At what point does my darling black son begin to look like a pariah to the world? At what time do people start seeing him as a threat? A gangster? A thug? The first time I experienced this look, what I call “the look of disgust” was at a Farmer’s market. My son wanted to buy a honey stick and was refused service. He was four years old. The murder of unarmed teenager Michael Brown has sent ripples of fear for all of us who are raising black sons. These are our babies. Please make it stop.
This young man is 50X more likely to be shot by another African American. You are focused on the wrong problem and diverting attention from the real tragedy. Young men with no fathers and no family. You could help these young men much more by strengthening families and education.
Heartbreaking. No one should get a “look of disgust,” but it’s so much worse when it’s a young child. And the little boy who decided he didn’t want to be a police officer anymore; such injustice is exactly why he should! We need officers who will see brown and black boys in hoodies as BOYS in hoodies and not thugs or suspicious. Our children should ALWAYS be able to march to their own drum, regardless of color or age. #Blacklivesmatter