More on the subject of race.
As you know, I am adopting a girl. However, some of my friends are adopting boys (or are open to gender). I am aware that this poses a whole different set of issues for them to worry about.
Being a black woman living in North America is much easier than being a black man. My brother related a story to me a little while ago that reminded me of this in a big way.
While travelling through England with Mom this year, he was at the airport tracking down some documents I had couriered to him (this is because of issues leaving the UK and re-entering the US - I won't go into all of that palaver). Anyroad, he was on his own for part of this task and at one point, he was puzzled to see a group of 3 armed security guards walking by him - AK-47s drawn. He wondered why they were walking about in public like this when there didn't seem to be any active security threats. I believe he told me they walked by him a couple of times. It was then that he realized that HE was the threat! They were just making their presence known to him in case he was contemplating any funny business.
My brother is one of the sweetest, most compassionate, and most generous and non-judgemental people you could ever hope to meet. He is a very active Christian who devotes his life to Christ's works. He is also a black man who could 'pass' as a black Muslim, and in England that's a bit of a problem.
At another time at that airport (same day, I believe) he was also frisked in broad daylight. Yes, frisked.
At the time, he was window shopping outside of a store. Carrying a knapsack.
Obviously this warrants a search IN FRONT OF EVERYONE! I can't tell you how apoplectic I became when I heard this! He, on the other hand, was mostly matter-of-fact about it and said he guessed they had to err on the side of caution.
What an existence! My reality as a black woman living in Canada is one thing. My brother's reality is yet another. The racism I have faced and crap I've dealt with is nothing like that faced by a black man.
It reminds me of my other brother - a professional photojournalist. Many years ago, while still living in Calgary, he had just walked out of his house. He carried around his neck a few hundred dollars worth of camera equipment - which he does EVERYWHERE he goes. He was stopped by cops asking him who he was and what he was doing. Like he had just burgled the house and was doing a runner.
sigh.
I came across this great post on Mayhem and Magic. I'm sure those of you adopting black boys are pretty versed in this stuff already. Especially if it's a transracial adoption. I found it really eye-opening to see what lengths people have to go to to keep their boys safe because of racial profiling.
"Fug" doesn't quite seem to cover it.
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