“What do you think the chances are that our home will be okay tonight?”
This question arose as my husband and I began assessing the risks surrounding our neighborhood, the very place where the tragic incident involving the police and George Floyd took place. It was the day before the fifth night of unrest. As we delved into discussions about whether the likelihood of danger outweighed the risks posed by COVID-19, I realized it was time to take action. We needed to evacuate our two young kids.
I reached out to the other families on our street via text. By nightfall—just before the roads were closed and the city advised residents to secure their belongings to prevent arson—we all agreed to relocate our children for safety.
I felt a wave of concern wash over me. As a white woman with white children, I grappled with whether leaving was the right decision. I considered the ethical implications and how it might look to others. It wasn’t until I reflected on this while writing that I realized all the other children in our neighborhood were black. My priority was the safety of all children. Hours later, our local councilmember echoed our sentiments, advising vulnerable populations to leave the area. Keeping children safe is the responsibility of every adult, regardless of skin color.