When a mum found a shocking note on her car calling her a ‘racist’, instead of becoming angry she responded with class and grace.
You see the woman in question is mum to two adopted children, one white and one black – so when she came across the note, she chose to use her response as an opportunity to show that love and the bond of a family transcends skin colour.
Tonya Keefer found the note on the windshield of her car after she had been to dinner with her family.
It read: “Just because the girl is black does not mean you have to treat her any different than your white child. You and your husband walked off and did not look back for the little black girl to make sure she got out the car safely. You should be ashamed. Seems like you’re racist. Give the black girl back to her mother. You and your husband are white trash.”
Of course such a note is ludicrous, and perhaps didn’t even warrant a reply – but Tonya decided she wanted to address the note, and did it in the best way possible.
“I guess finding a note like this on my car after dinner should make me angry,” she replied in an open letter.
“Maybe it did, but more than angry it made me feel really really sad. I pity the person who sees my family and can only see the colors of our skin. Because in our home we make no such distinction.
“In our home we choose not to define or be defined because of a color. The ‘black girl’ as you call her, is so much more than the label you place on her. She has a name, we call her Leah. She has a beautiful personality, a silliness that is endearing and a laugh that is infectious. She is talented and creative and hilarious.
“In fact as we drove into the Zaxbys parking lot tonight she was bouncing and giggling in the back seat, being her incredibly unique self.
“See, you see a black girl in my back seat. (What you don't see are) the countless prayers I prayed begging God for her. You can't see the times I've cried or lost sleep wondering if I was good enough for her. You see the ‘black girl’ with the white family. But I see an answer to my prayers, my daughter, my miracle.
“I'm sorry that when you see my children you judge them by the difference in skin color, I truly am. Both of my children were abandoned by their birth mothers. Both of them were born to addicts. Both of them deserve the very best of life. And I'll admit they deserve more than I could ever give them.
“Some people would say my husband and I have done something great by bringing these children into our home. But do you know what? These 2 children are my heroes. They are the reason I get up on days I don't feel like it. They are the reasons I smile when things aren't perfect. They are my joy, my hope and my life.
“And I am so sorry that you can't see past the differences of our skin color to be able to see any of that.
“If this note ever finds you, I want you to know I am not angry and I would love to buy you dinner and offer you the chance to get to know our wonderfully unique family.
God bless you!”
What an amazing message. Huge kudos to Tonya for responding in this way.
