Rage Against The Minivan

I’m scared to let my son wear a mask. But I’m scared for him not to . . .

As a mom of a tall black 15-year-old who is often mistaken for an adult, we’ve had lots of conversations about bias and appearance. It’s always been a balancing act between wanting to allow for self-expression, and wanting to minimize the actual physical risk that can be inherent in bias against black men. But face masks to protect against COVID-19 are not a conversation about self-expression. They are now a recommended course of action to reduce coronavirus infection. So I’m posting this to say . . . please look at this photo and examine your bias. If you are white, be mindful that the black people in your community are actually having the conversation of “is it even safe for me to wear a mask?” They should not have to ask these questions.

Just this week, two black men were escorted out of a Walmart by a cop for wearing surgical masks as recommended by the CDC. In a recent article for The Guardian, Aaron Thomas said, “My fear of being mistaken for an armed robber is greater than my fear of Covid-19.”  He’s not alone. “Black folks can’t even wear hooded sweatshirts without being accused of being criminals,” Michael Jeffries, a Wellesley College sociologist, has said. “To issue guidance like this without any historical awareness — especially given recent and traumatic history — it’s going to be hard for people to follow that advice considering the consequences, which are literally deadly.”

ReNika Moore, director of the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, similarly said, “For many black people, deciding whether or not to wear a bandana in public to protect themselves and others from contracting coronavirus is a lose-lose situation that can result in life-threatening consequences either way,”  The fact that Black people are dying at disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 is another alarming aspect of they way racist injustice factors into this pandemic.

I don’t have the solution. But it’s something we need to be talking about. Because this is a picture of a high school freshman with asthma. He plays on his school’s football team, he’s the bassist for his youth group band at church, and he’s a gentle and kind big brother to three younger siblings. And I’m scared to have him leave the house wearing a mask, but scared to have him leave the house without one.

 

Comments

  1. Lashunta says

    Thank you again for not being afraid to have this type of dialogue. it breaks my heart that we even have to think about this. 💔

  5. Cori Fiddes says

    that is a scary thought. I wish it were differEnt, but you cant afford letting him weAr a black (scary?) mask. Maybe something in a easter palette or childs PATTERN? I realize it isnt just, but He SHOULDn’t be risKing his own safety to prove others biases. (Why is this typijg only in caps… ive tried to fix)

    • Vivian says

      So it’s ok for white people to wear a black mask but not black people??? Seriously — That thinking — that white people want black people to watch everything they say, do, and wear — is a huge part of the problem right there!

  6. Danielle says

    Absolutely. im terrified for my aa young adult brothers. Thank you for calling peoPle’s attention to the inherent risks for black men in this PreDicament.

  7. Amy clark says

    Love you, your worK, and this.

    And my husband is beside me saying “yeaH! You got to commit to that ramp!” 🤣

  8. Chris says

    What is the situation you refer to in this article? Who was arrested and why? Is there a news article or police case number that we can follow?

  9. Larry says

    I see a young man who is doing the right thing, for both himself and those he may come in contact with. It PAIns me that others would not see him the same way

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