Racism: moving from fear and prejudice to learning and celebration

Ahead of World Children’s Day, inclusion advocate and father of three Conor Buckley wants us to shift the focus from race and skin colour and instead celebrate our differences

Conor Buckley with his wife Lauren & children, L to R, Jonah (4), Georgie (1) & Chrissie (3), at their home in Clonskeagh, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Conor Buckley's three-year-old, Chrissie, never describes her black doll’s ‘skin’ colour. “She says, ‘Will you get me my doll with the pink dress?’ or, ‘My doll with the basket’,” said the father of three. 

His children never ask why a person has brown skin. And if they do, it’s OK, because curiosity is to be valued.