Few things are more beautiful than the innocence of childhood. That precious period before social constructs and normative rules are introduced into their world, the pure unfiltered absence of care that kids possess is awe inspiring. In a perfect world, this naiveté would be nurtured and maintained for as long as possible, but the way society is set up, many black parents are compelled to have "the talk" with their children at an early age to prepare them for the pre-conceived notions, perceptions, and harsh realities that await them in the world.

Former social worker Sanya Gragg hopes to aid parents in having that conversation. With her recently released children's book, Momma, Did You Hear The News? Gragg helps to facilitate "the talk" between parents and children around the topic of police brutality. The narrative finds black children asking their parents about actual incidents of police brutality and other incidents ripped straight from the headlines. Included in the book is a five part mantra that Gragg submits to readers as a survival guide for police confrontations:

A – Always use your manners

L – Listen and comply

I – In control of your emotions

V – Visible hands always

E – Explain everything

While the message may seem cryptic, the reality is that black children, boys, in particular, are often perceived as more threatening and brute than their age would suggest. The shootings of Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice are just two out of a number of lesser-publicized events that speak to this daunting statistic.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, Gragg, a mother of two adult sons and one three-year-old daughter, said that she created the book to make the necessity of having these difficult conversations a little easier. "The most difficult part for me is knowing my sons and yours can do everything right and still end up in a tragic situation," she said.

Photo: Huffington Post

The unfortunate fact is that innocence is a luxury that not every child can afford.

Sanya Gragg

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