Hundreds march in Dilworth during ‘Black Mamas’ protest of racism, George Floyd’s death
Aisha Alexander-Young has been talking with her 3-year-old daughter about the reasons behind Black Lives Matter marches and protests in Charlotte and around the world in recent weeks.
On Sunday afternoon, she helped other families start those conversations, too, with a “Black Mamas March” event in Latta Park. The gathering brought close to 300 people together in its first hour. Participants held a socially-distanced peaceful demonstration in the park, followed by a march which drew hundreds of people to walk on sidewalks on East Boulevard.
“It’s never too early to start talking to children about race and culture and racism,” said Alexander-Young, who is pregnant with her second child.
For many years, she said, she’s been a racial justice community organizer and has advocated for an end to police violence and racism.
Video of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, where he calls for his mama, “made my heart break in another way, being a mother,” Alexander-Young said Sunday.
“Movements start at home. It starts in your own household.”
As Sunday’s event began, Alexander-Young, whose mother is Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, spoke with participants and reporters. Alexander-Young’s daughter Hailey stood nearby and gently pleaded: “I want to go on the playground.”
Nearby, children played with bubbles and made art. Attendees, many with strollers and picnic blankets, wore Black Lives Matter shirts and brought signs that denounce racism and police violence. Upbeat music played through the park.
The event, specifically designed to help moms and families feel comfortable, looked different than other peaceful demonstrations held in Charlotte since May 29 but the message was similar. Organizers read the names of Black people who have died while in police custody or during a police shooting. Chants included: “Divest from the police; invest in our future.”
In recent weeks, activists have renewed calls to defund law enforcement agencies. In Charlotte, a coalition called “Charlotte for Black Futures” is pushing for schools to cut ties with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and for the city to reallocate 5% of police funds toward affordable housing, a wage increase for city workers and mental health services, among other programs.
Crystal Marie McDaniels, co-organizer, said it was important to have an event that was welcoming to families and could be held safely with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The afternoon gathering, she said, was a way to “celebrate and center joy” while honoring those who have died at the hands of police or in acts of racial violence.
“When George Floyd called out to his mom, he called on us,” said McDaniels. “This is something special for us. We’re all thinking about our kids and our babies.”
Charlotte Black Lives Matter movement
Even those who aren’t raising a child full-time have a stake, said Carrie Cook at Sunday’s event.
“All of us mother in some way whether the children come from us or are part of our village ... The more we look at it that way, the more we’ll look at this as an effort and as an issue that concerns all of us.”
For Black families, talking with children about racism, police brutality and discrimination is a critical conversation.
“Every Black mother and every Black father thinks about it,” Cook said.
Sunday’s event, with a focus on mothers and children, she said, sends a powerful message.
“View them with the dignity and respect and humanity that little Black kids deserve. Little Black kids deserve to grow up and realize their full potential in this country.”
Just before Sunday’s march began, with hundreds leaving the park to walk through part of Dilworth, Alexander-Young stood to speak before the crowd. She was holding Hailey, who was holding a baby doll.
Looking out at the hundreds of people gathered, Hailey borrowed the microphone from her mother and spoke into it: Black Lives Matter.
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 6:19 PM.
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