Racism has continuously plagued society, it is something that has always existed but has always been difficult to discuss. News reports of alleged unjust treatments against people of color, especially towards African-Americans, constantly appear on news channels and on social media. People of color have been especially cautious, as racism has been more blatant. In the short story “Why I Didn’t Call the Police When I Saw Two Black Boys with Guns Next Door”, Victoria Brown was forced to make a decision; should she take a chance and call the police after seeing the children or should she just let them be, fearing that involving the cops might result into the deaths of these African-American boys. In the end she did not call the cops on the boys,
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Brown wrote “I called Monique, Eddie’s mother. When he was a toddler she braided his hair in bouncy little plaits, just like I’d plait our biracial son’s hair the weekend before” (32). She watched these kids grow up, and in the process she developed motherly feelings for them. In a small community like the one she lives in, people look out for each other and with Brown watching them grow up it is only natural that she would prioritize their safety. Had I been in her position I too would worry that they might accidentally hurt each other, considering that from her apartment, she did not get a clear view of those guns at first and thought they were real guns. But her fear of the situation escalating once the police comes in won over, which is the first thing that would come to mind if I was in her place. The police will not just see under-aged children with guns, they will see black boys brandishing the guns at each other and this promotes the stereotype that black people especially black men are thugs. Brown says it herself, stating “No one is going to think they’re playing cowboys and Indians. They don’t get to be cops, only robbers. In their hands the black, snub nosed guns looks real” (32). You can’t deny the fact that a lot of people believe the stereotype that black people are always dangerous and are up to no good; and in this case these people …show more content…
According to Brown, “I wanted them to get in trouble, but with their mothers, not the law. I also wanted them to know I was the one who told on them. And when I run into them they’re going to get in trouble with me” (33).At the end of the day, they are still children who were just playing. Brown elected to just let their mothers to punish them because Brown trusted these women to give the boys just punishment. Their small community was like a family, and they looked out for each other. They would do everything to make sure nothing bad happens to each one of them. It would be better to have these adults in the community lecture the kids of the real dangers they could face caused by racial bias and stereotypes than have them locked up in jail somewhere or
Brown wrote “I called Monique, Eddie’s mother. When he was a toddler she braided his hair in bouncy little plaits, just like I’d plait our biracial son’s hair the weekend before” (32). She watched these kids grow up, and in the process she developed motherly feelings for them. In a small community like the one she lives in, people look out for each other and with Brown watching them grow up it is only natural that she would prioritize their safety. Had I been in her position I too would worry that they might accidentally hurt each other, considering that from her apartment, she did not get a clear view of those guns at first and thought they were real guns. But her fear of the situation escalating once the police comes in won over, which is the first thing that would come to mind if I was in her place. The police will not just see under-aged children with guns, they will see black boys brandishing the guns at each other and this promotes the stereotype that black people especially black men are thugs. Brown says it herself, stating “No one is going to think they’re playing cowboys and Indians. They don’t get to be cops, only robbers. In their hands the black, snub nosed guns looks real” (32). You can’t deny the fact that a lot of people believe the stereotype that black people are always dangerous and are up to no good; and in this case these people …show more content…
According to Brown, “I wanted them to get in trouble, but with their mothers, not the law. I also wanted them to know I was the one who told on them. And when I run into them they’re going to get in trouble with me” (33).At the end of the day, they are still children who were just playing. Brown elected to just let their mothers to punish them because Brown trusted these women to give the boys just punishment. Their small community was like a family, and they looked out for each other. They would do everything to make sure nothing bad happens to each one of them. It would be better to have these adults in the community lecture the kids of the real dangers they could face caused by racial bias and stereotypes than have them locked up in jail somewhere or