It was an unexpected warm winter Sunday in the Midwest. With temperatures rising and the sun shining brightly, our entire community seemed to flock to the park, including my family, after months of being cooped up indoors bickering and binge-watching shows.
When we arrived, the parking lot was nearly full. I parked our minivan and barely had time to shift into park before my children flung open the sliding doors, ready to dash to the playground. I reminded my older three to be cautious of the younger ones while I held the hand of my three-year-old. I watched them eagerly race toward the slide while the baby and I followed at a leisurely pace, dropping our bag of water bottles on a nearby bench as we settled in for some fun.
About ten minutes into our playtime, another family arrived—two white parents with their daughters, likely around four and six years old. The mother held a coffee cup as she told her girls they could play while she and Dad walked the long track surrounding the playground. The girls nodded and eagerly joined other kids in a game of tag.
As the parents strolled off, I noticed the younger girl start to look frantic. Before I could intervene, she rushed toward the track, moving away from her parents. She headed toward the now-closed bathrooms, leaving her parents completely unaware. I was torn—should I wave them down or rush after her? Just as I was contemplating my next move, the parents finally noticed their daughter, who was now further away, and returned to the playground. It felt like I was watching a scene unfold where privilege was on full display.
I was taken aback. I would never dream of leaving my children unattended at the park, even for a moment. My kids—two tweens, a first grader, and a preschooler—are black. It’s painfully clear that black children in America face heightened risks due to pervasive stereotypes and racism. Every outing to the park reminds me of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy who was tragically shot by a police officer while playing in a park.
During this same trip, I witnessed the glaring differences in how children were treated. My son, along with two Asian twin boys and a white boy, were playing dinosaurs atop a plastic rock tower. Suddenly, the white boy’s father, who had been indifferent to his son’s antics, approached with concern and urged him to play elsewhere. The boys were simply having fun, yet the presence of children of color appeared to trigger a sense of threat for the father.
I’m not at the park to critique other parents; I’m focused on my own kids. However, I can’t help but notice how parents of children of color tend to hover closely, vigilant and watchful, while some white parents seem disengaged, lost in their phones or nowhere in sight. The harsh truth is that white children are afforded a default sense of safety that children of color, like my own, simply do not enjoy.
My children are subject to rules that their white peers likely never face. They are prohibited from playing with toy guns in public—even brightly colored, non-realistic ones. They know they must always get a bag and receipt for anything they buy, no matter how trivial. We’ve practiced appropriate responses to encounters with law enforcement, and when we enter businesses, they’re instructed to keep their hands out of their pockets and their hoods down.
While such rules are undoubtedly unfair, they are essential for my children’s protection. My vigilance isn’t about restricting their freedom but ensuring their safety in a world where they may face unjust scrutiny.
Parents of white children, like all moms and dads, worry about common issues such as social media safety and bullying. However, parents of children of color carry an additional burden—the very real fear that their children might be seen as a threat by others.
The disparities in parenting styles and societal perceptions are stark and alarming. If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, consider checking out this resource. For authoritative insights on related topics, you can also visit this link. Furthermore, for excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination, look into this resource.
In summary, the park serves as a reminder of the inequalities my children face simply because of the color of their skin. While all parents have concerns for their children’s safety, the fears that parents of color must navigate are rooted in a painful reality that needs to be addressed.