As Mississippians return to work and children return to school this Monday, they endeavor to keep New Year’s resolutions which include losing weight, reading more, saving money, etc. While all these resolutions are good and if kept are likely to put the person in a better circumstance regarding their health, intellect, and financial stance – I would like to add one more to your list which will make Mississippi a better place for all. This year resolve to treat every person you encounter with the same dignity and respect with which you want to be treated.
Why am I making such a plea? Two recent experiences endured by my sons, there are more which I am sure others can relate to, but I will highlight only two.
Experience 1: “Welcome home (Mississippi) – I hate coming here”.
My eldest is a college graduate and Biology teacher living and working out of state. Recently, when visiting home he was followed by a law enforcement officer for about 15 minutes as he traveled Mississippi roads. When the officer finally decided to pull my son over, about five miles from our home, and my son, who had broken no law, asked why he was being stopped as he handed him the required documents. The officer’s response: “I just felt like I needed I needed to stop you and check you out. You are driving a Mercedes and you have out of state plates.” After enduring this very unnecessary and uncomfortable stop, my son called me and with a sound of fear and frustration said with sarcasm “Welcome home – I hate coming here”. This broke my heart because Mississippi is home for us. It is where he was raised. It is from whence he fled with his education, skills and talents because here he cannot drive home without being stopped because he was “driving while black”.
Experience 2: Hoodies vs. Caps
During the holidays, my youngest son and I were out shopping. My son has his own “swag”. He likes to wear shirts that button down with hoods. He hangs the hood off the back of his head. The hood is not covering his ears nor is it forward covering any portion of his face. He can see and be seen. As we walked through the stores making our purchases, bags in hand, a security guard comes up to my son (as if I were not walking right beside him) and orders him to remove the hoodie. My son, out of respect of his elder, immediately complied. I then looked around and wondered “what just happened?” As I looked around, I saw several Caucasian young men standing in the middle of the mall. This gang of young men were laughing loudly with no responsible adult in the vicinity. They were wearing baseball caps that were pulled down to their eyebrows, the bib on the caps had been bent so that their faces were obscured. I was perplexed. No! I was pissed. So I asked the officer why my son, who was walking with his mother, had been directed to remove his hood from his head. The officer very aggressive said “it is mall policy – No Hoodies!” I then inquired if the other young men would be required to remove their head coverings. “A cap is not a hoodie! No! They will not be asked to remove them”. I asked him if he thought the policy was fair. He said “it’s the policy ma’am and I am going to enforce it”. Without starting an argument, I asked what does the child look like against whom he more likely to enforce the “policy”. He just looked at me – the obvious answer hung in the air. After this encounter, needless to say, I was ready to take my money and go home. My son, unfortunately, in a subsequent conversation, said he was used to the two Mississippi’s “one for me (an African American young man) and one for them”. Again, my heart broke. I don’t want him to ever be “used to the two Mississippi’s”.
The “illegal stop” and the “hoodie policy” are race based. These race based practices and policies impact not only the individuals who must endure unequal treatment but they impact the future of Mississippi. So I ask you to resolve to treat everyone equitably. Treat my sons and other young African Americans like you want to be treated. Don’t judge them by what they drive, or by what they wear. Don’t judge a co-worker by who he/she chooses to love. Don’t see a Black man in a wheelchair and think he is now a person with a disability as a result of some gun crime. Don’t look at a single mother and automatically in the grocery store and assume she is on welfare (so what if she is?).
It’s a New Year, be a new you. Let’s make Mississippi no longer the bastion of the old south – let’s resolve to make a New Mississippi.
I highlighted two personal experiences and my response – share your experience and how you wish you had been treated.
