By Cheryl Mattox Berry
Whether you’re a white student driving through a black neighborhood or a black or Hispanic student walking around a white neighborhood, you’ll stick out and make folks wonder why you’re there. It’s assumed that the white kids are looking for drugs, and the minority kids are burglars. That’s the plain, ugly truth.
You, too, may be confronted like 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who was gunned down by a neighborhood watch volunteer on Feb. 26, in Sanford, Fla. Martin didn’t commit a crime. He had gone to the store to buy candy and iced tea when George Zimmerman – suspicious about a black youth wearing a hoodie and walking slowly through a gated community toward a house that he was visiting – decided that Martin was up to no good. Zimmerman claims the shooting was self-defense.
How would you react if you came face-to-face with someone challenging your right to be in a certain community? The answer:
- Smile.
- Say “good morning,” “good afternoon” or “good evening.”
- Identify yourself and explain why you’re there.
Example: “My name is ___________. I’m visiting ____________, who lives ____________. We’re in the same class at ____________ School.
The smile will diffuse the situation and let the neighbor know that you’re not a threat. Explaining why you’re there will satisfy his curiosity. You may be thinking that this is a free country, and you don’t have to justify yourself to anyone. You’re right, but why not put the homeowner’s mind at ease. In these tough economic times, crime is on the rise in some communities. Many people have had their homes burglarized, including me. I’m wary of anyone on my street whose face or car isn’t familiar. It doesn’t lessen your dignity, civil rights or womanhood to be nice. Being rude and defensive could lead to an unnecessary confrontation.
Unfortunately, there is still a lot of fear and mistrust of other races and ethnic groups. Although you may have a diverse group of friends, your parents and grandparents may not. They may even harbor racist views. You can’t change them, but you can set the record straight by speaking up about your experiences with fellow classmates. Maybe, just maybe, this approach over time will erase the stereotypes that led to Martin’s tragic death.