Feb 19 - The Talk

"when you're having the conversation with your child about getting their driver's license. Well, a white family - their biggest fear is just that you're driving safely and that they're minding the rules of the road, whereas a black family - their biggest fear is that their child is going to get pulled over and treated unfairly for a reason that they won't understand.”

Regina King

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About "The Talk"

Keep your hands on the wheel, no sudden movements, and listen to the officer. Advice a young Black child will hear from their caregivers one day. There is a difference in America between the conversation parents have with black children, as opposed to those with kids of other races.

This conversation, known for generations as “the talk,” has been a staple of the Black community since the time of slavery. During “the talk,” children or teenagers are explained the dangers they face from authority figures due to racism. Because of the racist history of these institutions, the burden to de-escalate the situation is placed on the child or teenagers, not the figure of authority in the interaction. Our panelists will discuss what it’s like to have ‘the Talk” with their children, how it feels to tell their children they might be the target of racial profiling, and what they believe the future holds.

Black parents and caregivers want to provide a good life for their children, to see them grow, to see them prosper. Black families want to feel safe where they live, work, and play. We hope this panel has given everyone a little more to think about as we continue to confront institutionalized racism.

Speaker Information:

• Use Stories tab below to share your experience as a parent or child with "the Talk"
• Use Ideas tab below to share an idea for helping young people understand topics of racial injustice
• Use Questions tab below to share a topic you hope will be covered by our guest speakers