GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- The conversation about the potential dangers of being a black man or woman in America today is nothing new for parents of black children. Some parents telling NBC26 they've been forced to have candid talks with their kids about what to expect from society and even some police officers just because of the color of their skin.
For six years now the Bring Your Own Five basketball event in Green Bay has given the opportunity for local police and the community's youth to brush shoulders.
"First of all it taught the kids that cops are human just like them and that they have feelings just like them and families just like them," explains Sharon Harper the event organizer and founder.
Harper worked tirelessly to make the weekly event happen, she wanted to make sure that young adults in Green Bay had a better experience with law enforcement than she did growing up in Chicago.
"My kids are grown but when my boys go out I'm always praying Lord please don't let them have any police contact."
After years of building on a relationship with the Green Bay police department today, Sharon trusts local law enforcement but she admits across the country parents like her are continually being forced to have tough conversations with their kids regarding police interactions.
"Put your hands on the steering wheel, have them there, don't be reaching for things, don't grab things, don't get out the car unless they ask you. Even if you're not doing nothing sometimes things are going to happen."
It's a tough reality for any parent and perhaps even more difficult for today's youth knowing that in today's current climate the lines of perceived competition for many appear to have already been drawn.
"It's not fair, it's not right, we shouldn't have to think like that or worry," says Harper.
Sharon doesn't have all of the answers on how to fix this monumental problem but she does think following police instructions when being approached, keeping your nose clean as a citizen and continuing to build on relationships with cops is the first step of many that more communities will have to embrace for real change to come.
"I'm not justifying anything that has happened to anybody, there is no excuse for it what so ever. I think the way to go into this conversation is being together, talking about it, finding solutions, and unifying instead of just focusing on the bad things. Let's come with some solutions."
Coming up Thursday in Green Bay at 5:30 at The Divine Temple Church, Sharon and local police will be holding an open forum for the community to discuss pressing matters that both the public and law enforcement are currently grappling with.
