07/29/2026
Raise protestors. Participators. Children connected to humanity beyond your home.
My daughter spent months learning about Harriet Tubman at her wonderful school. At first she was utterly confounded by the idea of slavery. She asked many questions, and then started reading more and more books about the experiences of black people throughout the history of our country.
I took her to a Graham Platner rally. After listening to him expound on the horrors of our society, she stood up in front of everyone and asked him a question (“How can kids help?”). Later I had to explain her that he dropped out and (in age-appropriate terms) why.
Preserving her innocence while gradually integrating the dark realities of our world is a challenge, but I feel compelled to include and initiate her in a way I never was. It is a delicate, difficult balance to expand a child’s awareness without scaring or overwhelming them- but we can’t hide them from this wounded world forever.
Children are gloriously un-jaded, and their hearts are full of energy and love that they are eager to share with those who need it. We can’t afford for more humans (especially privileged, white ones) to bury their heads in the sand. Living in a bubble is an illusion. Hold their hands, explore truth, and put yourselves on the line together.
