Protecting Our Young Black Men — Safety, Awareness, and Survival. How To Deal With the Police?

Having young Black men, even at the ages of 20 to 25, can be challenging for any parent. For parents in interracial marriages who have Black children, they are often facing the same hard realities that Black parents in America have endured since the time of slavery and Jim Crow.

All parents should talk to their children about how to interact with police, regardless of ethnicity. However, it remains a unique and urgent conversation regarding young Black boys and men.

By all means, young Black men should be respectful and courteous to authority, and authority should, in turn, show the same respect. But when that mutual respect is absent, the primary goal must be survival and making it home safely. This is a hard pill to swallow, yet it is a reality that must be addressed.

The street is not the place to fight battles against unjust authority. Those fights belong in the courts. Our priority is ensuring that our boys and men return home safely to their families.

Know Your Rights

• Unless an officer has probable cause, you are not required to answer questions.

• If you have not committed a crime and the officer does not inform you of a crime, you have the right to remain silent.

• If asked for identification without legal cause, comply in a calm and respectful manner while keeping your safety in mind.

• If you are detained, officers must tell you the reason.

• If you are arrested, officers are required to read you your Miranda rights.

These are essential points for our young men to know when dealing with police.

The Role of Media and Social Media

Unfortunately, the media often contributes to the vilification of innocent Black men, sometimes for ratings or to sensationalize a story. This portrayal can make harmful treatment seem justified in the eyes of the public.

Social media can also distort reality, showing only fragments of confrontations—whether there is wrongdoing on one or both sides—which can mislead viewers and escalate public tension.

Prevention Starts at Home

One of the safest approaches we can take is to ensure our young Black boys and men remain positively occupied. We must give them more constructive attention at home than they find in the streets.

There are countless community programs available to keep our young people engaged, both boys and girls. Setting curfews is another simple but effective tool. When the streetlights come on, our children should be home—whether we are at work or not. Our children are our responsibility.

We must remain mindful of the company our children keep and continue having open, honest conversations with them about:

• How to deal with the police

• How to remain calm, even in frightening situations

• How to act when pulled over while driving

The ultimate goal is simple: make it home safely, then fight the battle in court.

Citations:

1. U.S. Department of Justice. Your Rights During Encounters with Police. (https://www.justice.gov)

2. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Know Your Rights: What to Do if You’re Stopped by Police. (https://www.aclu.org)

3. Eberhardt, J. L. (2019). Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do. Viking Press.