Racism On Parenting: The Effects Of Racism On Parenting

The Effects of Racism on Parenting

Racism and its history have influenced the views of everyone in the United States and has had the greatest impact on African Americans. Sweetness, the narrator of the story, was from a very harsh period of racism in the U.S. which affected the way she raised her dark skinned daughter, Lula Ann. Racism can positively or negatively affect one’s parenting. The time period of crude racism influenced the narrator’s views on parenting, causing her to be stricter in order to protect Lula Ann from future emotional damage over skin color. A parent’s way of raising their child can have a positive on the attitude and mindset of the child. Everything a parent does for their child is because they want what is best for

A cost is that the parent is jeopardizing their relationship with their child. It is evident in this story that Sweetness’s stern parenting affected Lula Ann’s attitude toward her due to the fact that Lula Ann moves out as soon as possible and as far away as possible. Sweetness feels that the way she brought up Lula Ann ruined their relationship. “So I guess I’m still the bad parent being punished forever till the day I die for the well- intended, and in fact, necessary way I brought her up. I know she hates me.” Sweetness knew that the way she raised Lula Ann would be for the best, and it would help her be prepared for the twisted, racist world we live in. “But the lessons I taught her paid off, and in the end she made me proud as a peacock.” Whenever Lula Ann is independent out in the real world, she will reminisce on the lessons Sweetness taught her and apply them to any situations involving racism. “But the lessons I taught her paid off, and in the end she made me proud as a peacock.” Lula Ann was possibly depressed as a child growing up. Lula Ann would have felt alienated and unwanted because she was a different skin color than her mother, and her mother’s strict behavior towards her. On top of that, Lula Ann would have felt unwanted due to the fact that her father left her because he didn’t even believe that she was his own child. Her mother even said, “I was really upset, even repelled by her black skin

“I told her to call me ‘Sweetness’ instead of ‘Mother’ or ‘Mama.’ It was safer. Her being that black and having what I think are too thick lips and calling me ‘Mama’ would’ve confused people.” It is ironic how the mother wants Lula Ann to call her “Sweetness” because the way Sweetness raised Lula Ann was in no way sweet. She acted very protective and controlling when raising Lula Ann, not sweet. Sweetness could have done this on purpose so Lula Ann thinks of her mother when hearing or using the adjective “sweet.” Either way, wanting her own daughter to call her Sweetness was the narrator’s way of protecting herself and the well-being of Lula Ann as she grew