#DangerousBlackKids Shows the Cuteness—and Humanity—Of Our Babies

Cute children make me giggle. Seriously, I troll the internet looking for pretty pictures of pretty black children because they’re delicious and they make my ovaries twitch and my heart sing Stevie Wonder songs. (I’m not one to brag, but my MyBrownBaby Pinterest Board will totally make you want to procreate.) But Black Twitter took my love of beautiful pictures of African American children to another level this weekend when it launched #DangerousBlackKids in response to the verdict in the trial of Michael Dunn, the animal who shot and killed Jordan Davis and, as of now, is getting away with it.

Hoodfeminism.com’s Mikki Kendall and Jamie Nesbitt Golden kicked off the #dangerousblackkids hashtag on Sunday, with black mamas and daddies and aunties and uncles and everybody else who loves black children posting adorable pics of children in their lives with sarcastic messages about just how “dangerous” they are. The campaign, much like the #HeIsNotASuspect campaign launched by Essence magazine editor-in-chief Vanessa Bush last year, takes dead aim at the stereotypes of black children, exposing them for their ridiculousness, all while gathering a critical mass of the cutest pictures of chocolatey goodness you ever did see, showing every ounce of our babies’ humanity. Explained Kendall on Hoodfeminism.com:

#DangerousBlackKids is not about proving our worthiness to live to those who would handwave our murders. It is not about being respectable enough to deserve life. It is about being human in public, with each other, for each other. It is a reminder to ourselves that we will never be the monsters society would like us to be, that we are complex, complicated, and eminently worthy of life because we are here. We will always be here. We will fuss, feud, fight, and be a family regardless of what outsiders want to see. Our children are precious to us, to their friends, to the communities that we inhabit. And no matter how many times we have to fight for them, or for ourselves, we will keep fighting for as long as it takes to win. Because we are always worth it.

So clever. So spot on.

Here, a curation of some of my favorites, kicked off with one of my own: a vintage photo of my kids Lila, Mazi and Mari, “frolicking” in the gardens of Marie Antoinette’s chalet in Versailles. The context of the picture: Mari asked me the meaning of the word “frolick,” and when I explained that it means to dance gayly and with great joy, the three of them took flight. Like the little nuts they are. I do not need to state the obvious irony of the picture and the stupid stereotypes of black children as wild and uncontrollable. Don’t have to explain it at all.

Look at them, running amok in the gardens of Marie Antoinette’s chalet in Versailles. Hoodlums. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/7UxwOwVyXh

— Denene Millner (@MyBrownBaby) February 18, 2014

 

Practicing his stare-down. Say something — I dare you! Can’t you see how defiant he will become? http://t.co/pMvKaOq8bW #DangerousBlackKids

— Hilary Beard (@HilaryBeard) February 17, 2014

 

Clear the Pool–here comes #DangerousBlackKids @Mish_Nea pic.twitter.com/hXoiBw2ZsE

— Mark Anthony Neal (@NewBlackMan) February 17, 2014

 

#dangerousblackkids having a very civil lunch. I think we discussed taking over the world … or going to the park. pic.twitter.com/duphTGac0G

— FabGlanceMel (@fabglance1) February 16, 2014

 

#dangerousblackkids Mardi Gras terrorist, Beaded Assassin, Dealer in Cuteness pic.twitter.com/95MjWy0FKI

— Afro-Nola / Afronola (@afronola) February 16, 2014

 

An intimidating young man. He looks a little thuggish with his hat cocked all hip hop style #dangerousblackkids pic.twitter.com/aMihXi69SM

— Jessi Ramsey (@miss_hellion) February 16, 2014

 

#DangerousBlackKids He sits on floors at American Eagle. He’s a terror. pic.twitter.com/qYQJE096Q8

— Alovelydai (@alovelydai) February 16, 2014

 

.#dangerousblackkids lock your women and children up quickly! Young black men thuggin. pic.twitter.com/AYqkTwMoBe

— Dorliza Jones (@DorlizaJones) February 18, 2014

 

watch out, he’s black–that skateboard can be used as a weapon #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/YpdtR2K8MM

— sekilenj (@sekilenj) February 18, 2014

 

Look at this gang of cousins, steady thugging in Times Square. Sheisty. Shifty. All of ’em. #DangerousBlackKids pic.twitter.com/OlVo8rFle2

— Denene Millner (@MyBrownBaby) February 18, 2014