"When My Cute Black Kid Becomes What You Fear The Most"

[pnwmom]

By Lauren Dillard

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-establishment/when-my-cute-black-kid-be_b_8943120.html

Today, my kids are deemed "golden" and "adorable" and "sweet" because they look the way society has decided children should look. In a few years, as they grow into black young adults and men, that same line of superficial reasoning will mark them as dangerous.

Parenting to this fact is a near-impossible task.

We cannot protect our children by choosing to live in a low-crime, suburban area--they will stand out more. We cannot shelter our children by sending them to private schools we can't afford--they will never learn their heritage and the truth of what they're up against. We cannot safeguard our dear sons by making sure they keep their pants on their waists or hoodies off their heads--they will be judged either way.

To every sweet older white woman we meet who squeezes their cheeks and makes sure to look me in the eye and tell me my sons are gorgeous, I silently plead with you to remember this when they're teenagers, towering over us both. To every mom of my sons' peers who tells me how cute their hair is, I beg you to recall this moment if one of my sons is who you see when you open the front door for your child's first date. To every black person who does a double take at my pretty sons and their tired, black parents, I want to remove the blindfolds and hurt of hundreds of years of self-hatred and shame. To the police officers who smile and wave at the boys as they walk side by side with me, I would give anything for you to remember them as small, bright-eyed, and admiring--as sons of a loving mother, as humans with the right to live.

SNIP

As they grow, I find myself worrying more and more about the day the world will turn on them. Will they notice as they make the switch from boys to men that they've also transitioned from adored to alarming?

[Kalidurga]

1. We cannot protect our children by choosing to live in a low-crime, suburban area

I would say move to the suburbs anyway. There are a whole lot of POC in my neighborhood. And yes the cops are terrible, but no worse than in the more urban areas of the Twin Cities. They just tend to be terrible to most everyone unless you are very rich then they are all smiles when they deal with you.

[pnwmom]

3. The point is that black people face special challenges from others no matter where they live.

Moving to the suburbs just gives a different set.

[Kalidurga]

4. Yes I know

If all your choices are terrible you take the least terrible.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. America is the only country where killing young black males is free.....

Mainly because they are considered to be "scary".

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. kick

[malaise]

7. Everyone should read this

Rec

[frizzled]

8. Rationally she should go live in a low-crime suburban area.

I'm not sure why she rejects this reasoning.