Do Not Give Somebody a License to "Kill" You!

I was at a play date in Ridge Park yesterday. A group of teenagers (2 white girls, 1 white boy, 2 black boys, and 1 black girl) were there off to the side. They were practicing a play. From time to time, the smaller children would run through to climb and slide. My friend sitting next to me had a better view of exactly what they were doing. Well, out of no where, police cars came (at least two or three) and the black male cop and his white female partner came over to the one black boy (who had no idea what was going on) stood him up, frisked him, and had him in a choke hold up against the bench. They found a "gun". It happened to be a play gun!

Other parents "cleared out of the park." My friend and I decided to stay and at least be "witnesses." My friend was bothered because she knew it was a toy. She had been watching them rehearse their play the whole time. She was appalled that he was so "roughed up." I was too. All I could think of is how "we" (black people, especially black young boys) get treated. I was enraged and saddened at the same time. (Talk about mixed feelings and controversy.)

The other black boy from the group was speaking. He was saying how, "it's just a toy..." The black cops (another had come at this point) told him, "somebody called 911 because they thought it was real." The black cop who just arrived asked the boy what his name was and asked him to come closer. The children are actually in shock. I'm sitting there like it is something out of a movie.

My friend goes over to explain to the cops that she knew it was a toy and they were just practicing a play. Her commenting alone, may have bought them some "grace," if you would. Finally, one of the children's mother came over and the cops seemed to "release them" to the parent and they all left.

I am still sitting there, admiring my friend for her bravery and questioning why didn't I go over and "help?" Well, for one, I did not know they had a "play gun." She had more information than I. Also, a part of me wanted to grab the little black boys and smack them.

Dang, for real? For real!!!! But why???? Because they need a reality check.

You don't play...no...black boys don't play with a toy "gun" in a park. Being a young black boy in America with a toy "gun" in a public park, in clear view of houses from across the street, is just not a smart decision.

Think!!! Let's say they came up when he had it out, pointing it at one of his classmates (heaven forbid one of the white classmates) and that's all the cops see. It could have gone badly and the headlines would have read, "Black boy shot down at the park with a "toy" gun in his hand!"

I am the first one to advocate for our young black boys! The cops, once they found out it was a fake, could have talked or "mentored" to them. But, they were probably too angry or emotional at that point...which is not good. Who needs an emotional cop? I know they get calls all the time and to find out it was a toy probably did not help. What's going to happen the next time something like that happens? They will be slower to respond. (Hell, in some neighborhoods they don't come until it's too late!)

Bottom Line - You do not play with "toy" guns...sorry...Black children, especially black boys, do not play with "toy" guns in a park or outside. It is not the same time as when I grew up or heck even before that, when you could play "cops and robbers" and no one would think twice. We live in different times today! And we need to realize! It's not all about what's right and wrong...it's about surviving long enough so we can change what's wrong and make it right. Black America...America...needs to wake up and accept the awesome responsibility of correcting "race relations."

Now I am just reminded that I have to teach my young black son some very different "offensive and defensive" lessons. One lesson - Do not give somebody license to "kill" you! Sorry, that's just how I feel. What do you think?