I'm seriously wondering. You know you are raising your kids in a country (world?) where there is skin color discrimination. I'd imagine the AAs reading on here are well-to-do -- do you teach them that the world should accept diversity and sing kumbaya? Because if I had an AA child -- esp a son -- I would tell him that if the cops stop him and ask him to do anything -- he does it. Even if it's dumb. Even if it accuses him unfairly or whatever. We will deal with "fixing" the situation later -- he just needs to make it out of the situation alive.
Why do so many AA young men have the view that they can and should stand up to the cops? Sure Michael Brown wasn't armed, but many black men of that age group are -- why would any cop give him the benefit of the doubt?? If they told him to get on the sidewalk -- why not get on the damn sidewalk? And why not teach AA boys to dress a bit more respectably instead of embracing the thus culture? I'm guessing someone walking around in jeans with a sports coat is a bit less likely to be harassed than someone in a hoodie. I am sure DCUM will jump all over me, but I am genuinely curious. I am of a different profiled class and you better believe that at the airport and in gov't buildings -- I am on my best behavior; always carrying ID, polite even if I have to go through another damn security check for no reason, dressed professionally etc. I know my profiled class has created issues for the world -- I don't want to give anyone a reason to have an issue with me. Seems like AAs don't think that way. |
My guess is that they do teach their kids to be respectful, but they are teenagers. Teenagers do what they want and are frequently stupid. Difference is a white teenager is unlikely to get shot for it. |
Because they have a 300 year old chip on their shoulder. |
I'm wondering if there is a dialogue going on in AA homes that is very blunt saying -- we think it's unfair this kid was killed but that's how cops are sometimes, so if you are ever stopped, do exactly what they say. Because the dialogue going on publicly is how terrible this is. It is terrible but the notions about black teen boys aren't going anywhere any time soon -- so why not drill it into their heads how one must act as a black teen? Why not tell them it's unfair but that's how the world is instead of giving them ideas that protesting and demonstrating will change the underlying attitudes. I feel like this should be drilled into their heads the same way you drill in things like seatbelts every time you get in a car. |
Ha! Have y'all just discovered The Talk?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/03/22/149130431/after-trayvon-martins-death-were-all-having-the-talk None of this is news to AA . |
I'm black and agree with you completely. |
Agreed. BUT knowing that people will see you as a thug or a gang banger if you are the least bit disrespectful -- why not go out of your way to be as respectful as humanly possible. Yes it's unfair that lacrosse bros don't have to do it, and you do -- but why not go with it because that's the society in which you live. I guess I just don't get why AAs can't accept -- yes the world is unfair, here's how to survive in it despite that. The dialogue is always -- the world is unfair is, white bros don't have to deal with this. That's true they don't -- but since you as an AA must deal with it, why not find ways to do so?? |
What's wrong with hoodies? Plenty of non-black people wear hoodies. What does a hoodie have to do with getting shot by the police? And what teenager wears a sport coat? You're being silly.
Do you have some proof that "many black men of that age group" are carrying weapons? I'd like to see it. How do you know this is true? |
Someone please tell all the white, Asian, and middle eastern college and hs kids that hoodies are "thug" clothing and not respectable!! |
But white and Asian men aren't in a profiled class already. The point is -- if you are already in a profiled class -- not bc you did something but bc that's society's perception of your race, why not go out of your way to keep your nose clean? |
Not sure that AAs as a race have accepted it -- because the dialogue is NEVER "this is how the world is" but rather "this is so unfair." Even you started with all the reasons that it's different for whites etc. Who cares -- you're not white so that's not how it is for you. |
Get a job in any federal or state court w a huge criminal docket -- you'll see how many black men come through the doors for a crime, violent or not and also have a charge for an unlicensed concealed weapon. You can deny it all you want but a very significant % of black teens in poorer areas have a weapon. |
I disagree. You just don't hear about it on national news unless it's a very young person, or gay or black or whatever will get people riled up. I've known AA boys and girls who will get into altercations because of "disrespect" and end up going to juvie for it. Not all of them do that, just those who are not raised right. There are those always looking for a fight and sometimes they get it. |
I will say I was more sympathetic to the Michael Brown case before it came out that he stole. Yes -- I realize it's unconnected to him being stopped and no I don't believe that the punishment for stealing $40 worth of cigars is being shot. It just demonstrates a thug like manner of living that I just can't be that sympathetic to -- I mean this isn't a case of the kid stealing food to feed his family but cigars --bc he thought it was his right to walk in there and take whatever he wanted. |
I think African immigrants would be more likely to want to distinguish themselves from the stereotypical black person thug image. |