it was no big deal. However, my 9-yr-old seems very confused right now. He keeps asking me, "Why is that man SO mad?" Of course, he asks that every time he sees a clip of Pastor Wright. It gets pretty hard for me to explain things to him, without going way back in history. Every time Wright comes on, he calls his brothers and says to them, "There's that angry man, again." "Why does he hate America so much? wow, he's really mad!" For those of you with children, have they started asking questions? And, how does one go about explaining all this to children? My kids have no clue what racism is!

My children are in college, but I can remember back when they were that young. ;)

9 year olds, and young children in general, probably have little patience for long explanations; they do better with simple answers (but, of course, this is not a simple issue).

Maybe you could start just giving a simple answer (i.e., "he's mad because people found out his pastor has said some pretty ridiculous things.") That may suffice, or they may ask for more.... if they do, you can expand the story as necessary, in terms they understand.

[bernie gagliano]

Tell your son that some people in America can only see the dark side of things, while others take the opportunities (particularly educational) to construct their lives as exemplars.

Point out all the contemporary successes in all the racial and ethnic groups that are self-evident. None of them are hot-heads or angry or divisive.

They climb the many ladders of opportunity as high as they want to go in America.

Most angry men and women get a short stay in front of us and then go back to their homes and shrivel up and pass from the scene.

Show him the Cosby's, the Tiger Woods, the fine young intelligent political leaders who rejected this ideology of anger.

And open his mind to the wonderful notion of all the people of the world who have come and joined America and contributed and benefited from teaming with others to build their lives and the communities of the nation.

You can look at this as a teaching opportunity or it can scare children.
You are a success story. I live in a huge community of Asian Americans who came here with nothing and have in the same thirty years that Rev Wright got himself into that hysterical tirade, have built fortunes for themselves, for Orange County, California and for their children and grand children.

Hard work and education are the secrets to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[G4Hillary]

That is a tough question. I would try not to expose them to such hate. I think it may skew their opinions about certain ethnic groups. We must be honest but I don't think Obama and his Pastor represent most AA's so we should try not to give them to much exposure to this racism.

[Jen the Michigander]

My 9-year-old niece is an avid Hillary supporter. So is her 5-year-old sister, but the little one doesn't really understand what's going on-- she mostly wants Hillary to win "because we need a girl president." The 9-year-old, however, does understand what's going on. I update her on the latest election news and she's listened to many of Hillary's speeches. This kid is considering a career in politics herself.

I haven't told her about the Rev. Wright controversy, and I don't know if her parents have told her. She has seen the movie "To Kill A Mockingbird" and she has read some books about Jewish children during WW2. So she knows about prejudice and hatred. She also knows about 9/11-- I was babysitting her that morning. She was only 3 years old then, and I didn't think she was paying attention to the TV. Then a few weeks later, she made some remarks about the bad men crashing the airplanes into the tall buildings which indicated that not only had she understood what happened on TV that morning, she knew it was real and not just a movie. So I know my niece would be able to grasp the meaning of Rev. Wright's sermons. But I think the idea that he was saying this stuff IN CHURCH would freak her out. My niece is quite active in her own church. Every year near Easter, they have a Sunday service where the kids take over all the adults' jobs. This year she got to be the pastor and preach a sermon-- a nice sermon about how God's love is like a sunflower. Since she just preached this sermon last week, I don't think this is the right time to expose her to Rev. Wright. At least, I'm not going to do it.