Obama wins: How do you explain this day to your children?

[morningpaper]

How are you explaining the news to your children?

Do you mention race and if so, how?

We told 6y DD a bit about it this morning. We have already discussed race issues with her - we saw the musical Hairspray on TV which was a good starting point for her on her level. TBH race and colour has beend iscussed a few times with DD under various scenarios asisues may have been experienced by her and we have felt it appropriate.

I told my children that today they saw history...A black man in the white house who was not Morgan Freeman .

I watched a lot of the news today, and I was saddened that the fact he is black seemed to be the main point. Yes it is history, but if he was voted in for being black then they have the wrong man for the job, it is as wrong to pro black vote as it is to anti black vote, and the fact he is black should be 2nd to the fact he is the best man for the job, he is a good would be president who happens to be black.

I think he has a long and hard road ahead but I think he could just be a tuning point to fixing so much that is wrong in the States and the wider world.

And who knows now the glass ceiling has been shattered we may even see a woman running the States from the driving seat and not from behind her husband...Hillary I mean you!

KerryMum: "you have no idea whatsoever what you are talking about..." uh, was that directed at me? A bit harsh, no? These are opinions we're expressing here, not facts. Perception is everything.

I have been to/lived in at least three countries that I would say are more racist than the US. I'm NOT saying that there aren't huge problems in the US that stem from racism.

Oh and he is not even black, he is mixed race

DS is too young to understand, but I do believe that this is one of those 'where were you when' moments...

We will all remember where we were when we knew the US would have a black president.

And, FWIW, I think he will be a mighty fine president.

dd is just 6 and as we always watch and discuss news as a family ( I'm obsessive attimes) and our displeasure at bush policies have been noted by dd ( unknown to us)

She knew Obama was African American ages ago and appeared to understand vague historical implications ( god am I a thrilling fun parent or what )
Today when I said he had won dd said- that's good news mummy
Then she said a girl in yr4 was African English and from Nigeria. And she had cool hair braids with beads
What part of Africa was Obama from and why did he have boring hair?
Ah
Kids

The point about being black though isn't in the news because that was why he was elected - it's just such an extraordinary day when you look at US history. Looking at Jesse Jackson weeping, I wondered what Martin LK would be feeling if he could see the events of today - when 40 years a black person couldn't sit down on a bus, and now they can be president, that really is progress.

Saying it 'isn't about race' is a bit like saying an East German crossing into West Berlin to buy a newspaper when the wall came down was notable, firstly because of which newspaper they bought, and secondly where they bought it.

Obviously we all hope Obama will be a fantastic president, and that will be nothing to do with race. But the fact is, that last boundary has been crossed, and I am SO happy. He does also seem a rather special person, and so I have very high hopes of his presidency.

I find explaining that he's black no problem, explaining that he's intelligent - that's such a break from tradition, I don't know how the little ones will accept it!

And charismatic that's something the last president lacked too...

wmmc only past 8 years has there been a blip...

Kerrymum - I feel sad for you. Just because racism is rife does not make it right.

I feel that people have voted for Obama because they feel he can do good. Not because of the colour of his skin.

And that is how it should be. We should ever judge a person from the colour of their skin.

If I had been a US citizen I'd have voted for Obama - not necessarily for his policies but because the other side is fucking scary.

I was frankly surprised that the McCain/Palin coven didn't start campaigning for the reintroduction of chain gangs.

Actually, I don't think that McCain was that bad (from the viewpoint of hindsight and having voted for Obama).

Sarah Palin was horrible and hope she finds the rock she crawled out under from - she who believes in creationism and who clearly hasn't evolved...

I tried to explain about racism but it seemed to just not occur to dd that people would be racist. So I did the old blue eyes routine at which point dd (7) announced she had green eyes. I started again with green eyes to which she said lots of people don't like eyes! But I think she got it.

I was crying at the speech and dd asked me to explain again and I was more successful this time, explained how it was not just great because Obama was black but also because some bad people had been in charge of America and I hoped it would change now. I said how Obama was a very clever man and had worked very hard and if she worked hard she would one day be able to do whatever she wanted. I also said i hoped that one day a woman would be president.

On our way home this evening we lit a candle in church to ask God to help Obama do a good job as there are lots of problems he needs to sort out. DD then said it is just as well he can drive fast car so he can get round everyone.

i cried lots of times. and explained to ds1 in graphic detail. but then heis 11. the younger dc werent really that interested.

V interesting thread, with lots of thought-provoking comments.

I find the Clinton/Obama thing quite interesting. Many countries have now got or had a female leader and yet despite today's momentous events, I find myself wondering whether Hillary C would have got in if she'd been selected. It's almost as if the US is more 'ready' (hate the expression) for a black President than a female one.

'I feel that people have voted for Obama because they feel he can do good. Not because of the colour of his skin.' I disagree. I think many many people have voted for him because of the colour of his skin. That's one of the reasons there has been a record turnout, I should imagine. People who have felt that perhaps in the past they didn't have a voice feeling that Obama represents them. And many more have voted for him because they didn't like McCain and/or Palin.

DD isn't yet 2 so I didn't feel the need to explain much to her, apart from tell her it was a momentous and very happy day. She did her happy dance, but that was probably more to do with Cbeebies than my proclamation!

This thread is making me think of something on Radio 4 earlier today on 'All in the mind' - all about research from the US showing people avoid the subject of race and suggesting it's a misguided attempt to show they're not racist. Did anyone else hear it? Very interesting.

chisi, no doubt. there has been no history of racist laws in the UK as there has been in the US. No separate doors or seats on buses.
LadyLaGore - oh yes, so agree. It was his mum what won it

... but in the rest of Europe... many race laws in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s.

Still serious race issues in France. I believe (could be wrong, have never lived there) that many, many French people don't view non-whites as being 'real' French. That opinion is just based on a few throwaway comments that French people have made to me, people who I view as quite liberal in other ways. In that way, I think the UK is less racist than many other European countries.

Blimey - By spokette on Wed 05-Nov-08 08:29:06

We must be living in the same house - check your cupboards!

.........

I always listen to LBC (dont laugh) every evening. Anyway, last night I wanted to leave it on all night to hear his victory and I woke up to hear it. I remember feeling all excited inside but fell alsleep way too quickly when I knew he had done it (the sleep monser got me)- so only heard part of his speech. This morning we were listening to snippets on Radio 4 at 8am and my god I was in tears - that man can make you listen and learn. Both children could tell it was an important day.

Anyway, I had already prepared my children by talking about the civil rights movement in the USA - including Martin Luther King & Malcolm X - during the campaign with Hilary Clinton. And by playing Sam Cookes " A change is gonna come" made it a little easier especially when I showed them videos on youtube which included footage of the civil rights movement. This also helped to introduce them to Nelson Mandelas plight and his rise to success as well.

Fabulous day, fabulous news and definately a change is gonna come.

my dd says to me tonight on the way to a bonfire unbidden,"It's a special day today for two reasons. ONe, it's bonfire night and two a black man has been elected prime minister".
She knew the significance was large, at 8, and living in an almost total white area, going to a white school. And being 'white'. If she picks it up, then I do feel pretty hopeful for our next generation who get used to seeing a 'person of colour' in a power position.

dds birthday today, i said what a special thing to happen on her special day, mentioned how badly black people were treated sometimes in america, how some of them (this was more to dd2 aged 11 - had grannies mothers who were slaves - this was spike lee - and asked if they could imagine having a black prime minster or if the queen were black and disucssed that there were only 2 black children in their schools.

dd3 wasnt suprised as there was a black president in a film on tv the other day apparently not sure if he was actually meant to be the president but sitll