Life is short

This article was previously published in The Washington Post

“We learned about Martin Luther King today,” my daughter, who was 8, said. I told her he was an important man. She said “He was African American.” I nodded. She added, “Like my friend, Angela.” I hadn’t met Angela. “Angela is black? “No,” my daughter scoffed. I was confused. “Angela’s skin is brown, Mom.” I said, “Some have dark skin and some, like us, have white skin.” She interrupted, “We’re not white, Mommy.” Still confused, I asked, “We’re not?” She thought - fully regarded her hand. “No,” she said, “we’re peach.” I understood. We are all colored.