[By Dr. Donald Tate, Leonard Burg and Kujaatele Kweli]
It’s time for fathers, brothers, uncles and male role models of young men and boys of color to have a serious talk with them about their survival, justice and the struggle for human rights and realizing their potential in America.
This is imperative, in light of the recent killings of Michael Brown, and Eric Garner, as well as numerous other slayings of men and boys of color - before and after the murder of Emmet Till by the KKK, the record number of lynchings in America’s south, and ongoing police brutality up-south and down south.
The talk must not just be with our own biological boys of color. It must be with all boys and young men of color, since many may not have a father or role model present in their youth to give them the guidance they need to survive, liberate and empower themselves in a world that is hostile and increasing deadly for them. The talk
reveals four main truths:
A. How life may not seem fair, now nor in the near future;
B. What you must do to successfully navigate and negotiate this world, and survive and prosper in
a hostile environment;
C. Who you really are and why you are here; and
D. A call to action.
The talk goes like this:
A. Life is not always fair – why?
1. Justice in America too often means: “Just us”. The rule of law does not mean it applies to all Americans
equally - especially boys and men of color. It should, but it may not;
2. You may be disproportionately suspected and/or accused of activities and crimes you did not commit, and
more often than not you will be suspected, just because of who you are. And, if arrested, it is likely you will
be disproportionally convicted or sentenced, in comparison to white youths for the same crimes;
3. You may be stalked, stopped, searched and possibly attacked or insulted if you go somewhere that is not
considered normal or traditional for an “innocent” young male of color to be, for instance:
a) Walking through a white neighborhood,
b) Driving a luxury car, or
c) Publically displaying affection with a white girl, like holding hands outside of major cities, major
colleges, major amusement parks, major sports arenas or television shows.
4. Your word may not be equally respected or believed, especially in comparison to that of a white woman or
police officer; (you are likely to be depicted as the “300 pound gorilla” in encounters or conflicts with law
enforcement or some white people who are capable of deadly force - even if you are unarmed);
5. You may be disproportionally arrested, convicted or sentenced for alleged crimes; or disproportionally
beaten, shot or killed for “non-violently” resisting arrest. (Note: many states such as Florida have made
“resisting without violence” a crime - especially if you, the arrested one, are a person of color); “resisting
without violence” means you are treated as a “perp” when you:......

FOR MORE:
Please find below links to an article about some of what we aren't always talking to our young men and women of color about, in light of Ferguson, Garner, ET AL. A link to a related podcast is below. Peace. ---Len

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ZndfH8neOYbHZROG4yZC16LVE/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-ZndfH8neOYZ0wwT3ItRndPWHM/view

`WARNING TO YOUNG MEN OF COLORlburg, 12/16/2014

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  • Unfortunately, this applies to women and girls as well.  The police are not just killing men and boys. 

    We need solutions that are going to transform the whole system.  And we can. 

    We need to be giving our young people the skills to be able to transform these situations.  For more about this, see:  We Need Solutions That Work

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