after trayvon---what do you say to your son?

now that trayvon gets no justice...and even before the trial did you talk to your son about what they need to know about being a black man in america and what to do when you are out?

what about your daughters?

 

If I had a son I would tell him not only Trayvon Martin but,Emmett Till and the others in between.

 

ok.......so what will you tell your son about being a black man in america?

I will give you an example.....when a cop comes to your car...keep your hands on the steering wheel and dont move em until he give you orders

 

He's only 11, so I have a little bit of time yet. I honestly don't know. I know I need to tell him the truth, but I also don't want to destroy his innocence and hopefulness just yet. As for tips: steering wheel? Ha! I keep my hands in the air like I'm being robbed.

 

lol. I have done that...only when I had to get out. I got out because I was heading to the store and the cop pulled up behind me. then I put my hands up. he just laughed and stated my tag expired

 

I had one tell me I could put my hands down and I asked him if he was sure, lol.

 

I am not a father. In the aftermath of this case, SYG will give anyone a license to kill if they were in fear for their lives. But, with no witnesses, it goes unchallenged. This was a concern facing black youths years before Trayvon Martin. This case has divided the nation. But, sadly, a young boy is dead. Everyone wants action. Either it is to have a lengthy and one-sided dialogue about guns and gun control, or to find out why everyone is so afraid that they believe the world is a battlefield. Again, as Master Yoda says,"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. And hate leads to suffering." Depending upon one's point of view, it is agreed that violence is unexpected and too terrible beyond words.

 

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

Remember the henry louis gates incident? My thoughts at the time were whether it's a cop or a crook or some combination, when you're accosted with armed men just try to keep the situation calm and don't get angry or anything. however you're going to react (or feel you need to react) getting upset doesn't help anything.

The guy in this vid from the other thread has it right in that regard.

I'd tell my son that, among other things of course.

[YOUTUBE]QTLWEck5hOg[/YOUTUBE]

 

I tell Noah the same things I've always told him, and instill in him the same values, work ethic and morals I have from day one. My son is 10, but even at his young age knows this cold world is brick and mortar. Our favorite quote is "steel sharpens steel"...this incident, though unfortunate, doesn't deter us Barrows from what we set out to do. Just another learning experience. Needless to say, he won't be wearing any hoodies in gated communities, that's for God damned sure!!!

 

Stop wearing a fucking hoodie son

 

I would teach him on expectations and how it differs with context. It starts with understanding how expectations at home differs from expectations at his grandmother's house. The same way it plays out amongst extended family is the way it plays out from neigbourhood to neighbourhood. And across states, regions and countries.

I'd use many examples to highlight my point. One would be Obama's video while he was at Buckhingham palace and I 'd show him how Obama seemed out of place in terms of social expectations, or possibly mannerism. And that not being familiar with what is expected in a setting can make you feel like a fish out of water. He would have to learn to read cues in various social settings.

I'd push this sort of discussion using the idea of learning to adapt as a means of survival. If you want to survive you must have flexible social skills that include amongst many how to adapt your dressing and speaking to the social setting you find yourself.

And finally, I'd round the discussion up with the idea that we communicate with our clothes, what we don't say and what we say. And also that how we behave would be interpreted using the lenses of those in the majority of the space we find ourselves.

[YOUTUBE]7ZCsfyaOGdw[/YOUTUBE]

 

I would tell him to not embarress the race by dumb ass revenge race crimes blaming all whites like killing a baby in a stroller, shooting a white Austrailian jogger in the back "because you are bored" or beating to death an 88 year old world war two veteran who survived the Battle of Okinawa. I would tell him to not be an "ultimate idiot" and make all black men "public enemies number one" to be targeted by an already paranoid public of black men which will in turn cause blow back by white racists who will have an excuse to kill black men at random. Then all hell will take place for a mini race war.

 

to be honest with you I didn't think this was just a conversation for young black men...more like all young men...I am not convinced that George Zimmerman would have only shot and killed a young black teenager...that kid could have easily been Hispanic or white with a smart mouth and challenging demeanor...todays youth does not think before they act and you never know who you are dealing with anymore...the other day we were in the car and the guy in front of me went right up behind someone that was trying to parallel park...my son said if that was me trying to park I would get out of my car and kick that mf ass...this is where mom interjects with a teaching moment...no you won't get out of your car because you don't know that the person in the car that just blocked you doesn't have a gun...

 

You're hilarious. Thought you were supppse to be smart lol

 

Happy to give another brotha with blinders a laugh.

 

None of the crimes you listed were racially motivated. They were two robberies and a senseless murder which were committed by two.black.kids and a white one. So where does being black come in? Unless you believe.every black man regardless of innocence or good doing is some.how.responsible for.the.actions of people.they don't know.nor.never met.
You would teach your son no.matter what he does people will treat him badly.based.on.the action of.others? Stellar parenting my friend.

 

You're a pussy.

I guess Travon should have put on an Armani suit just to run to the store for his kid brother.

What a sorry pitiful motherfucker you are.

 

You're naive

How do you know Tryavon had a smart mouthed demeanor?...you weren't there....you must be taking Zimmerman's word for it.

Zimmerman was gunning for who he killed.

He knows he can't get away with shooting an unarmed white or hispanic kid and GET AWAY WITH IT.

 

do you have teenagers? I don't know very many that don't have a smart mouth especially when they get all pumped up about something...I am not naïve at all when it comes to this subject...you weren't there either so you don't know that he didn't...did it ever occur to you that trayvon could have gotten out of this alive...did he tell George Zimmerman that he was staying with his dad...that his dad lived in the gated community...and that he was just walking home...we need to teach our kids what to do if they find themselves in these situations...my son has a friend that I am constantly patching up from one fight or another...he is a hot head...

you are naïve if you think that all of our kids don't need to learn how to handle confrontations