It takes a village. That’s what they are saying, proper? However what occurs when the village disappears—when the people who find themselves supposed to assist flip their backs, and the system that claims to help you throws you in jail as a substitute?
Chris Louis realized that lesson the laborious approach on March 22, when he was arrested for leaving his three kids at a McDonald’s play space whereas he went to job interviews. He checked on them a number of occasions, however a McDonald’s worker referred to as the police. As an alternative of seeing a father making an attempt to safe a greater future for his household, they noticed against the law. And identical to that, one other Black mother or father was punished for being poor.
Louis’ story is considered one of many. In 2014, Shanesha Taylor, a homeless mom in Arizona, left her two youngsters in a automobile whereas attending a job interview—her solely shot at stability. She was arrested and charged with felony little one abuse. Public outcry led to over $100,000 in donations, however why did she must be arrested earlier than individuals cared? The identical occurred to Laura Browder in Texas, who was detained for leaving her kids in a mall meals court docket whereas she interviewed. Or Debra Harrell in South Carolina, arrested for letting her 9-year-old play in a park whereas she labored at McDonald’s.
After which there’s Tateona Williams—a reputation that ought to make this nation take a protracted, laborious take a look at itself. She begged for assist from the town. She begged for assist from her kids’s father. Nobody confirmed up. And when her infants froze to loss of life, solely then did the system determine to supply her housing. However as a substitute of discovering aid, she was thrown in jail. The message was clear: struggling dad and mom aren’t seen as individuals in want of assist—they’re seen as criminals.
The reality is, this nation doesn’t care about Black dad and mom till it’s time to punish them. Childcare is a privilege, not a proper. The so-called “village” is gone, and too many households are left fending for themselves. However it doesn’t must be this manner.
Once you transfer to a brand new metropolis as a mother or father, discovering a village isn’t only a luxurious—it’s a necessity. Whether or not it’s via a church, a neighborhood heart, or a bunch of trusted buddies, dad and mom want individuals who can step in after they can’t. As a result of the choice is watching extra dad and mom get arrested for doing their greatest, whereas the actual situation—America’s full lack of a help system—goes unchecked.
The village isn’t a relic of the previous. It’s a survival software. And it’s time to rebuild it. Louis has since had a GoFundMe arrange by ex-NFL star Antonio Brown the place he has raised $57,000.
