Raising A Black Son In Today's Society

I honestly don’t know where to begin. There are so many different emotions running through my head right now. I am tired, afraid, angry, hurt and so much more. Growing up in a biracial family there are things you just don’t see or realize until you are much older. Things I never had to witness, privileges that I had that others didn't. I don't know what it's like to look up to a Black father or have a strong black male figure in my life. Luckily, my mother has always been an advocate about being a strong black woman and it wasn’t until my junior year of college after taking an African American study’s class that I fully learned to embrace being a black woman. I am now proud of my skin proud of who I am and how I was raised. Proud to be black regardless of what society has to say about me.

Even though I am proud of who I am never did I imagine myself falling in love and marrying a black man but I did. Together we raise a Black son who we want to be proud of who he is and where he comes from. I want my son to know that his Skin color does not make him less than. It does not mean he is unintelligent, undeserving, or to be looked down upon. However, in today’s society no matter how much I build my son up and teach him that he is resilient, strong, and deserving of everything his heart desires.

I must also teach him that there are people out there who won’t like him just because of the color of skin, people who will feel threatened by his presence who will judge him before they even take the chance to get to know him. People who will wish him harm or try and cause him harm. As a mother, it hurts my heart to know one day people won’t see him as a cute innocent little boy anymore with a sweet smile and a gorgeous little fro. That day could be tomorrow next week next year I’m not sure all I can do is protect and educate my son the best I can about the world around him.

So while some of you may think it’s not that big of a deal, could you imagine having to explain to your child why they can’t do everything the other kids in their class do, why they must not talk a certain way or dress a certain way because people will stereotype them into something they are not. To have to explain that even if he does everything right someone out there will still try and justify that he is in the wrong do to the color of his skin.

Knowing that there’s a chance one day my child or my husband may not walk through that front door because some ignorant person decided they didn’t like the color of their skin is just disgusting and heart-wrenching. I don’t know what it feel’s like to be a black man in today’s society, I don’t know how my husband feels every day when he goes to work as a young black man in Corporate America. I don’t know how he feels when he goes to the park for a run, to the store by himself, or just for a casual evening drive. What I do know is that no matter what I will always stand by his side and support him for waking up every day and facing the adversity this world has to offer. For setting an example of what a Strong, Proud, and educated Black man looks like for our son. For never giving up because of the color of skin, for never letting the people who doubted him win, for showing up every day as one of the few black men at his job and excelling beyond all measures.

To love and support a Black Men is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I will Uplift him on his off days, and carry the weight of the world if he needs me too. I don’t know his struggles but I will always support his fight. An for my son I will do the same as he grows up and becomes the strong black man I know his father will teach him to be. Raising a black son in today's society may be harder than what I imagined it to be but, I am grateful to have a black husband to help guide the way. An while we will teach our son to love himself and others regardless of skin color I truly hope you teach yours to do the same.

To all the mothers and fathers out there raising black men and women. Remember being black is a privilege, not a disgrace, so remind them to stand tall, be proud, and love themselves no matter how dark or light their skin is. They are Black and they are Beautiful. - Jasmine