Amid the Black Lives Matter protests that were born as a response to the extreme violence used by police in America against Black people, men especially, young black boys sadly need to be taught how to act around a cop very early on to protect themselves as much as possible. That being said, Beyonce and Solange’s mother, Tina Knowles, revealed the ‘painful advice’ she gave her grandson, Julez, while in an Oprah Winfrey Network special.
That’s right! Tina confirmed that she’s already had that discussion with Solange’s 16 year old son.
So, what did the 66 year old woman tell her grandson to do and say if ever pulled over by the police?
While on the October 20 episode of OWN Spotlight: Black Women OWN The Conversation – Vote!, Tina discussed this with other fellow guests, saying that ‘I have a 15 year old grandson who is — you know, he has an opinion on everything.’
Despite him being such an opinionated teenager, Tina has apparently tried to convince him of some things when it comes to dealing with cops.
‘Listen in those situations, you just have to be quiet and you have to be subservient and you have to keep your hands on the steering wheel,’ she recalls telling the boy.
Apparently, Julez questioned her advice, asking her to explain why he should do that and she noted that he’s been taught to question everything which normally is a good thing but when it comes to the police, he really just has to follow everything they say, whether it’s fair or not.
She dished that ‘It drives me crazy to have to have that conversation, because that’s not what he’s been taught. He’s been taught to ask questions and ask ‘Why?’ In this instance you just have to — really just kind of squelch that independence and tell them to be subservient. It’s really painful for me,’ to give him such advice.