You betcha.
My youngest son was among the most stupid of the two boys.
First I get a phone call from a police officer stating my son was the intersection of Smith and Jones and needed transportation. When I arrived he was standing in the rain with the police car on the opposite corner with lights flashing. The car he was driving was in a ditch and unable to be retrieved without the assist of a wrecker. I was grateful no one else was involved. The police officer did not issue a warrant because it was raining. The car needed body work. It was not a minor issue.
His excuse? His would be girlfriend, whom's father was a police officer and didn't like him, called and said her parents were out of the house. It was not a minor issue.
Two days later I paid a visit to the prospective girlfriend's home when I saw her father's cruiser parked out front. I spoke with the father and asked if the relationship between his daughter and my son had changed recently as there was a rendezvous planned recently. He stated he didn't approve of the idea of his daughter having a regular boyfriend, she was 15, while my son was 17. I told him I understood completely and there would be no more problem. I wanted to put an adult face on the idea my son was out of control and endangering his daughter. The father thanked me for the information and visit.
It was getting closer to the end of my son's senior year and I received a phone call from one of his principles as he took an advanced course in Marine Biology at a different high school. When I answered the phone the principle stated this was very important and I must come to the office.
I was alarmed and worried. I didn't usually get that kind of phone call from authorities. I went to the school and stood at the desk while the Vice Principle called me into his office. Outside of his office were four young men and the only one I recognized was my son.
I went into the office and he called my son in to have a seat. He closed the door. He took a seat behind his desk opened the top drawer and pulled out a ten inch Bowie knife. My chin nearly hit the floor and it must have appeared as though I was going to pass out. The VP asked if I needed a drink of water. My son at the very same instant began to apologize profusely for this dilemma now facing me.
When the shock was over I looked at the VP and asked if there were any deaths or injuries associated with said knife. He stated no, but, this was found in the pocket of my son's jacket. I had never seen the lousy weapon before and immediately asked my son where he got it. He stated he wasn't sure, but, he thought one of the other three put it in his pocket when they were discovered drinking alcohol in the grove of trees in the back parking lot during a study hall.
Now, I was angry.
No one wants me to be angry. Promise.
I turned toward face my son directly and forget all I said to him, but, when I was finished he was in tears and the VP was simply wide eyed and almost apologetic.
My son had been accepted into his first choice of college and I was completely devastated to what this might mean to his future, immediately and in the coming years. The VP stated since my son had never had this type of incident before he would be given three days in school suspension where work would be demanded of him and it would not directly effect his school record or his prospect of higher education. I thank the man who seemed relieved to have a parent that sincerely cared as he did. I promise him it would never happen again. With that my son was never to be involved with alcohol or his dangerous friends ever again.
As I left the VP's office with son in tow I passed the other three Caucasian young men. Without me saying a word, the three of them stood and apologized to me and was very sorry for my state of upset and promised never to allow such episodes to happen again. I didn't reply, but, was taken seriously through what they had heard coming from inside the VP's office.
As I left I realized I was the only parent in the office and I had already been there over 20 minutes in the presence of the VP.
So, do white boys get in trouble as they are becoming young men? They most certainly do. Do white boys take their discipline more seriously than black boys? I wouldn't think so. I have witnessed many a wonderful African American parent and families and at the time of my son's graduation he had taken a beautiful Black girl to the prom and had his African American young man friend at his graduation party along with all the relatives, too.
Why do these young Black men die? They are no worse nor any better than my son and yet they are met with death every time a police officer enters their lives.
IT MUST STOP. Michael Brown, Jr. should be at his university today and he is not.
My youngest son was among the most stupid of the two boys.
First I get a phone call from a police officer stating my son was the intersection of Smith and Jones and needed transportation. When I arrived he was standing in the rain with the police car on the opposite corner with lights flashing. The car he was driving was in a ditch and unable to be retrieved without the assist of a wrecker. I was grateful no one else was involved. The police officer did not issue a warrant because it was raining. The car needed body work. It was not a minor issue.
His excuse? His would be girlfriend, whom's father was a police officer and didn't like him, called and said her parents were out of the house. It was not a minor issue.
Two days later I paid a visit to the prospective girlfriend's home when I saw her father's cruiser parked out front. I spoke with the father and asked if the relationship between his daughter and my son had changed recently as there was a rendezvous planned recently. He stated he didn't approve of the idea of his daughter having a regular boyfriend, she was 15, while my son was 17. I told him I understood completely and there would be no more problem. I wanted to put an adult face on the idea my son was out of control and endangering his daughter. The father thanked me for the information and visit.
It was getting closer to the end of my son's senior year and I received a phone call from one of his principles as he took an advanced course in Marine Biology at a different high school. When I answered the phone the principle stated this was very important and I must come to the office.
I was alarmed and worried. I didn't usually get that kind of phone call from authorities. I went to the school and stood at the desk while the Vice Principle called me into his office. Outside of his office were four young men and the only one I recognized was my son.
I went into the office and he called my son in to have a seat. He closed the door. He took a seat behind his desk opened the top drawer and pulled out a ten inch Bowie knife. My chin nearly hit the floor and it must have appeared as though I was going to pass out. The VP asked if I needed a drink of water. My son at the very same instant began to apologize profusely for this dilemma now facing me.
When the shock was over I looked at the VP and asked if there were any deaths or injuries associated with said knife. He stated no, but, this was found in the pocket of my son's jacket. I had never seen the lousy weapon before and immediately asked my son where he got it. He stated he wasn't sure, but, he thought one of the other three put it in his pocket when they were discovered drinking alcohol in the grove of trees in the back parking lot during a study hall.
Now, I was angry.
No one wants me to be angry. Promise.
I turned toward face my son directly and forget all I said to him, but, when I was finished he was in tears and the VP was simply wide eyed and almost apologetic.
My son had been accepted into his first choice of college and I was completely devastated to what this might mean to his future, immediately and in the coming years. The VP stated since my son had never had this type of incident before he would be given three days in school suspension where work would be demanded of him and it would not directly effect his school record or his prospect of higher education. I thank the man who seemed relieved to have a parent that sincerely cared as he did. I promise him it would never happen again. With that my son was never to be involved with alcohol or his dangerous friends ever again.
As I left the VP's office with son in tow I passed the other three Caucasian young men. Without me saying a word, the three of them stood and apologized to me and was very sorry for my state of upset and promised never to allow such episodes to happen again. I didn't reply, but, was taken seriously through what they had heard coming from inside the VP's office.
As I left I realized I was the only parent in the office and I had already been there over 20 minutes in the presence of the VP.
So, do white boys get in trouble as they are becoming young men? They most certainly do. Do white boys take their discipline more seriously than black boys? I wouldn't think so. I have witnessed many a wonderful African American parent and families and at the time of my son's graduation he had taken a beautiful Black girl to the prom and had his African American young man friend at his graduation party along with all the relatives, too.
Why do these young Black men die? They are no worse nor any better than my son and yet they are met with death every time a police officer enters their lives.
IT MUST STOP. Michael Brown, Jr. should be at his university today and he is not.
