This past weekend, we gathered for a family meal, enjoying an array of delicious tacos. As we relished our food, my kids entertained the adults with their jokes. My youngest, a first grader, shared some childhood classics and soaked up the laughter. Then my tween daughter had a joke to share. What came out of her mouth left me speechless.
She told a joke that targeted Asian people—something along the lines of, “Don’t order Chinese food” in the context of the coronavirus. I won’t go into specifics, but my eyes widened, and I instinctively exclaimed, “That’s racist.” My daughter looked shocked, and then embarrassed. My anger wasn’t directed at her or even the friend who shared the joke; it was the adults who perpetuated this ignorance that really got under my skin.
I know my initial reaction wasn’t my finest moment as a parent. I took a moment to ask my daughter about where she heard the joke. It turned out a peer had shared it, and the response had been laughter. I suspect the kids didn’t fully grasp the implications, just as my daughter didn’t understand why it was problematic. Laughter can be contagious, and sometimes kids share jokes to gain popularity. Given how much the coronavirus is being discussed, it’s no surprise this joke made the rounds—pun intended.
The coronavirus is a topic of conversation everywhere—on social media, in the news, and among adults. Even if kids don’t hear us discussing it, they inevitably pick up bits and pieces. My own children come home with snippets of information—often skewed or incorrect—about it every day.
At home, we haven’t focused heavily on the virus. We’re just a busy family of six, juggling work, school, and various activities. I don’t want to instill fear over something beyond our control. While some people are stockpiling essential items, we’re simply living our lives and managing our existing anxieties.
When my daughter made that joke, it prompted a necessary conversation with my older kids about the ongoing situation. I shared facts from my brother-in-law, a family physician, and remained factual without exaggerating or downplaying the seriousness of the public health crisis. We also talked about the racism that often accompanies discussions about the coronavirus. My children listened intently and asked questions, and I made it clear that we never make fun of anyone based on race, gender, ability, or anything else. I highlighted that some of our friends who are Korean and Chinese are facing unjust racism, and that’s simply unacceptable.
This discussion also led us to address harmful stereotypes about Black individuals. My children are all Black, and we’ve talked about the damaging nature of stereotypes before. Black girls, like my daughters, are often unfairly labeled as “sassy” or “loud,” while Black boys face stereotypes of being untrustworthy or intimidating. These misconceptions are not only hurtful; they are profoundly ignorant. We must reject all forms of racism continuously.
We also touched upon the stereotypes that our Asian friends encounter. For instance, it’s absurd that some people assume they are good at math or have a penchant for eating pets. One of our friends even faced the disgusting taunt that her family might have the coronavirus and eat dogs and cats. Ignorance knows no bounds.
I’m grateful for the chance to discuss the inappropriateness of the joke and why the coronavirus isn’t a punchline. Yet, I’m still reeling from the ignorance of whoever created and spread that joke. It’s ironic that as the virus spreads, so too does this kind of racism.
Racism is never acceptable, and a public health emergency is no reason to joke. The combination of the two is particularly troubling. I reminded my tweens that it’s crucial to obtain accurate information from credible sources and that humor should never come at the expense of others.
Thanks to the misguided individual who thought it was funny to share a racist coronavirus joke, my kids now understand the importance of reflecting before they repeat something they don’t fully understand. If they choose to share a joke, they might inadvertently perpetuate the very attitudes our family stands against.
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In summary, my child’s experience with a racist joke about the coronavirus led to an important educational moment about racism and misinformation. It highlighted the necessity of open dialogues about sensitive topics and the impact of our words on others.
Keyphrase: Parenting and Racism Awareness
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