Question
When Colorblind Parenting Meets Anti-racism
An Ethiopian-born biological anthropologist and father dissects the “myth of race” and reflects on his own deepening understanding of racism in the U.S.
By Zeresenay “Zeray” Alemseged
What are your thoughts? Use this space to tell me some things you found interesting, surprising, or worthy of mention. How does this assignment link back to our class material and topics?
Keep the wording simple and unprofessional
An Ethiopian-born biological anthropologist and father dissects the “myth of race” and reflects on his own deepening understanding of racism in the U.S.
By Zeresenay “Zeray” Alemseged
What are your thoughts? Use this space to tell me some things you found interesting, surprising, or worthy of mention. How does this assignment link back to our class material and topics?
Keep the wording simple and unprofessional
Answers
GPT-4o mini
I found the perspective of Zeresenay Alemseged really interesting, especially coming from someone who is both a parent and an anthropologist. It was surprising to see how he connects his understanding of race and racism with his experiences growing up in Ethiopia versus raising his kids in the U.S.
One key point he made was about the "myth of race." It challenged my thinking about how we categorize people and how those categories can lead to real-life consequences. I appreciated how he talked about colorblind parenting and how that approach might not be enough in addressing racism. Instead of ignoring differences, he suggests that it's important to acknowledge them and discuss them openly.
This connects back to our class discussions about systemic racism and how important it is to have conversations about race, especially with children. It reinforces the idea that being anti-racist requires active engagement rather than a passive attitude. It's a reminder that we need to be aware of our surroundings and talk about these tough topics to make a positive change. Overall, I found Alemseged’s reflections very insightful and relevant to our studies.
One key point he made was about the "myth of race." It challenged my thinking about how we categorize people and how those categories can lead to real-life consequences. I appreciated how he talked about colorblind parenting and how that approach might not be enough in addressing racism. Instead of ignoring differences, he suggests that it's important to acknowledge them and discuss them openly.
This connects back to our class discussions about systemic racism and how important it is to have conversations about race, especially with children. It reinforces the idea that being anti-racist requires active engagement rather than a passive attitude. It's a reminder that we need to be aware of our surroundings and talk about these tough topics to make a positive change. Overall, I found Alemseged’s reflections very insightful and relevant to our studies.