All fathers, parents, guardians share advice with their children. Most often those most serious in-depth conversations happen at significant points in a child’s life. For instance, many may offer advice when a child is first starting school or transferring when a child begins to experience romantic or sexual interests in a special someone, and when a child gets their first job, or even when one begins learning to drive.
However, there is an uneasy burden specifically on the shoulders of black parents, grandparents, great-grandparents (fathers) that is not be shared by white parents and it is having “The talk.” A conversation that is specific to our culture. Most black people know what the talk is- informing our children about the racism they may encounter going about their daily lives.
Today, I want to challenge us to consider shifting the focus of the content of the talk to something like David shared with his son. I'm not suggesting that we ignore racist systems, structures, and laws that support the imbalances in our society, however we have to have a plan to move ahead as we are finally dealing with racism in our society! So let's consider David's conversation with his son Solomon as David was nearing the end of his life.
Rev. Squire J. Newsome III
