“The Talk”: What Do We Tell Our Sons to Keep them Safe?

Our hearts break for the families of Alton Sterling, Philando Castle, the slain and injured Dallas policemen and their families. I used to take solace in thinking that no matter how tough/scary it may seem to parent a black child these days, it can’t compare to the unsettling times of 60’s and 70’s when I was young, with the assassinations of our political leaders, the segregated South, the civil rights struggles, the drug culture, the Vietnam war, etc., etc. But with the many tragedies of this week we move closer to the craziness of those times.

Recent events remind us that we must have “the talk” with our children, especially our sons, about what to do in the event of an encounter with the police. What do we say to them to try to keep them safe on the streets? Almost two years ago, Gawker blogger Jazmine Hughes asked this of a group of parents, and their answers, found here, remain painfully relevant.

What do you say in “the talk” with your children??