When My 7-year-old son started school, we began having conversations about what he wanted to be when he grew up. When his response was a cop, I was mortified. I didn’t let him know that and instead sought to understand why he selected that as a career choice.
As I listened to his response, it was because, during his early childhood education, they glorified police officers and made them sound like national heroes. It was then that I decided to tell him that, while cops are supposed to uphold the law and protect and serve all citizens, that wasn’t always the case, especially when it came to Black people. I showed him countless examples of cops breaking the law and committing acts of brutality against us so that he could understand that, while all cops aren’t necessarily our enemies, they aren’t exactly our friends either.
He’s a young Black boy. While he’s cute right now, in a couple of years, he will be viewed as a threat. He needs to understand that now.
The problem is racism is taught. When White kids grow up in a household where teaching oppression is the norm, and Black kids are taught to love everyone all the time, conflict ensues. Your daughter may not understand that when the little girl in her class teases her by saying she looks like a monkey, or that her hair is nappy, or that her skin doesn’t look clean. She won’t understand the gravity of what is being said to her, which also means she won’t be able to confide in you about it.
Each child is different, and as a mother, you’re certain to know more than anyone else what your child has the emotional maturity to handle. However, remaining silent on an issue that permeates our society is not an option.
