In “The Talk: After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race” by Dana Canedy, the author talks about the precautions that she would come to tell her son when dealing with the police. She lists these precautions or procedures as “Always address police officers as sir or ma’am. Do not make any sudden moves, even to reach for identification. Do not raise your voice resist or run.” These tips seem like the common logic of how to act when in contact with an officer but when they reach a certain age as the author’s friend states “before they were no longer seen as cute” everything a person of color does can be seen as dangerous. I’ve seen this in the news; black men are dehumanized with mugshots and labels such as thug and criminal making them seem as though they are just a dangerous person and not a human with rights. On the other side, white people who commit crimes are labeled as children, and you see their prom or Instagram photos making them more appealing and worthy of a second chance. This image that the news puts out groups black men into a bubble of being dangerous, causing these prejudices to be made and fear to be put into people. I see why the author’s son wouldn’t want to be seen as black because he would want to be seen as an innocent child rather than a dangerous criminal.
My mom always told me and my brothers not to let our good be evil spoken of, which means taking extra steps to make sure people see that you are in the right, leaving no room to assume you could be in the wrong. I don’t know if other races take extra steps to seem less dangerous or even have “The Talk” with their children, I can only speak for myself. What I do know, is that a lot of races face prejudice and labels that have been put out through the media and events, but in order to get out of our labels and be treated like the majority group what has to be done?
Your connection between the situation in “The talk after Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race” and incidents shown on the current news stations was one I also made. In the text we see the results or consequences that happen from these racial bias situations, the parts that the news doesn’t really show us – the precautions these incidents force upon families. For those who don’t face these racial conflicts it is simple to say “it is unnecessary to raise children with such distrust of police – police brutality/bias/etc. isn’t real” but fear of not being ready for a similar situation forces them to continue with caution. It’s an endless cycle.
ReplyDeleteThough I have never personally been in such situation, I could never imagine being ashamed of my race or how I identify. The fact that these situations lead to children to not only feel shame but also be fear because of their race, well it’s heartbreaking. How can we call our selves such an advanced society when we still have people who are forced to live in fear from those who are meant to protect them?
I agree with the blogger that other races besides being white always have to be more careful around the public. I agree that they are always held to a higher standard to police and can’t move unless being told and always have to be respectful. We see this on the news, but I am sure white troublemakers would have to follow the same guidelines, it is just not casted on the news because the white population doesn’t want to see their race treated ‘unfairly.’ When African Americans encounter a police officer, they have been taught to say sir and ma’am and to never take harsh movements. The thing that is troubling with that is it is still a form of racism that I don’t think will ever leave America soon. Because of America’s history, it is extremely hard to get rid of race inequality when there are still people alive today who lived with racism. I don’t think it is fair for African American families to have a ‘talk’ with their children because we never hear of white families having ‘talks’ with their families. I think it is better to never see color and never judge a person by what they wear or their skin color, instead we should care about how they treat others and present themselves.
ReplyDeleteDana Canedy the author of "The Talk: After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race", discusses a "talk" with her child concerning the biased faced from law enforcement.There is no doubt that biased and racism exist in modern America. Saying ma'am and sir to an officer is common sense, as well being respectful. Teaching children respect as whole instead of just to officers would be more beneficial than differentiating who deserves respect and who does not. However, reciprocity should be accompanied by law enforcement. The media shows us both sides of brutality. The killings of the innocent by police and the brutality of looting and the shooting of officers. I understand that it is the media's job to show news, but the focus on violence and chaos separates America. The promotion of distrust divides everyone. The "talk" also promotes distrust, it promotes the assumption of cops being untrustworthy and unfair. Rather than having the "talk", let children decide on their own through experience. If general respect is taught instead of selective respect and the general assumption of biased is denounced trust can be established. Police brutality is never justified, but is the minority of encounters. Focus on violence promotes violence and distrust, elements of chaos. The media shouldn't focus so intensely on such things.
ReplyDeleteFrom "The Talk:After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race", I can personally relate growing up in Austin TX, I was always the only African American in any program or sport that I was put in and was respected as the person I was. Kids would point out what I was doing and call me and Oreo because I was Black and interacted more fondly with other ethnicity other than my own. And asked my mom why kids are treating me this way and she had to have the same conversation with me when I was younger. Speaking to my mother over the topic to which now that I am old enough to understand I understand it might of been difficult to explain because at that young age I couldn't grasps the concept. Until I encountered situations that opened my eyes showing me how other people view me as an African American. Even though I was identified and judged based on my race I always identified myself based on my actions. That's what my parents embedded in me to understand that people will look and assume until you surprise them with your character. Within this article is resembles the struggle of identity that can be affected by society whether in school out with friends and most importantly within the household.
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