Ever Since the Z. Verdict I Find Myself Noticing Black Men and Boys...
more than I used to. I'm always wondering if they are worried, if they don't feel welcome wherever we are (restaurants, stores, streets). I know that if I ever see anyone hassling one of them, I'll step in somehow. I've always been one to get involved when someone is bullied, but now I actually look for situations. Here in Northern Virginia there is a lot of diversity so nobody really sticks out. So far I haven't seen a problem, but I find myself paying attention to every black male face and offering a silent little blessing just in case.
That slogan "God Bless America" has always bugged me because it's so often used by those who consider America so much more exceptional than the rest of the world. But these days GOD HELP AMERICA often comes to mind.
We are going to have to be "our brothers' keepers" in big political and small daily ways if we are ever going to change our corrupt for-profit prison industry and the irrational hatefulness of racism.
= new reply since forum marked as read
about:
1. How black boys should conduct themselves in public
2. What to do when stopped by police
3. What to do when being followed
4. How to dress and talk when interacting with whites
All these issues serve as evidence that race is still very important.
Everyone jumped down Geraldo's throat for his disgusting comments, but in a way, he's right. It's a sad reality. For all those who claim that they wouldn't have profiled Trayvon Martin, there are a lot more who would.
I think there's been a great deal of dishonesty about race in this country. White people have a very difficult time coming to terms with it because many truly believe that they are not racist. But racial bias is a reality. And until we start being more honest about race and how it impacts us, especially on a *psychological* level, I think we'll make a great deal of progress.
I thank you so much for your post. I thank everyone for this entire thread.
I think that surrounding ourselves constantly with people who are unlike us will help a great deal to combat *psychological* racism or internalized bias. The more we interact, the more we will make progress on race relations in the country.
But sweeping it under the rug; dismissing it; claiming that it doesn't exist or that things have gotten better so black should just stop being sensitive...all these attitudes make it that much harder to achieve progress.
I feel like we're in a living nightmare - as if all the gains of the 60s have vanished.
It makes me so sad to think about the conversations you have to have with your children. My own sons wore their hair down to the middle of their backs in high school and college - they're artists and a little rough around the edges sometimes. They were profiled and pulled over by so many cops who were suspicious of long-haired guys, so I told them to be polite to the police but never offer info without an attorney because it's impossible to tell a good cop from a bad cop. Still, they could have cut their hair any time (they did every once in a while and donated it to Locks of Love) - but the color of skin and racism is a whole other thing.
It's funny - last year for my birthday I bought myself two photographs from an art gallery. The shots were taken at The Alternative Media Conference in Vermont, 1970. ("alternative media" way before the internet!) The photos show some "hippies" at a music event - one is of people joyfully dancing or quietly listening to the music and the other is of two topless girls lying in the grass. I bought them to remind myself of the energy and hopefulness I felt back then growing up - but I had no idea that now, a year later, I'd feel as if we have to start all over again.
Thank you for sharing - if we all stick together we'll get there! 
