Lots of events happen at the University to celebrate Black History Month. Wednesday, the Brown Bag Lunch series in Hanna Hall hosted a special discussion in the series to do just that.

This week’s Brown Bag Discussion Series was “Somebody’s Son … My Son: Mothering African-American Boys” and was a continuation in the University’s campus-wide celebration and dialogue of Black History Month. The discussion was also a precursor for the visit of Oscar Grant’s mother, Rev. Wanda Grant, to the University next Tuesday for a screening of “Fruitvale Station,” a movie based on the life and death of Oscar Grant, a young man who was fatally shot by police.

The event was facilitated by three African-American women who are all employees at the University: Kesha Taylor, employee at the Career Center and mother of two boys; Emily Monago, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and mother of a high school-age son; and Terrie Cook, a TRIO Office administrative who’s also the mother of a high school-age son.

The discussion started with the panel facilitators introducing themselves and their sons, discussing where they attend school and their sons’ personalities and backgrounds. The dialogue then shifted into a PowerPoint presentation concerning cases of police brutality against African-American men and boys.

The discussion then shifted to a more open dialogue about police brutality and young men.

“How do we address the apparatus structure of the law enforcement? A lot of it is obstruction,” said Lacretia Dobbins, a native of Toledo and TRIO program employee.

The group talked about how they prepare their sons whenever they get ready to leave the house, especially if they are going to a social event.

“On one hand it’s unfair, because the only people that are having to have these conversations like this with their kids are people of color, but on the other hand we want them to come home safe,” Monago said.

Incidents of racial profiling in the local area also came up.

“When my daughter attended [the University] four years ago and we moved her in, one of the campus police officers was just straight up rude to us, talked to us like we were dirt,” Cook said. “He treated all the other families nicely and we were one of the only families of color moving in that day. I let him ramble on not knowing I worked at [the University], then got his badge number and wrote him a nice, long letter. I got an apology letter back.”

Topics like race and privilege were mentioned frequently.

“Honestly, the people with privilege need to challenge authority, non-people of color like me,” said Mary Krueger, director of the Women’s Center. “I have two stepsons and have never had to have that conversation with them.”

One white woman in the group explained how she had to explain to her black son about the Michael Brown case in relation to people at school.

“My son is the only black kid in his class, and he goes to a school in Perrysburg,” she said. “ I had to call the school and tell them to put out a memo about sensitivity because it was the day after the verdict. He was terrified people would be on social media and confront him. I had to prep him to stay out of everything.”

Taylor and Cook both stressed the importance of black males being respectful and understanding their reality.

“Just listen, do as you’re told, and know your rights,” Taylor said.

“You have constitutional rights,” Cook said. “Due to the society we live in, to protect our seed, we’re going to prep them on knowing the tragic things that can happen to them so they can internalize it and get home safe. The key word is that these men are unarmed. As for how to protect their psyche, I have no answers.”

Monago stated that having opportunities to have family conversations help.

“Having opportunities to have family discussions and fostering healthy relationships and dialogues help, creating a narrative to a positive road of responsibility,” Monago said.

Dobbins concluded the discussion with something for group members to remember and take home.

“All of our boys belong to every single one of us, and all of us are responsible,” Dobbins said.