I remember finding out my first born was going to be a boy. One second I was rejoicing. With 4 sisters, a niece and a host of female cousins I felt like I hit the lotto. The next second I felt like damn, "I am raising a Black man!"
The woman in my family fared pretty well. College graduates, home owners, etc. My male cousins didn't fare as well. One was killed just short of his 19th birthday by a friend showing off a family gun. His last words were "See what you did?" because he told the friend to put the gun away. My most promising cousin period is still struggling. It goes on and on.
I can't even say it is just this country. United States of America. As I travel the globe I continue to see people of African descent on the "bottom". Or even the darkest people of a particular Nationality. India, China, Brazil, the darker you are, the lower you are.
I have the smartest, sweetest, and the most talented son. He is unapologetically "Black". Chocolate skin, full lips, curly hair. I raise him with manners, I stress education, I try to expose him to everything but in this country it doesn't matter.
With Blacks getting the worse education, the worse medical care and the lowest jobs, it's hard to break through.
When a Black male public figure makes a mistake they are crucified. Even with no convictions Bill Cosby, "OJ" Simpson and Michael Jackson were American heroes but have been destroyed by the same media that made them. But White male public figures who are accused of or commit crimes they are given the benefit of the doubt.
Woody Allen, Charlie Sheen, Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage, Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee, Ozzy Osbourne, Micky Rourke, Christian Slater, Dudley Moore, etc. It gets quickly forgotten and they are able to make a living for their families and have a good name. Even win awards and accolades.
Who can my son even look up to as heroes?
Ever since the Rodney King, verdict I am sadden when I here of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, etc. I cry for their moms whom have loved their kids, wiped their tears, kissed their boo boos and all for what? To be wipe out senselessly and then to be victimized again by the judicial system. But the saddest part is that ever since the Rodney King case I am no longer surprised by these verdicts.
In high school over twenty years ago I remember crying to my friend in disbelief after the verdict for Rodney King was read. After all, there was the video. My friend was also African-American. She consoled me.
I later spoke about the verdict with an Asian friend. She said simply, well he must have done something wrong. I paused and didn't react, it was her truth.
I just thought wouldn't it be nice to live in that America. There are many Americas for different people. The plight of the Native Americans, the undocumented, the Muslim, the poor get ignored for Kim Kardashian butt pictures. But I digress.
What can I tell my bright, kind, loving and inquisitve kids about our America? The one that represents the free labor that built this country but is hated. I am sincerely asking because I don't know.
EsposureMom
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