Oh yeah, the rabbit hole runs deep!
I’ve had family members and friends get pulled over and searched for no apparent reason. As a woman of color, I haven’t encountered that same fate. However, I do worry about my son. As a parent, I would feel it’s important for him to learn the black male code of the streets.
I’d tell him:
“Know your surroundings.”
“If you ever get stopped by cops, just cooperate.”
“Be yourself.”
“Be educated.”
“You can be strong and confident, but don’t be overly aggressive.”
Black Male Code??? The “Tips” are just being a good person. This reeks of this clip from classic SNL:
Sorry, whites don’t get any crazy special treatment.
I obviously won’t live my life in fear. But I do think that it’s important to educate our sons of color. Let them know that this world can be a scary place, and inform them of the rules on how to avoid becoming another Trayvon Martin.
Don’t go pounding a stranger’s head into the pavement and they won’t feel the need to kill you. Its really simple…and oddly color has nothing to do with it.
Thankfully the comments show SOME glimmers of hope:
We have 3 biracial children and I am pregnant with our fourth. I am hispanic and my husband is black. People are viewing this case based on race…its not. Hispanics get profiled just as much…and guess what zimmerman was hispanic. I’m sorry but my husband and I are on the same page-its not “black code” its manners and respect for others and the law. I was taught to never insigate or throw the first punch. I believe when u entered into a fight with someone expect the worst. Hispanics get pulled over for no reason as well and we started the civil rights movement before AA did in terms of equal opportunity and education. Like I said I am hispanic and when I get pulled over I don’t mind-i have insurance and a license so feel free to do ur job. Its when people in general act ignorant and aggressive that problems occur. Train ur child in the ways of the Lord and they will never turn from it! Its not about “steppin on egg shells around white folks” its about manners and the way u carry urself.
Let’s hope the sensible people can reclaim the streets from the racists!
I had to listen to a friends rant about that yesterday. That he had to learn that lesson from his black grandma. His white mom didn’t know to teach him.
That and how the three rednecks calling his white GF a N lover in a Wally World parking lot would have killed him if he stood up to them and claimed self defense and gotten away with it. Funny cause as long as I’ve know him he’s been a clean cut guy.
I explained to him that while yes there is such a thing as driving while black it’s not always the case. Just because race difference is present and doesn’t mean the situation is race related.
I also explained how self defense laws actually work and actually he would be justified in using lethal force if attacked based on disparity of force.
He didn’t get it. Wanna see my shocked face.
When someone wants to see racism that’s all they see.
Is it still racism to notice that the people who see racism everywhere are all one race?
Only if you are not of the minority race