There’s a lot to learn when we sit down and share with folks from other generations – whether it’s sitting down with you child, your parent, a grandparent or a family friend. So, we here at KBIA decided to explore some of these intergenerational relationships through conversation.
Local Black Lives Matter organizer, Christopher Watkins Jr., recently sat down with his 13-year-old daughter, Jordyn Cole, to speak about what it was like to grow up Black in Columbia.
Jordyn Cole: Did you experience any racial violence in your community as a kid? Or was it peaceful?
Christopher Watkins, Jr.: It was never peaceful when I grew up. It was never peaceful unless you were playing sports and where you were at the park and things like that.
My very first experience with racial violence, we were actually at my friend's house. I was over on West Boulevard, maybe second or third grade, and we were playing video games, and for some reason SWAT kicked in the door
But they slammed all of us, like, grabbed us by our arms and slammed us face first into the ground, and at that time, I changed my mind about being a police officer, because it was dead wrong – like I was a little kid, you know, I shouldn't have had to went through that.
Jordyn: Did you ever figure out why they did that? Or was it, was it just unknown?
Christopher: I never – I didn't want to know, and that's when… at that time was really when I picked up a basketball because basketball, football were the only way I could let out. Because I couldn't talk to my parents about it, about what was going on in my life, or what I'm experiencing in school, things like that. So, instead of acting out, I picked up a ball.
Jordyn: See, that's what I was saying, like kids are so bottled up, and they can't express their self, because they're afraid of what people will say.
Christopher: And at the time, I wasn’t afraid. It was just of the absence – who could I trust to tell certain things to? Who was going to show me the love, at the time, that I needed? So, I had to keep some of it down, which is another reason why I became a good writer.
I would just write it out – what I'm feeling for the day or for the week, and I – you see – I do some of that now or I text your Momma a long message, but, you know, it’s hard when you have so much to say, and it might mean nothing.
And not that they're not listening to you, but because they don't know what to do about it.
Jordyn: Umm. I want people to know that it's serious, it's an everyday problem and wake up, because it's gonna keep happening if no one does anything. So, use your voice and, like – help.
Christopher: We had to be a united front, you know? Not only I can do it. Not only can she do it. But we have to do it together to see some things change around here, right?
It’s hard, especially for me as a parent, as an adult, as an African American in this community, you know, if I'm in a car with my children, am I gonna be the next person shot? Or, you know, screaming “I can’t breathe?” Or things like that that run through your head when you wake up every day – it’s not fair.
These conversations had to be had, not just with our children, but with individuals, so they know, like, this is what you guys have been through.
