Growing up in America

Here at DAJS Daily we try to stay as positive and as motivational as possible.  So speaking on the Trayvon Martin case can be a little tricky trying to stay positive and get a clear point across without dwelling on the race card too much.  So with that being said I want to address this from a parenting point of view.

After hearing the verdict of the case, I cannot lie I was disappointed to say the least.  I understood how George Zimmerman could be Acquitted of the crime but I didn't agree.  Part of the reason was because I didn't understand how anyone whether they are White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or any other race could be walking home minding there own business and be confronted and killed.  I immediately put myself in Trayvon Martin's fathers shoes since I too am raising a young black boy to become a young black man.  Part of my struggle was to understand when my son turns 17 years old and he wants to go to the store for any reason, How will I feel about that?  It's hard to say no to a boy that is a year away from becoming a man that he cannot do something as simple as walk the corner store for any reason.  It's very disheartening when you realize that as much as we want to move our kids from the poverty stricken neighborhoods we have to also worry about moving our kids to a neighborhood where they could be labeled not by their character, but by the color of their skin.  How do I tell my son that the same people that are paid to protect you could also be against you if you need their help?  So when thinking about raising my son I have to break his innocence at an early age to let him know that not everyone is good and not everyone knows you are a good kid.  As parents raising minority children we have to be careful how we go about preparing our children for the real world.  It's important that they understand that in the real world there are people that can care less if you are a Honor student, Athlete, Cheerleader, Musician, or even a Parent.  Some people will dislike you just because of the way you look or the way you are perceived in their eyes.  It's really unfair that we have to teach our children these sorts of things at such an early age, but these days it is so necessary.

It's funny because in a way this has probably helped a lot of parents in certain ways.  Now more parents realize they need to speak to their children about real life issues.  More parents should be preparing their children how to deal with the world and not just how to count money, play sports, or teach them how to dress nice.  Our world will only become a better place if we groom our children how to be great people when they are older.  How not to judge someone on how they look but on what you know about a person.  Our children have to realize that not even freedom is free and that you must carry yourself in a manner that is suitable for all walks of life.  I will say that this situation has opened my eyes to exactly how far we have come as a country and how far we still must go.  The race situation will always be around and simply because we all are different colors, we will always be judged on that.  Race is the prism in which people view other people through and until we realize that and start accepting people not by the color of their skin but by who they are we will never grow as people.  We implore our readers with children to make sure you have conversations with your children on issues such as the Trayvon Martin case or even the Oscar Grant case, just so that they are aware that perception is all most people will use to judge them.