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I spent the early part of my career as a public defender representing kids. And the things that these kids had to deal with in terms of racial profiling and "assumptions" was absolutely maddening. I actually knew of a children's store that had a WRITTEN POLICY of having clerks follow around black teenagers.
There was a 20/20 the other day (or maybe it was Primetime Live) called, "What Would You Do?" And they set up a situation where actors "played" Latino workers trying to buy a sandwich at a deli. The store clerk (actor) would not serve them, told them to speak English, etc. The "heartening" thing was that soooo many "bystanders" in the store ripped into the clerk, offered to buy the workers the sandwiches, etc. The disheartening thing was a large portion of people did nothing or actually "encouraged" the clerk.
I think if you are the parent of a non-white child, it is really important not to think your kid won't face this stuff. They will. Hopefully, it will be less and less, but it will (sadly) always probably exist to some extent. (Of course, the challenge I think is teaching kids to assume the "best" in everyone, but not to downplay things when people are at their "worst." Very tough balancing act, imo, especially for people who have never faced it themselves.)
Anyway, I'm not debating another thread, just my ramblings of the day!!
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