We’ve all witnessed or experienced instances where assumptions lead to harmful consequences. Picture this: you walk into your neighborhood coffee shop with your child in tow. You settle at a table, make your little one comfortable, and wait patiently for a friend to arrive. After a brief chat and some playful moments, you finally get to order your drinks. This is a normal day for many.
However, this was not the case for two Black men who visited a Starbucks in Philadelphia recently. Their attempt to use the restroom and meet a business associate was met with suspicion when employees deemed them trespassers for not making a purchase. The police were called, leading to an arrest that quickly circulated on social media.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Consider the case of 19-year-old Jordan Smith, who faced police scrutiny while buying a designer belt in New York, simply because he was a young Black man making a purchase that raised eyebrows. Or take the tragic story of Marcus Johnson, who was shot by police in Ohio while holding a toy gun in a store. These moments highlight a painful reality: many Black individuals face severe consequences for merely existing in public spaces.
Some may shrug it off as just a coffee shop incident or a single arrest. But the issue runs far deeper. The reality is that African American men can be subjected to dire outcomes for minor infractions or actions that are completely harmless. For example, in Sacramento, police fatally shot Stephon Clark, mistaking his cell phone for a weapon. Eric Garner lost his life for selling loose cigarettes. Tamir Rice was just a child with a toy gun when he was killed.
Starbucks CEO Alex Johnson acted quickly following the incident, issuing an apology and announcing that the company would close its locations for racial bias training. Yet, the underlying damage had already been done. Training sessions alone cannot dismantle deeply ingrained stereotypes and biases.
People raised in predominantly white communities, or those who consume biased media, may view Black individuals through a lens of fear and ignorance. This often leads to unwarranted reactions and an inclination to call the police when they perceive a threat where there is none. This is white privilege in action.
As a white woman, I feel compelled to address this issue. My perspective changed dramatically when I became a mother—specifically, the mother of a Black child. The swift transition from a homogenous family to a multiracial one came with challenges I hadn’t anticipated. I had learned about racism in theory but never experienced it firsthand until I brought home my daughter, whose beautiful brown skin and curly hair drew curious—and often intrusive—attention.
Racism, whether overt or subtle, is exhausting. I’ve encountered questioning looks, assumptions about my child’s background, and even derogatory terms aimed at my kids. Such experiences reveal a troubling reality: race is always a factor when a person of color is involved, despite claims of colorblindness, which only serve to ignore systemic issues.
Just hours before the Starbucks incident went viral, I was coloring with my children when my seven-year-old expressed, “I’m tired of white people being mean to brown people.” It’s a poignant reminder that children recognize injustice long before we think they do.
I can walk into any coffee shop or fast-food restaurant without fear of being questioned or followed, a privilege not afforded to many. Ignoring the existence of systemic racism means failing to acknowledge the humanity of people of color. We must confront our biases and recognize the beauty of diversity alongside the pain that has been perpetuated for generations.
To learn more about navigating the complexities of race and parenting, check out this insightful article from Modern Family Blog. For those exploring options for starting a family, consider reading this excellent resource on pregnancy and the at-home insemination kit for more information.
In summary, it is crucial to recognize the impacts of racial bias and strive for understanding and change. Only by acknowledging the challenges faced by communities of color can we work towards a more equitable future.