I am angry, and sad, and frustrated today. My thoughts are with the people of Ferguson, Missouri, especially the family of Michael Brown, as a grand jury chose not to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer charged in the shooting death of the teen. Let us not forget that we must all continue to work together for racial justice.
I am at a loss for words as I think of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and all of the other Black victims of unwarranted violence who have not made the headlines. I am scared for my son’s friends who are Black. I am scared for all of the Black boys in our country who must listen to “the talk” from their parents on how to stay safe in a society that too often wants to suspect them simply because of the color of their skin.
Shortly after Brown was shot, I posted a list of readings and resources that captured my attention because of my own location as a White lesbian mom with an 11-year-old son. They may or may not resonate for you, but I post them here again in case they do. I welcome your suggestions in the comments on additional articles, books, and insights that have helped you understand or take action against racism in general or the events in Ferguson in particular. I’m sure much more will be written in the coming days.
- A’Driane Nieves wrote “America’s Not Here for Us,” over a year ago, long before Michael Brown was shot. In it, she answers her kindergarten-age son’s question, ““Mom-are we still slaves? Do people still hate us, African-Americans?” I heard her read the piece out loud at the BlogHer conference last month, and it was a raw and powerful sharing of her truth.
- I also found myself getting choked up over Janeane Davis’ post at BlogHer, “The Ferguson Shooting Has Me Scared for My Son.” Her son is 11, like mine.
- Last year, I reviewed the book American Family: Things Racial, by partners Stacy Cusulos and Barbara Waugh, the White adoptive mothers of two Black children. Their story, while far from identical to that of Michael Brown’s family, also shows the deep current of racism that still pervades our society and affects our children. I recommend it (and their website) for one perspective on the impact of racism.
- Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, asked her African American teenage son and Eva Paterson, founder of the Equal Justice Society (with whom her son is interning) to write a post with their reflections on Brown’s death. It, too, is worth a read.
- On a practical note, when Trayvon Martin was killed, Welcoming Schools posted some useful links to resources for talking about the tragedy with children. Parents and teachers may find them useful yet again. (Their link to Teaching for Change is outdated; the correct link is here.)
- Another great list of resources for talking with kids about Ferguson is Marcia Chatelain’s “A crowdsourced syllabus about race, African American history, civil rights, and policing” at The Atlantic.
As I said before, I hope I can raise my son to be a strong ally. I hope I can be a good role model for showing him how we as White people can and should work to erase racism in our world. I hope that soon, no parent ever has to worry, every time her children leave the house, whether they will return alive.
