Like many parents across the country, we dropped our twins off at their perspective college campuses. It is undoubtedly a time with many emotions for parents and children alike. I feel like I have spent the past month just reminding them of little things they need to do.
One add-on as a black parent is trying to teach our children not to allow people to discount them or treat them unfairly because of their color while at the same time teaching them to be aware of spaces that may not be safe for them.
In the first few weeks my daughter was on her college campus, President Trump was speaking in close proximity to her University. Her professor gave the option of extra credit for anyone who attended the rally and wrote about it.
Going to see a sitting president speak should be a great experience for a college student for a variety of reasons. My daughter did not go; she knew full well that a President Trump rally is not a safe space for an African American.
Going to hear the President of the United States speak should be a safe space for everyone. There are far too many places that are not safe spaces for black and brown people in America.
So as I worry about whether my children are bleaching their color clothes, getting locked out of their dorms, or if they are keeping up with the coursework. I am also worried because they are on college campuses trying to learn where their safe places are.