WATCH: Big Questions and Big Talks About Equality

By Brandy Black

This week holds a lot of significance in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was on Monday, a day in which we remember America’s Civil Rights past and all that MLK taught us. MLK Day combined with the inauguration this weekend brings up some major concerns for me as a mom, as I’m sure it does for parents all over the U.S.

In one our latest YouTube videos, I sat down with my twins and discussed who Martin Luther King Jr. was and what he did for America. As you can see, they have a pretty good understanding about his role in helping Black Americans gain equal rights in the U.S. The conversation became a little bigger in ways that I didn’t imagine, when Penn asked if Martin Luther King Jr. had died. We never expect questions like those, do we?

Susan found it important to explain to our twins that Martin Luther King Jr. died for what he believed in — helping others. Though it might have been a lot for our twins to take in, I made it clear that MLK’s actions and words were so important and that they should emulate him by standing up for those who are perceived as different.

This, too, is a reminder for parents, as the U.S. presidential power will change hands from a man who worked for healthcare for all, LGBT rights, and much much more, to another man who is in the nicest of terms — a bully.

If you have a chance, watch this video. I think it’s a good reminder that we as parents can present big questions and topics to our children and they do have the capacity to understand. At the least, they understand kindness and fairness and if we arm them with these tools, I hope they can make this world a better place.