The Conversation That All Black Parents Have With Their Kids, From Gayle King (VIDEO)

Co-host of CBS This Morning Gayle King shared her insight on an important conversation she had with her son when he was around 12. “I don’t know any black family who hasn’t had this conversation with their child,” Gayle says. “We tell them, ‘if you’re ever stopped by the police, you need to do exactly what they say. Don’t challenge, don’t confront, don’t make any sudden movements. Even if you’re in the right, we will handle it later.'” People have said to Gayle that this is a conversation that all parents have with their kids, regardless of race, but Gayle points out one major difference: “My son wouldn’t be given the benefit of the doubt [by police], and I find that very disturbing.” That said, Gayle is very pro-cop, and really admires and respects police officers — but she does think that there are a couple of bad apples that abuse authority.

What can be done to change this? “I think that it’s going to take a coming together on both sides,” says Gayle. “When the police ask you to do something, you really need to do it. When there is a confrontation between you and a police officer with a gun, you are always going to lose, I don’t care what your color is. But it’s disturbing to see that a large number of unarmed black males are killed by white police officers. There is no getting around those numbers, it’s out of whack, and it’s going to take a lot of education and coming together so that people are not afraid. Because right now, we are afraid.”

The Huffington Post