Imagine a bright little almost-two-year-old child born in the months before covid.
When she reaches six months, just the age when her mother would feel comfortable taking her out; just when she's aware of her surroundings--is just when we were all sequestered within our homes. For months.
Finally, we get out of our homes, but we're still careful. Because covid lurks, and we are yet to know how children might be affected. When all the adults in her life get vaccinated, we still keep her sheltered. We still don't know.
The first time she goes to the grocery story she is more than a year old.
Imagine too that this almost-two-year-old lives in a homogenous neighborhood. There are few people of color.
Finally in an airport, just this summer, we are waiting at our gate. A woman of color is sitting in the seat behind this child. The child looks deeply at the woman.
The woman is kind; she smiles and speaks to the little girl.
"Why is she staring at me?" the woman asks me.
"Because you're beautiful."
The truth is always so simple.
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