Small Things Count

If you’ve heard about the video featuring a swearing, racist little kid, don’t bother with it. I thought it was media hype rather than an actual video, so I made the mistake of searching for it.  The first one (yes, there are multiples, with different kids) was one minute of an 18-month old who, according to Mom, was trying to say “bucket” but somehow turned the “b” into an “f.” The adults around him laughed, encouraging him–until he was told to stop and began crying and angrily hurling his new-found phrase at the people around him.

That was the mild one: one phrase and no racism.

I clicked on another…the kid looks around age 3. He used words that would, as they say, make a sailor blush, plus racial insults at at least two groups (I watched only about 30 seconds of it–there may be more racial slurs). Again, the adults thought it was all tremendously funny, and they encouraged him.  Unlike the first video, which garnered few written comments (mainly explaining the “b” vs. “f”), this one has a multitude which express approval and appreciation for how funny it is.  Of course, this second video came out at least three years ago rather than recently.

I have trouble understanding why adults act this way. Why they create vulgar racists at such a tender, impressionable age. Why they think it’s all so funny. Why they think it’s okay to denigrate people who are different from them.

I have a feeling that these same adults will have no clue later when they have trouble with their teenager, shaking their heads and asking themselves why he is the way he is.