We just got back from Michigan's beautiful yet rural Upper Peninsula. We were camping just outside Paradise, MI at the Tahquamenon Falls State Park and were delightfully surprised when our children came back to the camp with two new friends who happened to be African American. In our camping experience we rarely see people of color. Because of this we often ask ourselves, should we continue to pursue vacations to places that put our children in the extreme minority, or should we seek out vacation destinations where Andria and I are the minority?
As we grow together as a family, our children are becoming old enough and more comfortable with themselves to make their own observations and express themselves in response. Andria and I we have decided that to camp and see nature's wonders is too spiritual to miss regardless of the diversity of those sharing the experience with us. Of course, we would never put our children iintentually at risk for such an experience. But so far, except for a few stares, most likely do to our entire family makeup and not necessarily because of our children's skin color, we have had uneventful vacations save for the joy of family and the celebration of the place.
When Jacob was three years old, we went to Jamaica where Andria and I were in the minority. While there Jacob was treated like a royal prince by the staff of the resort. We much enjoyed that vacation. We need to get our passports so that we can continue to have experiences like that. Both children are eaqer to go to South Africa. While I have searched, I have yet to find US vacation destinations that afford the same experience that are not urban in nature like Chicago, or Atlanta.
It turned out that their friends were also adopted by white parents. When we went out of the camp to swim in the breakfast tea colored falling water of Tahquamenon or stop in the quaint seaside town of Grand Marias, Jacob and Antonia couldn't wait to get back to camp to see Peter and Rachael.
When we arrived back to our campsite, Peter and Rachael were usually waiting at our site or if not, as soon as we stopped the car, Jacob and Antonia would run over to their campsite to find them. For most of the week, the four of them were the only children of color in the park. But that didn't seem to matter, since the four were quick to play with any children they could find. Peter and Rachael are wonderful kids and that immediately put me at ease, though I have to admit, I am more comfortable when Jacob and Antonia are playing with children of color. I am a bit on guard when they play with white children at least until we get to know them. I suppose a parent is always on guard when their children meet knew friends. It is the character of the child that counts, not their skin color. Despite understanding this, there is still a level of comfort that I experience when my children interact with other African American children - that is of course until their character is unveiled.
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