GETTING REAL
ABOUT RACISM One local family’s story of being black in America, plus encouragement for talking about race with your kids. WORDS BY TESSA JUDGE // ILLUSTRATION BY LYDIA BIRD
L
et’s start with a story, in the words of Kelly Ouattara, wife of Ibrahim Ouattara, mother of 9-year-old Souleyman and 7-year-old Djeneba:
“My kids were about 3 and 4 years old and we were at a park. A little boy came up to Souleyman and said, ‘Why is your skin that color? You need to change that color. You need to be white.’ I didn’t want to panic my kids, so I quickly picked up all our belongings and headed to the car, but I knew I would be so full of regret if I didn’t say something to the mother. I quickly walked back with my kids. I was shaking, but I told her what her son said to my son before saying, ‘I do not blame your kid. It is not his fault. I blame you. You have taught him this. You need to do better.’ And then we quickly left the park. I remember never wanting my child to feel that again and vowing to teach my kids to be proud of who they are so they can face people like that.”
When Kelly and Ibrahim met one day out and about in Broad Ripple, they were engaged just three weeks later. “We didn’t get married for another year, but yes,” Kelly says, sheepishly. “We were engaged after three weeks.”
Fourteen years later, the couple is still happily married, now with a son and daughter in the mix. While their lives are full of love, laughs and lake days, the Ouattara’s also face the unique challenges that come along with being in a biracial marriage and family. Kelly is a white woman, born and raised in Indiana. Ibrahim is a black man, born and raised in the West African country of Mali.
July 2020 I swOHIOparent.com
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