A Conversation About Growing Up Black | Op-Docs | The New York Times

Summary

The speaker shares personal experiences of racism, highlighting the emotional toll it takes on individuals and communities. They recount instances of racial profiling, fear, and the struggle for acceptance. The narrative emphasizes the importance of awareness and resilience in the face of systemic prejudice, while also expressing a desire for a society where people are judged by their character, not their skin color.

Takeaways

• 😔 Racism is experienced as a belief in racial superiority, often accompanied by discriminatory actions.
• 👀 The speaker has been singled out in class discussions due to race, highlighting the uncomfortable awareness of being different.
• 🚶‍♂️ Instances of racial profiling are shared, such as being advised to cross the street to avoid a group of black kids.
• 👮‍♂️ Law enforcement has been a source of fear rather than safety, with experiences of being stopped by the police for no apparent reason.
• 🏠 The fear and caution instilled by racism affect daily life, even with simple actions like walking home.
• 👕 Even harmless items like a sweatband can be misinterpreted and linked to negative stereotypes.
• 🤷‍♂️ The speaker feels the need to act in a certain way to avoid negative assumptions based on race.
• 🏡 The fear for personal safety extends to family members, with the speaker's mother being afraid for her son's well-being.
• 🌍 The concept of freedom is questioned in a society where racial profiling and discrimination are prevalent.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's parents have provided guidance on dealing with racism, emphasizing awareness and self-respect.
• 💪 The importance of self-worth and personal integrity is highlighted, despite the external challenges posed by racism.

Q & A

What is the speaker's personal experience with racism in school?

The speaker experienced racism in school by being the only black student in class and having uncomfortable moments when racial topics were discussed. There was an instance where a white classmate wanted to cross the street to avoid a group of black kids, which was a clear act of racial bias.

Why did the speaker's classmate want to cross the street when encountering a group of black kids?

The classmate wanted to cross the street to avoid the group of black kids because of a fear or prejudice associated with them, which is a reflection of internalized racism and stereotypes.

What was the teacher's reaction when the speaker was wearing a sweatband?

The teacher asked the speaker to remove the sweatband because it was perceived as gang-affiliated, which shows a lack of understanding and a potential racial profiling incident.

Why did the speaker feel the need to cross the street to avoid a white lady?

The speaker felt the need to cross the street to avoid causing fear or discomfort to a white lady due to the racial biases and stereotypes that might make her feel unsafe around black individuals.

What was the speaker's experience with the police?

The speaker was stopped by the police aggressively while leaving his mom's house in pajamas and also while walking between classes, which highlights racial profiling and the feeling of being hunted or filling a quota.

How does the speaker feel about the concept of freedom as a black man?

The speaker feels that as a black man, he does not truly feel free and is constantly aware of the potential dangers and biases he may face, which is a stark contrast to the idea of living in a free society.

What advice does the speaker's father give him regarding his safety?

The speaker's father advises him to be aware of his surroundings and the potential dangers he may face, emphasizing the importance of being cautious rather than living in fear.

How does the speaker's mother's advice differ from his father's?

While the speaker's father focuses on being aware, the mother emphasizes enduring and dealing with the challenges of being a person of color in America, suggesting a more stoic approach to facing racial issues.

What does the speaker wish for people to know about him?

The speaker wants people to know that he is a good person who should be judged by his character and actions, not by his race or the stereotypes associated with it.

How does the speaker's upbringing influence his approach to dealing with racism?

The speaker's upbringing, with parents who provided him with resources and values, has equipped him with the foundation to survive and navigate the challenges of racism, teaching him to act appropriately and do what is right.

What is the speaker's message to his parents about their guidance?

The speaker expresses his love and gratitude to his parents for raising him well and giving him the tools to navigate life's challenges. He assures them that he will continue to act in a manner that reflects their teachings.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Encounters with Racism

The speaker shares personal experiences of racism, highlighting the discomfort and fear it instills. They recount instances of being singled out in class, being judged by their appearance, and feeling the need to cross the street to avoid causing fear in others. They also describe being stopped by the police for no apparent reason, which underscores the systemic nature of racial profiling. The speaker expresses the emotional toll of these experiences and the constant vigilance required to navigate a society where they are perceived as a threat.

Keywords

💡Racism

Racism refers to the belief that one race is superior to others and often results in discrimination and prejudiced actions. In the video, the speaker describes personal experiences of racism, such as being singled out in class discussions about race or being treated with suspicion by others based on their racial identity. The term is central to the video's theme, illustrating the lived experiences of racial bias and its impact on individuals.

💡Superior

The concept of 'superior' in the context of the video relates to the idea that some individuals or groups believe they are inherently better than others. This belief is a core component of racist attitudes, as it justifies discriminatory behavior. The speaker mentions this in relation to feeling judged and stereotyped, highlighting the internalized sense of superiority that can lead to racist actions.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of a person based on their race, color, or ethnicity. The video script includes examples of discrimination, such as the speaker's friend wanting to cross the street to avoid a group of black individuals, illustrating how discrimination can manifest in everyday life and affect the targeted individual's sense of safety and belonging.

💡Stereotype

A stereotype is an oversimplified and generalized belief about a particular group of people. In the video, the speaker discusses being judged based on stereotypes, such as being associated with gangs due to wearing a sweatband. This highlights how stereotypes can lead to misunderstandings and negative assumptions about individuals based on their race.

💡Dehumanization

Dehumanization is the act of depriving a person or group of the status of being human, often involving the denial of their individuality and humanity. The speaker mentions dehumanization in the context of how black individuals are portrayed in the media, often focusing on criminal records rather than their humanity, which contributes to a broader societal devaluation of their lives.

💡Prejudice

Prejudice refers to a preconceived opinion or judgment that is not based on reason or actual experience. The video script includes instances of prejudice, such as the speaker's teacher advising them to remove a sweatband due to its perceived gang affiliation, showcasing how prejudice can lead to unfair treatment and assumptions about individuals based on their race.

💡Gang-Affiliated

The term 'gang-affiliated' in the video is used to describe the assumption that certain attire or accessories are associated with gang membership. The speaker recounts an incident where a teacher mistook their sweatband for a gang symbol, illustrating how racial profiling and stereotypes can lead to false assumptions and unwarranted suspicion.

💡Police Brutality

Police brutality is the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by law enforcement officers. The video script describes the speaker's experiences with aggressive police encounters, emphasizing the fear and mistrust that can develop between law enforcement and racial minorities, particularly in instances where the police act in a manner that is perceived as unjust or oppressive.

💡Freedom

Freedom, in the context of the video, is discussed in relation to the feeling of being 'free' and the psychological impact of living under constant surveillance and fear. The speaker contrasts the concept of living in a 'free society' with the reality of racial profiling and discrimination, suggesting that for racial minorities, the experience of freedom is often compromised.

💡Awareness

Awareness, as mentioned in the video, refers to the conscious knowledge and understanding of one's surroundings and the potential dangers or biases one may face. The speaker's parents advise them to be aware of the world's realities, particularly regarding racism, to navigate it safely. This highlights the need for individuals to be vigilant and knowledgeable about societal issues to protect themselves.

💡Survival

Survival in the video is not just about physical existence but also about maintaining one's dignity and identity in a society that can be hostile to racial minorities. The speaker talks about the resources and support provided by their parents as essential for their survival and ability to navigate a racially biased environment, emphasizing the importance of community and family in overcoming adversity.

Highlights

Definition of racism as a belief in racial superiority coupled with discriminatory actions.

Personal experience of being the only black student in class and the associated discomfort.

Incident of a white friend wanting to cross the street to avoid a group of black kids, highlighting racial bias.

Teacher's misconception about a sweatband being gang-affiliated, reflecting stereotypes.

Self-consciousness about causing fear in white people by simply walking down the street.

Police stopping a young black man in his pajamas, illustrating racial profiling.

Feeling of being hunted by authorities meant to protect, indicating a lack of trust.

The emotional toll of racism on the individual and the community.

The dehumanizing portrayal of black people in the media after being victim to violence.

The pressure of having fewer chances and the need to be constantly aware and cautious.

The struggle with the concept of freedom in a society that is perceived as oppressive.

The father's advice on being aware of the world's realities without living in fear.

The importance of being judged by one's character rather than the color of one's skin.

The role of parents in preparing their children for the challenges of racism.

The emotional burden of racism on the younger generation and the need for early awareness.

The resilience and determination to act appropriately despite societal challenges.

The love and appreciation for parents who provide the foundation to navigate a difficult society.

Transcripts

you

racism means basically like a large part

of a race feels that they're superior to

another race and so and so not only do

they believe that but they act on it

examples would be in class sometimes I'd

be the only black kid and we read a book

like I don't hug Finn and then there's

that uncomfortable moment the magic word

I come up and people would look at you

like what's his reaction and things like

that I was walking home from school with

this one white girl and we just got off

the bus and we were about to we were

almost home

and they're these group of black kids

that just got out of school and she was

like oh let's cross the street there's a

group of black because I don't want to

run into them and so she told me which I

don't even know why she would do that

this was sweatband like just to

reinforce my wrist and had a teacher

come up to me and say you should take it

off because it looks gang-affiliated

I've been in situations where you know I

had to cross the street because I didn't

want to scare the white lady that was

walking I would actually we'll get to a

point where I would start to count how

many times a woman would clutch her bag

when I was sixteen I was leaving my

mom's house in my pajamas which had

snowmen on them with my brother and we

were actually stopped by the police

rather aggressively I've been stopped by

the cops on my way between classes it

was we have two separate buildings

walking from one building to the other

building as my white students in the

same class walk by me it's kind of

upsetting because we live in a world

where my mom has to be afraid when I

walk outside from the people that are

like meant to protect me and I just I

don't like when my mother feels like

that you know I love my mother she

should always I wanted to always be

happy you know I walked tall I keep my

head up very you know try to be very

articulate and polite and so of course I

was like okay I'm gonna be fine because

I act a certain way and of course that

is absolutely nothing to do with it

people the way people perceive you you

know is not up to you my parents taught

me oh you know cops are your friends

you're supposed to know they're here to

protect you but all I'm seeing is

so how can I not be free afraid when I

feel like I'm being hunted when I feel

like I'm there to fill a quota we are in

the so-called free society and as a

black man we literally don't feel free

we don't know what freedom is every time

we were killed the first thing you see

on the news is a criminal record or

something like that so from the from the

second the bullet hits us already we're

sorry to be dehumanized with black

people like myself we don't get as many

chances as as they do so you have to be

aware and you have to watch out and you

can't mess up this was an extremely

emotionally taxing process for me in

terms of coming in terms with maybe the

nature of racism in my own life entered

in this country and in this world and if

you wait until somebody is 12 13 and 14

to put that on them it's it's real it

can be really difficult my dad he's just

like the honest one a cyclist inside

like there are things in this world like

you have to you kind of have to watch

out he doesn't want me to live in fear

but he wants me to be aware I want

people to know that I'm perfectly fine

and I'm not gonna hurt anybody or do

anything bad I should be judged about

like quite Who I am and like and what

kind of person I am

my parents would tell me I supposed to

my mom she would tell me you have to

endure you have the most authority and

like and this is no different

it's a part of being a person of color

in America and there's a certain

comfortability associated with that

because if I know that something is

inevitable then I know how to deal with

it I fortunately I've had parents who

have said this is what you do mom and

dad

I'll be fine because you did a good job

raising me you gave me all the resources

and the time the blood sweat and tears

to make me a good man an honorable man

and the foundation to survive in this

country I want you to know that I will

act in a appropriate manner and do

everything that you told me to do

because I do love you and I know that

everything you say

isn't that for a reason and not just to

talk to talk and I love you