boy: Defending Our Black Sons' Identity in America

By Sherilyn Bennett

Timely, poignant, and brutally honest, the "boy" book is a literary platform comprised of the voices of black mothers. Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner and the "I Can't Breathe Movement" penned a prolific articulation of black mothers' plight in America. The reality of raising, protecting and defending black sons is horrifically overwhelmi

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sherilyn Bennett
• Release date: Jan 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781649458032

Book preview

boy.

He was stripped of His identity, historically.

Then bartered for breeding - black family dysfunctionality.

The manifestation of the baby daddy is rooted in the slave owners’ quest of mass production & prime functionality.

Not for Him, His greatness, or predetermined destiny... but for the systematic greed of colonizers, they never wanted Him to be free.

Their plan was and is to make Him remain a boy, a dignity-denying label they made mandatory. They tried to crush His will & His undying strength ... but HE is fortified with God's Glory.

They are NOT the dictators of His story!

burdened.

overwhelmed.

yearning.

So, He has fought to restore, reestablish, and reclaim His rightful throne, even with knees on His neck, they couldn't stop Him from ascending to where He belonged. In the spotlight, and memorialized for the whole world to see... It was not about where He was, but WHERE HE was destined to be.

Death can NEVER retain or restrict GREATNESS; it is TOO powerful for the colonizer's mediocrity.

bodacious.

omnipotent & NEVER

yielding

He is a Black man. His evolution has been a war labeled as his life. Strife is expected and although He is tired, HE continues to fight.

Because His molecular makeup doesn't allow him to bow in the midst of adversity, Black men stare at them, and are provoked to action by their hypocrisy.

He is incomparable to any other man, His story is layered with complexity, that most cannot understand. Black man HE is, YES, everyone sees! Black men CHANGE the world - undeniably, and without apology!

baffling

original & NEVER

your boy.

A Lawful Perspective: Ignorance Is Not a Defense

Ignorance of the law is no defense. This classic saying in the legal world is as relevant today as when it was first quoted by the infamous Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle. It is important that each person knows their rights, privileges, responsibilities, and consequences of the laws which govern them. Proper civic education is critical in equipping our sons and daughters to live in this society. This education comes from the classroom as well as the community.

With police brutality, racial tensions, senseless deaths of Black and Brown people at the hands of law enforcement, and the overall disparities within the justice system constantly highlighted, it is important to understand some foundational concepts. It is also important to know your rights. This chapter is meant to be a quick reference for you into a few common areas of law.

What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?

Felonies are the most severe crimes, often involving physical violence, actions that cause extreme psychological harm, or extreme negligence. Felonies can result in the loss of civil liberties such as the right to vote, the right to the second amendment, and the right to serve on a jury.

Misdemeanors are less severe than felonies, often involving non-violence crimes such as petty theft, disorderly conduct, and trespassing. Unlike felonies, misdemeanors do not result in the loss of civil liberties. It is important to note that there are also non-criminal violations, which are least serious offenses, such as traffic and parking violations. These violations are generally punishable by fines, forfeiture, or civil remedies.

When can a juvenile (person under 18 years old) be charged as an adult?

In Florida, a juvenile can be charged as an adult if the juvenile is 14 years or older and is charged with a violent felony or the juvenile is 16 years or older and charged with a felony. Being changed as an adult can occur even if there is no prior criminal history. If charged as an adult, a juvenile can face the same punishments as adults if tried in adult court.

Why is it dangerous to be associated with someone who participates in criminal activity?

You do not have to be the main participant in a crime to be equally guilty of the crime and published accordingly. Aiding and abetting means helping, even in a small way, can lead to you being found guilty of the whole crime.

What is resisting arrest?

In most states, the law states that if you resist, obstruct, or oppose any kind of officer, you are guilty of a 3rd-degree felony.

What is fleeing and eluding?

The laws for each state vary, however the general interpretation of fleeing and eluding can be seen in the following ways:

- Willfully refusing or failing to stop for a marked vehicle with lights and sirens in use.

- Failing to stop your motor vehicle when law enforcement has directed you to do so.

- Stopping at law enforcement’s command and then leaving before being released.

- Engaging in a high-speed chase or reckless driving. The classification of this often depends on whether or not serious injury to a person occurs.

What are your rights if you get arrested?

It is critical that if you are being detained by law enforcement (meaning you are not free to leave of your own choosing), that you know your Miranda Rights. You have the following rights:

- To remain silent. This means that once you give your name and address to law enforcement, you do not have to say anything else. Once you are in custody, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. In short, SHUT UP and ASK FOR AN ATTORNEY!

- To know the charges filed against you. When you are being arrested, law enforcement must tell you what you are being arrested for.

- The right to an attorney. You have a constitutional right to have a lawyer present when you are questioned by the police. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed to you. This is important because it directly ties to your right to remain silent (and the possibility of statements that you make being used against you).

What is a hate crime?

A hate crime is typically one involving violence, that is motivated by prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or other grounds.

What are fundamental rights?

In the United States, fundamental rights are enumerated (outlined) in the United States Constitution, as determined by the United States Supreme Court. These rights are so fundamental that in order for them to be infringed upon, they must pass a strict scrutiny test. The strict scrutiny test means that any law restricting these rights must serve a compelling state purpose and be narrowly tailored to serve that compelling state purpose. For example: free speech is a fundamental right. However, it is illegal to yell fire in a crowded theatre because the compelling state purpose is safety. So, the law can curtail your ability to free speech in this instance because it is a matter of public safety.

The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on September 25, 1789 and ratified on December 15, 1791. These 10 amendments contain American fundamental rights. These ten amendments are:

- First Amendment: Freedom of religion, free speech, press, assembly, and petition

- Second Amendment: Right to bear arms

- Third Amendment: Quartering of troops

- Fourth Amendment: Search and seizure

- Fifth Amendment: Grand jury, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, due process

- Sixth Amendment: Criminal prosecutions – jury trial; right to confront accuser; right to counsel

- Seventh Amendment: Common law suits – jury trial

- Eighth Amendment: Excess bail or fines; cruel and unusual punishment

- Ninth Amendment: People have additional rights that may not be specifically listed in the Constitution.

- Tenth Amendment: Rights reserved to states of people

Since the enactment of the Bill of Rights, several US Supreme Court cases assisted in expanding those fundamental rights. Some of these expanded fundamental rights include, but are not limited to:

- Right to interstate travel

- Right to parent one’s child(ren)

- Right to privacy

- Right to marriage

- Right to self-defense

From a legal standpoint, does it really take a village to raise our sons and daughters?

YES! Collaboration and confrontation can co-exist. In this modern day, the notion of being free and independent can come with pitfalls. There is a difference between making decisions that are in your best interest and making decisions in your best interest at the expense of negatively effecting others. Everyone plays a role in the village of our lives. The legality of our decisions is seen in every facet of our lives. Discrimination and the equality vs. equity discussion is prevalent in most areas such as:

- obtaining fair housing,

- credit,

- wealth creation and generational transfer,

- educational / academic opportunities,

- professional development and advancement,

- equal/unequal application of the laws in the criminal justice system,

- punitive vs restorative justice approaches,

- health equity and access to proper health care,

- creation and implementation of local policies and ordinances,

- state and national political involvement / engagement, and

- other factors relating to socio-economic status.

Each area listed above is filled with programming, experts, community and social media influencers, and academicians who can truly explain the complexities of each topic. It is our responsibility to find those persons and learn all that we can to help ourselves and our children. Then, if we identify problems within these systems, we can collectively come together with like-minded individuals to find collaborative solutions.

Community activists are on the front line, every day, advocating for these issues. There is a role for each of us to play. If nothing else, make it a point to educate yourself, for yourself, before you jump on the next hot bandwagon or hashtag. Then, we can take a targeted and purposely approach to problem-solving in the legal, and other areas, of our son’s lives. If we have a certain skill set or knowledge base to address the many issues facing our son’s in today’s world, we owe it to our sons to share it. It is a part of our legacy and a part of the deep-rooted tradition of passing down relevant knowledge and information from generation to generation.

Ignorance of the law (or systems) should not be a defense.

A Mental Health Perspective: Trauma Overload… How Do We Cope

Greetings to each of you who have chosen to listen!

To those who have accepted and sworn