Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin Speak on Raising Black Children
Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Sheinelle Jones of The Today Show share how they had the tough conversation about racism, injustice, and George Floyd’s murder with their children.
Al Roker’s youngest child Nick is his 17-year-old son who is special needs. Nick rides the subway to and from school every day in New York City. Roker trained his son on what to say and what to do if he ever gets stopped by the police. He told Nick “if you’re stopped by the police, you are polite, you are quiet, you just say yes, you say no, you don’t get belligerent.” Roker also doesn’t “breathe a sigh of relief until Nick walks in that door” because he is afraid of what could happen.
This situation has always been a concern for Roker, but it wasn’t until the death of George Floyd that made him truly understand the possibilities of what could happen to his son.
This is a scary moment in time where we do not know when injustice will all be over. George Floyd’s death happened in Minneapolis and there are protests occurring all around the country, multiple nights in a row. Melvin touched base in the conversation below on what “scares” him as he doesn’t know “what’s next.” Roker also added that these protests are being executed “with no end in sight.” Listen to part one of the interview posted by Jones on her Instagram.
Jones explains how her three kids are between 7 and 10-years-old and old enough to watch the news and understand what is happening in the world. They are confused about why the police were so hostile and aggressive with George Floyd and asking if it was because of his “brown skin.“
Melvin described his frustration with the events occurring these past few days and hopes that this time it can be different. You can listen to the second part of the conversation between the co-hosts of The Today Show below.
These conversations can be hard to have with children who don’t understand why there is no equality and justice in the world. As Craig Melvin expressed, we hope this time is different and real change can occur.
Hi! I am Hannah Forton pursuing a double major in Communications and Music Industry. I love traveling, sports, cooking, music, Broadway, movies, DIY, make-up, clothes, and tutorials. Some of my favorite work experiences includes an internship at a recording studio and working at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Helping and educating others is important to me, and I’ve enjoyed being able to do so through volunteering for numerous non-profits since middle school. I like the big city vibes, but small towns will always hold a special place in my heart. Living near Detroit allows me to achieve the best of both worlds.
