Ray Charles– It Ain’t Easy Being Green
It Ain’t Easy Being Green
This of a repost of something I did back in March of 2012. I never repost but I felt it was important due to Saturday’s events.KilO
As a black man that one day wishes to have a son to carry on the surname Young, there is a talk that I must have with my son(s) that the mere thought of I dread.[i] The awkward conversation that I speak of is not the one about sex. It is not the one about why you shouldn’t listen to Drake. It is the conversation about how to deal with law enforcement that fills me with unreasonable amounts of dread. The dread stems from the fact that unlike the talks about sex and the evils of listening to Aubrey the law enforcement talk shouldn’t be necessary.[ii]
Last night while listening to a local talk show that was discussing the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, by a “neighborhood watch” captain George Zimmerman and I started thinking that raising or being a little brown boy is a hell of a thing. For those of you who don’t know the late Trayvon Martin was profiled because he “looked suspicious” by Zimmerman who was on neighborhood patrol of sorts getting his Frank Castle on. Zimmerman made a call to local law enforcement about Trayvon walking through a gated community in the rain and was told to not engage and to wait for the police to arrive. Zimmerman didn’t listen and because he chose to not do what he was told Trayvon Martin is dead.[iii]
To be clear this isn’t about the foul deed that George Zimmerman has done or allegedly done. It’s about how young black males are viewed by men with badges and not so much by men like George Zimmerman who seemed to forget that he did not have a badge. Before I go any further let me state that I don’t hold any malice towards law enforcement as whole. The men and women who do that job for the most part are invaluable. I respect them for the most part and chuckle at the notion that one of the odd points of transitioning into adulthood is when you realize that “F*ck the police!” has been replace with “Where the f*ck are the police?” in your lexicon.
My dread comes when I think about the future. The future where I have a nice family and all of the stuff that comes along with that. I dread informing my son(s) that most black men in the United States have an uneasy relationship with the police. Dread seeps into my conscience when I think about the day that I have to sit down and tell my son(s) about how to deal with law enforcement who hopefully wants to help you and those who just perceive you a something you aren’t. My dread increases when I tell my son to not make sudden movements. I will fervently tell him to announce that you are reaching for your wallet by audibly saying “I’m getting my wallet!” when the cops ask to see some identification. Followed by complete but unnecessary explanations about your actions-telling officer so and so who you are and what you’re doing there.
More dread bubbles into the back of my throat like bile when I think about telling my son(s) to not trust or certain cops because they aren’t up to any good. This dread will no doubt increase when I see the look in my son(s) eyes when I say to them that “No son, it doesn’t matter if the cop is black like you or not, you still have to do what I’m telling you.” and see nothing but befuddlement. I will carry that look and reflect on it later when I’m looking into the mirror, shaving my head wondering why I have to prepare my son(s) for yet another unfair battle they have to fight but didn’t ask for. Sorry but my sons must study politics and war in addition to mathematics and philosophy- and this too deepens my sense of dread.
As a future father the dread will only continue as I think of my son(s) walking from the library at his college to the Starbucks around the corner at 11:30 at night only to find that he is being eye-balled by the occupants of a Crown Victoria or whatever the squad car of the future will be. This feeling continues as I tell them these things wondering if they too will one day have to instill this same knowledge into the minds of their son(s). Sure there are other instances of dread that I can only assume that comes with raising daughters but this is about sons.
Sadly, this is the world we inhabit. I wish this wasn’t the case but if I ever have son(s) this talk will have to happen. It must. Even if I were a cop I WOULD STILL have this same conversation with male progeny. Going back to my “Where the f**k is the police?” statement I only wished Trayvon could have spoken with a good cop who would have hopefully told George Zimmerman to go sit down after Trayvon Martin explained why he was there.
I’m not a parent but things like dealing with vigilantes and dirty cops make the seemingly unnecessary necessary things that my parents told my brother and I make so much sense. In hindsight they too experienced that same dread that for the moment I can only speculate about.
*Sighs*
Vaya con Dios.
[i] Nothing against little chicas, who are adorable as all get out, but deep down whether they will admit it or not most dudes, would love to have a little dude to teach things.
[ii] “Got to. It’s America man.” This is the most versatile quote to ever come from The Wire. It fits into so many aspects of everyday life.
[iii] I don’t have all of the details in this case, hell it isn’t even a case right at the moment, but I speak only to how the surface issues appear.
Up Here on Cloud 9 
EXCELLENT POST!!!!!!!!!
i have many of the same fears as a future mother. like you, i wish this wasnt a discussion that needs to be had with our young black boys. but its crucial. because it could mean the difference between life and death. *sigh*
Thanks Gemmie!
Sadly, this isn’t a new discussion. I’m pretty sure the first black freedman living in the north somewhere told their sons similar things. The fact that it’s 2012 is a moe troubling issue.
as a father, I can tell you that this convo will be made easier by the fact that it won’t be the first awkward and dread filled convo you would have had with you son. By the time he is ready to have this convo, you may have already had to talk with him about race in his classroom, at church, at the Y, daycare, etc.
Actually the convo sucks everytime I have to have it but, if I don’t have it with him, he will have it with himself and I’m not sure how he would process it.
Good luck
I kind of figured from observing my parents and my friends with kids that parenting is the one rodeo that doesn’t ever get easier.
“Actually the convo sucks everytime I have to have it but, if I don’t have it with him, he will have it with himself and I’m not sure how he would preocess it.”
Yeah, these things must be done. As a kid, I could only imagine how working this out in my head would have only lead to more confusing questions.
What I dread even more, is the prospect of a “next Trayvon Martin”. I was looking at a mosaic of baby pictures of African Americans, smiling, grinning, looking off in wonder. It made we wonder myself, what the future might hold for them each. And then I felt fear literally grip my heart at the thought that for at least one of those photos I saw, one of the futures is a violent confrontation with someone with a prejudice, a gun, and belief that they have a right to kill based on their fears and suspicions.
I will be afraid every day of my waking life for my nephews, who are great kids, who could grow to be outstanding pillars of their community, who will be seen a threat (who can be dealt with, with deadly force) because someone else fears them. Their education won’t matter, their 2 parent home won’t matter, the lack of a criminal record won’t matter. I am afraid because every day, it seems to be reaffirmed that we are literally unsafe, no matter what we do, no matter how much we’re minding our own business.
These aren’t accidents, they are data points in a well established pattern, and one I would not ever experience again.
I don’t like the fact that I’m a member of what often looks like an endangered species, more specifically gender. All of what you care for can end on the misguided whim.
Good post Wu!
I too, hate the fact that this conversation has to happen. Unfortunately, the way the world views young Black males, it’s definitely a convo that has to happen.
I’ve been thinking about Trayvon a lot since I heard about the case. I have a nephew who is also 17, and I’m forever talking to him about how to act, and what to do. Makes me sick that this azzhole can try to get his cowboy on, kill this boy, and still be walking around.
I’m disgusted.
Check this case that happened here.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/news/2012-03-09/investigation-of-officer-involved-shooting-closed/
What’s worse is the fact you may tell a young man these things and he will be okay except for an encounter with one idiot.
Sad, but true.
How long do you think that cop will stay on the force? You know no one wants to ride with him.
Not sure. I’m still tripping he got no billed. A mess. 😦 The family has a civil suit in the works, but of course what good does that do?
Great post!!!
For some reason, this post made my heart hurt.. The fact this has to be the thought process with people that are supposed to “serve and protect” makes my spirit angry.. This should be an unnecessary conversation, in this day and age. What hurts the most is, as long as there is a minority, there will be a bias/prejudice in some form..
It’s disgusting.. and all I can do is shake my damn head.. I knew we were fighting an uphill battle even though no one wanted to speak of it.. But to have it out there and so blatant.. It’s ugly..
Nick, I really this is a flash point. Maybe it will prompt us to stop killing each other. Maybe bad cops and others will get the point. Maybe…