It is a privilege to not have to be precautious and one day learn how to deal with a police officer. 

“The Talk” is an expression for a conversation usually between families of color, where parents feel obligated to converse with their children regarding dangers they face due to unjust treatment when living in the United States. 

Why must young children learn their authority working to provide safety might be of harm because of the color of their skin?

On Sunday April 11 20 year-old, Daunte Wright, was stopped at a traffic light for expired plates. Former police officer Kim Potter’s so-called “accidental discharge” was due to her feeling threatened by the complexion of his skin. Daunte Wright was shot and killed just 11 miles from where George Floyd was murdered in May of 2020. 

Another innocent black male making a headline. 

Potter shares she mistakenly drew her gun instead of her taser. The pistol which Potter held when she fatally shot at Wright as he allegedly attempted to escape is black metal and heavier than a bright yellow plastic taser.

“How does a trained police officer use a gun instead of a taser”, junior Shada Ibrahim said. “I’m not convinced an officer trained to protect the people can put someone’s life at risk in a matter of seconds.”

The Wright family does not and should not have to accept the “mistake” and neither should we. 

“I have seen countless deaths just this past year, we are tired of losing our black brothers and sisters to gun violence,” sophomore John Awoke said. “This and every other death is inexcusable.”

Harvard researchers state that “black people are more than three times as likely as white people to be killed during a police encounter.”

“As a black male, I fear being another name on the news that died in the hands of a police officer,” junior Muneeb Mohammed said. “That being said I live my life knowing those who look like me are murdered by people who are supposed to keep us safe.”