[quote]thehebrewhero wrote:
Thanks Myosin thats a very well put statement. Its nice to see someone see it that way. Weather people want to agree or disagree on how race was used in Travons case will be forever debated. Im kinda done dealing with it now. And have come to the conclusion that there is such a gigantic divide on race perceptions and gun control that you will be on one side of the fence or the other no matter what.
That is how it is but for black people and fathers of black & brown kids it?s a much more complex and fucked up situation then what most white people can grasp. Which is how can I protect my son from a world where non-trained, un-identified, gun packing citizens have the ability to do their own police work based on their non trained non professional assessments Thats where race is a MEGA issue…
So as a father of a brown or black kid how do we train them to deal with that world? I now have to introduce my son to the neighborhood watch guy not only in my neighborhood but the neighborhoods of friends he could possibly go? WTF!! I have to make sure his clothing is up to the standards of middle age white people? WTF! How do I teach him whats suspicious walking? If hes too slow its suspicious if hes running will someone will chase him. If someone chases him does he freeze, or does he try to defend himself? Is something going to happen if hes at a new friends house and people dont recognize him.
White people with white sons for the most part wont have that fear. Im not a Navy seal with a law degree so how fuck am I supposed to make sure my son lives to see me die? Its hard enough having to worry about the police shooting an unarmed black or brown kid. Now we have to worry about everyone else. My father never had to teach me how to deal with police so I dont get shot, as a white man thats a non issue. For that matter he sure as shit didnt bring up armed citizens.
For black fathers teaching their kids about police is pretty normal. The perception of being safe because of police is not shared by all. Things like street sweeps, and corruption do exist but largely not in suburban or rural communities which are predominantly white. Add in the now fear of average possibly uniformed want to be cops and the fear level has just gone red alert for all parents of black & brown kids. Worst of all we have no way to protect them.
In regards to race on this matter?When everyones packing that?s why race tolerance, understanding, and reason are so god damn important.
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Even if black parents opt to turn their children into some Carlton Banks clones, those children will still be vilified. It will not matter whether the kid goes to an Ivy league school or is from the ghetto. As I said in some of my previous posts, I know of, and have witnessed, wealthy, intelligent, well spoken and articulate, black men dressed in expensive suits and, driving expensive cars, racially profiled by the cops, stopped and searched for no reason whatsoever. Why? The cops assumed the car was fucking stolen. Or there was drugs inside. Or the owner was part of a gang. Fucking hell. Really?
And, it’s funny how some people will tell you, ‘‘Oh, just teach your kid to be polite and respectful toward authority… yada yada…’’ as if that will be enough to stop my son, nephew, father, uncle or cousin being stopped,frisked, beaten or killed in the street by some racist pigs or wannabe pigs on a power trip. It’s as if blacks kids are a bunch of unruly, disrespectful animals, with a lack of core values, who need to be kept in check, because an inherent fear of the ‘‘violent, criminal, big black man’’ has been ingrained into white people’s mind.
