Recently there has been a viral video floating around of a mother detailing her son being arrested at his school and why. Essentially, the child had been controlling the internet at school. The mother explained, “He was shutting it off, turning it back on when he wanted to. It was to the point where these kids had off school. Their teachers could not email each other… They called in the National Guard to figure it out and they could not figure it out.” The video ends with the mother sadly believing the system’s stereotypes, that her child is a “criminal”. This situation lead to him getting apprehended by not only the police, but the DA as well. They chose to arrest him instead of guiding his skills. Minority children, especially black, are never hailed for their excellence. Only criminalized. When will our children be loved and cultivated?
I remember in middle school a lot of kids would resell candy and chips. I admired it. Obviously, the school did not. I saw kids get suspended, arrested, and threatened with expulsion for this. Often times being directly apprehended by the schools police officer. Yes, we had a police officer at our MIDDLE SCHOOL. I never understood why kids got in trouble for these things. I was under the belief we lived in a country that loved free market enterprise. Is it not enough to police us in school as early as 10 years old? Is it not enough to make our parents experience of raising us (and often times themselves simultaneously) the most excruciating thing?
Minorities do not need to be counseled on our mistrust. The builders and operators of the systems we live inside do. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I was told as a child that I have a, “problem with authority”. Did I, really? Or did I have a problem with allowing a person, only because of their position or status, to belittle and disrespect me? To be a minority that rejects disrespect is to be considered a criminal. And they start us off early in school. If we ever want to live in a better world we must start with the proper cultivation of the children. One that is consistent and high quality for all children. The policing of minority children must end. We must let them be free, and shine like they can. A child doesn’t need police apprehension; it needs guidance, love, and an environment willing to invest in their emotional and intellectual well-being.
This incident is not isolated. The mistreatment and criminalization of minority children is a feature of our public school system here in America. Check out this story, and this story to see the pattern more clearly.