My racist family

Ah, what's Christmas without racism? Yesterday a gathering with extended family included explanations of where people of specific races live and what criminal activities they've been involved with lately. There was a comment about one of the criminals being "Obama's brother." It helpfully reminded me that it was time to leave.

Today, while my husband takes his afternoon nap, Toby is downstairs playing with a boy every bit as Kenyan as Barack Obama. Junior is Toby's friend from preschool. His Kenyan parents have not taught the boy Kiswahili, poor guy. Today Junior has been dropped off. It's a big deal. It's the very first time that a school friend has been dropped off to play. And this ESL teacher-mama couldn't be more proud that the lad is Kenyan. Okay, actually his parents have become US citizens and the dear boy has never been to Kenya. But still. He's a beautiful boy!