Nurture the Future
By Felicia Davis, President & CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women
As the spring flowers begin to bloom and the weather begins to get warmer, I’m reminded of the need to nurture, care for and protect young people. Just like a garden, tending to young people should be approached the same way — by listening, paying attention, and loving young people. Too often, they face challenges that, as adults, we may not notice or even be aware of, especially the young people in our Black and Brown communities.
In April, like many across the country, I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard the guilty verdicts convicting Derek Chauvin of the murder of George Floyd last summer. My feeling of relief was short-lived. Almost at the same time the verdicts were being read, Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl, was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. In the ensuing media coverage, many outlets referred to Ma’Khia as a young woman. The reality is she was still just a girl — a girl in need of nurture, protection, and care.
In a 2017 research study, the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality applied statistical analysis to a national study of adults on their attitudes toward Black girls. It found that adults believe Black girls ages 5–19 need less nurturing, protection, support, and comfort than white girls of the same age. The issue of the “adultification” of Black girls is not new to me. The Congressional Black Caucus on Black and Women and Girls released a report on the challenges and opportunities Black women and girls face in the 21st century. I am honored to have been asked by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) to contribute to the report. My contribution focused on the impact the adultification of Black girls has on their safety, self-esteem, and future outlook.
Earlier this year, I joined a panel conversation hosted by the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (CAFÉ Group) to discuss the documentary Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools. On the panel, I was joined by Jill Eid, Executive Director, Girls on the Run, and Candace Moore, Chief Equity Officer, Office of Equity and Racial Justice, City of Chicago. The conversation was moderated by Liz Thompson, President of The CAFÉ Group. The documentary examines this issue in intricate detail and shares the stories of girls as young as seven who are described as young women and seen as a threat by non-Black individuals.
When girls are not listened to or believed, they distrust their teachers and other authority figures, including law enforcement officers. Often, young Black and Latina girls take on added responsibilities to help their families, including taking care of siblings and working at a young age while still attending school, a narrative that adds to their perceived maturity and independence.
To ensure children can be children, we must give communities the resources, time, and space needed to nurture, listen to their needs, and allow them to grow. Our communities are hurting, not just through these recent incidents, but also due to continued disinvestment. As leaders, parents, and community, we must take this opportunity to reimagine these systems and make space for children to be children. Their future depends on us. Our future depends on them. Will you join me? Our children are watching.
A version of this article was originally published as part of Chicago Foundation for Women’s “GoWomen” Monthly Newsletter which you can read here.
