Brown Like Me

Newsflash: We are adopting a black son.

Bigger Newsflash: We're not black.

Since this discovery, I have become extremely aware that if we are to have any black skinned toys or books with black characters in our house, I must become very intentional about it.

Julianna saved her money for several weeks in order to buy a t-shirt with the princess of the Princess and the Frog on it. She was excited because she loves the princess and I was excited because finally there is a black Disney princess! Isn't it about time?

For valentines day, we bought Julianna a black fairy (which she loves). We want her to have some diversity in the dolls that she plays with. We need diversity to be normal in our house! If you walk into the toy section in any given store in Sioux City there are 20 white figures for every black, if any at all. I suppose this is just due to the demographic in this area, but it makes it hard to prepare toys that our son will relate to.

How terrible would it be to live somewhere where you never saw anyone that looked like you? Would you feel like an outsider? Would you have a hard time feeling that you were beautiful and accepted?

Here is our current doll census:


Two is progress right?

We are also expanding our book library.

I am extremely excited to add to our family in this way. I'll admit I am nervous about how we are going to handle the trials our son will face because of his color. I will also admit that I am confident in God's guidance and will be asking him for help along the way. God is an artist and the mixture of the tones of our skin is a beautiful thing, especially within a family.

"Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir....

A piece of canvas is only the beginning

It takes on character with every loving stroke.

This thing of beauty is the passion of an artists heart"

--Colored People, Dc Talk