On Saturday, Ta-Nehisi Coates, a national correspondent at The Atlantic, articulated the sentiments of black mothers and fathers everywhere who live in an America where unarmed black teens can lawfully be killed because of the sheer fear their person evokes.
In a beautifully written, but disheartening op-ed, Coates wrote his response to the Michael Dunn verdict, which ended in a mistrial for the first-degree murder count:
I wish I had something more to say about the fact that Michael Dunn was not convicted for killing a black boy. Except I said it after George Zimmerman was not convicted of killing a black boy. Except the parents of black boys already know this. Except the parents of black boys have long said this, and they have been answered with mockery.
Jordan Davis had a mother and a father. It did not save him. Trayvon Martin had a mother and a father. They could not save him. My son has a father and mother. We cannot protect him from our country, which is our aegis and our assailant. We cannot protect our children because racism in America is not merely a belief system but a heritage, and the inability of black parents to protect their children is an ancient tradition.
The same heritage that contributed to the death of Jordan Davis is the same heritage that perpetuates the black fear that festers in America. It’s a fear writer Mikki Kendall knows all too well. On Wednesday, she created #StopBlackPanic to dismantle those American norms.
The point of #StopBlackPanic would be to for everyone to push against the racist myths and ideas behind it.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) February 19, 2014
#StopBlackPanic by refusing to believe media narratives that tell you black people are more likely to be criminals.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) February 19, 2014
#StopBlackPanic by asking why 22 year old white people are seen as kids, but 17 year old black people are seen as adults.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) February 19, 2014
But what drove home the point that our black boys are being killed for an unreasonable fear fed by history, stereotypes and racism, was writer Jamie Nesbitt Golden’s hashtag, #DangerousBlackKids — an effort that challenged the criminalization of black children and confronts the dehumanization of blacks in America head on.
With endearing, adorable and powerful satire, Twitter users started sending in pictures of their black children playing the piano, reading books, and graduating college — images rarely, if ever, seen in the media.
The duality of the hashtag — which both showed the outrage black parents feel about racial profiling and fed positive images of black life to the public — was a direct response to the Dunn trial. It seemed to speak through Lucia McBath and Ron Davis, Jordan’s parents, and their frustration with facing a justice system that supports a flawed self-defense law. And in a way, it humanized Jordan and Trayvon Martin: something juries in both trials said was lacking.
And most importantly, #DangerousBlackKids did something America has failed to do for centuries — decriminalize black Americans and send the message that our lives matter too.
Take a look at some of our favorites:
Young black criminals in their getaway car. Careful! #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/9RlPB7SpwV
— David Brandyn (@D_Brandyn) February 16, 2014
#DangerousBlackKids after a game of soccer on Martha’s Vineyard. Wow. Looks like they are ready to rob and steal. pic.twitter.com/zJfiwEBZWe
— Orlando Lee (@OrlandoLeeRdgz) February 19, 2014
Officer: we got to keep an eye on these two. they’re wearing blue. #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/snpkCfn8aT
— Asmaa Lov (@AsmaaLov) February 16, 2014
I think we can CHANGE AMERICA with the Hash Tag #DangerousBlackKids!! #UniteBlue #LibCrib #p2 pic.twitter.com/3ZmhX24rgv
— Ron *Ron-DMC* Hall (@RonHall46) February 17, 2014
“Hey lady! That black kid is trying to steal your baby’s wallet!” #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/oUqisgnLx2
— Almost Giants (@AlmostGiants) February 17, 2014
Careful. These young black students are equipped with very dangerous writing utensils. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/I1I8hG9Ij5
— David Brandyn (@D_Brandyn) February 16, 2014
“@saltypepper: Always plotting. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/Z4Y0yEJFnT” @LOCAL15NEWS #UniteBlue #libcrib #nerdland
— town post.. (@ReneNow) February 19, 2014
“@goddessnoir: Attempted murder. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/gVpRxxiZw1“” #mississippi #UniteBlue
— town post.. (@ReneNow) February 19, 2014
He graduated High school. Going to college and works part time job. Oh My #DangerousBlackKids @Dreamdefenders pic.twitter.com/pSsosOL2vP
— q2950 (@TamiekaChisolm) February 17, 2014
@KellyandMichael More #DangerousBlackKids infiltrating the school system disguised as young scholars pic.twitter.com/8NNQaZcAgj #Uniteblue
— town post.. (@ReneNow) February 19, 2014
Black Men AND their #dangerousblackkids 😏 @Dreamdefenders pic.twitter.com/1Udo7GXkeF
— Undefeated Contender (@MinisterStellaG) February 17, 2014
#DangerousBlackKids looking like they are up to something…time to stop and frisk. pic.twitter.com/WiWzB66F1I
— Jillinthewoods (@jillinthewoods) February 19, 2014
Beware. Education is the hands of one of those #DangerousBlackKids Principal’s Honor Roll. Beginning of great things. pic.twitter.com/Z3BC9GBvZc
— Sandra Utile (@utilesan) February 19, 2014
His street name’s Baby Lou. Like most #DangerousBlackKids he’s wearing his baggy clothes, and an intimidating hoodie pic.twitter.com/m51Uugpiy4
— Met. Rhonda A. Lee (@Rhonda_A_Lee) February 17, 2014
#DangerousBlackKids know that having aspirations are a waste of time because hope is a white kid thing. pic.twitter.com/ZHOs4f8C4Q
— RiPPa (@RippDemUp) February 17, 2014
My son responding to Jordan Davis ruling #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/W3V9Y4yVvV
— Detroit Red (@Just_Darrin) February 16, 2014
Clearly he’s up to no good! RT “@23catsinaroom: His eyes are shaded. #DangerousBlackKids http://t.co/zcXxmVnDe5”
— lil sis (@lilsoulsista) February 19, 2014
#DangerousBlackKids stealing the keys off that piano. the white keys no doubt… pic.twitter.com/zAyAs7Gaw9
— Erica Johnson (@ENJ_ON_DAROCKZ) February 19, 2014
Aggressive. Super-human strength. No adult male can handle this…3 year old. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/lbyqsVjm7L
— Terreece M. Clarke (@terreece) February 18, 2014
What’s she hiding in that hair? #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/VIaCTxo1wo
— Cynthia (@cynthia4877) February 17, 2014
@LOCAL15NEWS MT My #DangerousBlackKids look suspiciously like smile bandits! pic.twitter.com/3Lw0U7iJ7N” #UniteBlue
— town post.. (@ReneNow) February 19, 2014
Lest we not forget this #dangerousblackkids football player destined to go pro pic.twitter.com/nxUMJRQkAm
— IAMBLACKHISTORY (@lifeandmorelife) February 16, 2014
She had the audacity to know she’s a Queen #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/LZ2peILFjZ
— wizkidwu (@WuDaWiz) February 16, 2014
My son with his grandmother or one of those #dangerousblackkids? pic.twitter.com/ndzxwkqvap
— Andi (@philadelphiandi) February 17, 2014
Mommy better have my sippy ready – She must not know bout me #DangerousBlackKids #PamperClique pic.twitter.com/EOIzmYUUlT
— Introduce D Son (@_SoundDoctrine) February 19, 2014
Watch out white America! This menace has a hanger and smiling 2 hard! #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/CtZPSKqWpV
— Damadchemist (@DaMadChemist1) February 19, 2014
#DangerousBlackKids #ThugsNeedNapsToo pic.twitter.com/85NKA9VXxp
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) February 17, 2014
My little brownie, pushing her “product”. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/2qMx128oFs
— ElectricLadyK (@kimwrites) February 17, 2014
@Dreamdefenders : The “Future Leaders Crew” reppin’ the South side! Those darn gang members! #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/0tRPDhkRfj
— Luckie Daniels (@MyLuckieGroove) February 17, 2014
Enthusiastically reading their newly purchased (I mean stolen) comic books. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/lnLiZPeAjQ
— MaureenEvansArthurs (@mevansarthurs) February 18, 2014
My baby mean-mugging the camera screams #DangerousBlackKids !!! Thank god she didn’t have on her hoodie pic.twitter.com/4itXT0Ough
— Blorenzo (@blorenzo) February 18, 2014
Those aren’t actually Legos, they’re coded gang symbols & a plot to destroy the world. #DangerousBlackKidspic.twitter.com/EpOwXDVxpy
— MaureenEvansArthurs (@mevansarthurs) February 18, 2014
SOURCE: Twitter