My daughter wrote this today on Facebook. I am very proud of her.
My daughter is 38 now with two young boys. I am proud that she has turned out to be such a good and caring person. She wrote these comments this morning to her Facebook page:
I was born and lived the first ten years of my life in a tiny college town in the middle of a wheat field in eastern Washington. Due to the university having a world renown agricultural program, students and their families came from all over the world to study and enrolled their children in the public school system. As a result, my friends were of all colors, nationalities, and backgrounds. My birthday parties included Shruti who was from India, Nida who was from Pakistan. Ana from Brazil, and one of my BEST friends in third grade, a boy named Rouhoullah Islamjad who barely spoke a word of English, but could jump rope like nobody's business.
In fourth grade, our teacher read the class a book that would forever change my perspective on race, persecution, and the horrible reality of humanity--Mark Mathabane's 'Kaffir Boy.' It was a brutal account of growing up under Apartheid in South Africa and that book rang my bell. Even more so when I checked it out from the library and got to read all the parts my teacher had so casually left out--child rapes in prison, gang violence, starvation...this book so literally transformed my global view that I ended up majoring in Geography and doing my senior thesis on the role of Dutch colonialism and agricultural technology. Specifically, the social effects that these institutions created that led to the horrors of Apartheid that still reverberate today.
After moving across the state in 5th grade, I became exposed to the true nature of racism in America and the 'Good 'ol Boys' club. Racist epithets were rampant at school...instead of a multi-ethnic environment, schools were 99% white. Even after moving to Tacoma, race relations between students were often tense and students segregated themselves largely with members of their own racial or ethnic communities. Gone was the naive innocence taught to us by Sesame Street...the human inclination to bow to our stupid ego had people claiming superiority over their peers based on the very learned behavior passed down by generations of racism and xenophobia that simmers barely under the surface.
Without a doubt, the MOST exposure I've had to overt, blatant racism occurred as an adult and typically on the job. Working at Seattle International Raceway in the late 90s exposed me to racial slurs I didn't know existed until then. It also exposed me to a vicious and aggressive culture of sexism and misogyny. It did not take me long to realize that racism was alive and well in these communities and it turned my stomach--fathers teaching sons the slurs, mothers encouraging their daughters disdain for their fellow humans. While not ALL of those folks participating with NHRA events were racist and xenophobic, certainly enough of them were to make a lifelong impression and answer the question as to why there are so few people of color driving Top Fuel and Funny Cars.
The current state of race relations in America has me reminiscing on that book, 'Kaffir Boy,' and the lessons that it taught about compassion and an institutional lack thereof. Fourth grade me truly believed the United States was a bastion for hope, education, and opportunities. Not just for me, but for Shruti. And Nida. For children like Rouhoullah who just want to jump rope and whose smile and laugh translates in any language.
But we are not that. Not anymore, not ever have we been the truth of my patchwork quilt fantasy. Now we have ICE detention centers for babies. Children who play four square with my son are terrified of their families being split apart. Protesters who believe in their hearts they need to protect these vulnerable populations are being arrested. And the vile, inhuman, and sickening beast of white supremacy is now on blatant display in our society for all the world to witness.
I mourn for our country right now. I truly do. Call me a snowflake, IDGAF. If this is the kind of nation you are proud of...one where white supremacists openly campaign for election and Neo Nazis are referred to as "good guys," then I can't stop you for ridiculing those of us who truly believe in equality and the American Dream. My only solace is that hopefully by educating my children they will one day live in a society where they are judged by the content of their character, not their skin color or immigration status. That they can live the dream, and not wake up from it the way I have.
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You did a very good job raising her and it sounds like she is carrying on the tradition! 
I know their are enough people like this writer to counter trump and all his deplorables.
MM2003, you should be proud.
hat tip to you and your adult child.
Your daughter is most impressive - very compassionate and articulate. You've every right to be proud! Thank you for sharing her fb post with us. Thank you!!
Thank you for sharing this with all of us. And I hope your son continues to do well. He sacrificed far too much for us all. 
and a very affecting piece. I hope she will reach audiences far and wide. Very happy to see such a brilliant and passionate young voice on our side.
