When the scary subject of race is finally broached, kids want to talk and talk. It's very satisfying.
Ruby BridgesRead
Now that I'm a parent, I know that my parents were incredibly brave.
Interpretation
This quote reflects a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices and courage of one's parents once one becomes a parent themselves.
In this quote, Ruby Bridges expresses a realization that comes with parenthood: the recognition of the bravery and strength required of her own parents while raising her. It highlights how the experience of parenting allows individuals to understand the challenges and fears their parents faced, thus fostering a deeper respect and empathy for their sacrifices.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of family, one might use this quote to emphasize the sacrifices parents make.
When the scary subject of race is finally broached, kids want to talk and talk. It's very satisfying.
I felt like there was something I needed to do - speaking to kids and sharing my story with them and helping them understand racism has no place in the minds and hearts of children.
Schools should be diverse if we are to get past racial differences.
I've seen schools in Detroit where the windows are broken, where there's no heat, and children are sitting with their coats on in class in the middle of a snowstorm. I've also seen schools in California with Olympic-sized swimming pools and cafeterias like five-star restaurants.
Throughout my life, my prayers have actively sustained me - held me up, carried me through.
My message is really that racism has no place in the hearts and minds of our children.
The innocence of such children doesn't answer our deepest questions about this vale of tears to which we are condemned, but it helps to dispel them. That is the secret to family life.
I have no fear, I have only ambition, and I want mine, And I will do anything to protect and feed my family.
I grew up in a family that nearly lost everything, but I ended up in the United States Senate because I grew up in an America that invested in kids like me and built a real future for us.
When you’ve had children, your body changes; there’s history to it. I like the evolution of that history; I’m fortunate to be with somebody who likes the evolution of that history. I think it’s important to not eradicate it. I look at someone’s face and I see the work before I see the person... You’re certainly not staving off the inevitable. And if you’re doing it out of fear, that fear’s still going to be seen through your eyes. The windows to your soul, they say.
All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
It's not ideal to always be one eye on the Blackberry and two arms around my children. For the sake of mothers out there who don't have the Blackberry but do have the children and are hoping someone will be raising their voice on their behalf, it's a great privilege.
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