In Dana Canedy's work, "The Talk: After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race," she discusses "the talk" she had with her son. It's increasingly common for african-american parents to feel the need to discuss how to interact with police officers with their children. This is due to the also increasing number of incidents involving police officers and fatalities for black people. When Canedy has this discussion with her son, who is fairly light skinned, he asks, "Can I just pretend I'm white?" This puts Canedy in a difficult position. On one hand, she wants her son to be safe, instructing him to not make sudden movements, to always use "Sir" or "Ma'am," and to always be seen in the best possible light by police officers, which would make "pretending to be white" a logical choice for staying safe. However, she also wants him to be proud of his heritage, she doesn't want him to have to pretend to be anything he's not. If her son has to pretend to be white to be better viewed by the police, then that implies that black people are inherently worse. This work articulates the precarious balance that the black community faces. Is it better to be right or safe? Why should people of color have to become something they're not to stay alive? If people of color have to deny themselves, what else are they denying? Their parents, their heritage, that racism even still exists? Despite Canedy and her son being upper middle class, she still has these fears for him. On the other hand, there’s overwhelming evidence that it is not safe to be a black person confronted by police in today’s society. Even in this work the names of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice are mentioned. Would it not be better for Canedy’s son to have the ultimate safety precaution a black person could have by not appearing to be black? Would it be better for her son to be proud of his race or alive and unharmed? These are choices that the black community, especially the youth, should not have to make.
In the reading, "The Talk: After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race," Dana Canedy's work about how she was trying to figure out how she was gonna give her young son the talk about how to approach the police. Dana Canedy told her son that he needs to be respectful to the officers, and her son asked why he couldn't just be white ? Even a young child seems to understand to a point of the problems we have about race in our country. We have a serious problem when someone feels inferior about their rave and would rather try and blend in with another race. Dana Canedy, says that its like her son is rejecting herself.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, "The Talk: Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race" by Dana Canedy, the author struggles telling her son Jordan how to be respectful and "safe" around law enforcement. The author explains that Jordan, although African-American, has white characteristics like blue eyes and light skin. When Canedy tells her son that he needed to be cautious around police, due to the nature of his race. Jordan responded by asking his mother if he could "act white," illustrating a dilemma of safety versus acknowledgment of Jordan's black heritage. This issue of race shouldn't be a problem in today's world, but as history as shown, people do not change much. In the podcast "Ally's Choice," the speakers discuss how a white family that is only 1/16 African-American continue to identify as black. Although their skin is very pale, everyone except the daughter identifies as black. The way Ally sees it, her skin is white, so she is white. Plus, white people get treated better than black people in her East Jackson residence. This just goes to show to instances of ypung people coming to terms with their identity. Ally has made the choice to say she is white. However, Jordan still has the chance to figure out if he wants to embrace his black heritage and not pretend to be something he is not.
ReplyDeleteBoth the article and podcast touch on the idea of being a mixed race person yet “passing” as white. In the podcast, a family who were primarily white, with about 1/16th of black in them shared how each person identified with their race. The mother identifies as black along with one of her daughters while the other one does not. This decision was made based on the previous torment and bullying endured after originally identifying as black. The article speaks about a mother having “the race talk” with her fair skinned black child. Being no secret or shock that black men are often singled out by police, the mother knew she would need to do her best to make sure her son understood the meaures he needs to take in order to stay safe. The son, however, simply suggested to just pretend to be white instead of going through all the trouble since he could pass anyway. This comment left the mother very distraught. These sources are very similar in the aspect that being white makes things easier, but also hold the counterargument to not be ashamed of what you are, even if others believe they are superior. In the podcast the mother wanted her daughters to feel they needed to hide any aspect of themselves and even though it’s a harder life, the mother in the article wanted her son to love his blackness.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to have a poker face when it comes to law enforcement. I am a firm believer in being proud of who you are and your heritage, but there is not doubt that it is unsafe for everyone to be themselves around police officers. Now is this an issue, the fact that you have to "act more white" around police? Of course it is. But the fact that its wrong doesn't eliminate the danger of not complying. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, it is impossible to deny the fact that many law enforcement officers are racist or can have some bias against certain races. Now not all police officers are corrupt in this sense, but it is better to put on your poker face anytime you're around police than to try and take it case by case and risk being in danger. "The Talk: Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race", is an unfortunately very real part of life today. In no way do I agree with the authors son denying his identity, but it is important that he realize that accepting who he is is important, and a poker face for those who don't like it and are in authority is also important.
ReplyDeleteIn Dana Canedy's text, "The Talk After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation about Race," she faces the tough decision of whether to allow her son embrace his heritage and face tougher circumstances or take advantage of the safer option of "pretending to be white." I feel as if the son should embrace his heritage and not conform the ethnic societal standards when coming in contact with the police. One should not be intimidated by the police because their job is to "serve and protect". One should behave in a respectful manner but should not change their demeanor in order to expect different results. This article implies that based on race one should conduct themselves a specific manner in order to expect a certain outcome. The mother should not have to explain to her son the procedures to go through when coming in contact to the police. Based on the events that revealed the severity of police brutality, the mother feels obligated to tell her son how to act. The son should not be in fear because of the police. Police brutality has caused much controversy that many african american mothers feel the need to make their black children aware of the police deterring them away from their true culture.
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