These Black teens are turning 18 in Tamir Rice’s America

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'I don't really know what he could have become because America robbed me of that,' Samiria Rice, Tamir Rice's mother, said. 'You know, they robbed me of it.' We spoke with 31 Black teenagers about growing up in Tamir's America. Here are their stories:

, Rayshard Brooks and Ahmaud Arbery, die after encounters with police or neighborhood vigilantes. Some have been marginalized by their classmates, discriminated against by adults who were supposed to protect them. Others grew up surrounded by the hardness of poverty.Tamir Rice was also meant to turn 18 this year. The 12-year-old Black child was shot to death by a police officer in November 2014 while playing with a toy gun at a park in Cleveland.

Tamir Rice would have celebrated his 18th birthday this week. The USA TODAY Network spoke with 31 Black teenagers about growing up in Tamir's America.Amari Ajamu remembers how it felt to hear the full sounds of the Grambling State University marching band for the first time: When the band’s drumline passed, he could feel the marching snare in his chest.

In May, his uncle arrived in Memphis to congratulate Ajamu for graduating from high school. He’d been released last year, after Ajamu’s mom advocated for a reduction to her brother’s sentence. Sykes doesn’t want to be bitter about how it feels like his white friends have an easier life, but it’s hard not to ignore the obvious signs. In elementary school, his friends lived in big houses with multiple bathrooms, but his reality looked different: streets with no sidewalks, clothes with holes and a refrigerator with no food.

Ismail knew the store well. When he was a baby, his mother would take him to that Target, where he would wave his tiny hands around to high-five the sales clerks. One died in December, weeks after the game. Alvin was at a friend’s house when he heard Bryce was missing and, later, that he had killed himself.Alvin was taught what to do if he got pulled over by a police officer. He’d heard of a 12-year-old child being shot by a police officer. He knew it could happen to him or his friends. But suicide? He wasn’t ready for that.

Jordan grew up with his three older siblings. As the baby of the family, he’s the only child still living in the family home. “We were just going to leave actually, then he said, `Yeah, you'd better.’ He was like threatening us or something,” Jordan says.He has watched the Floyd protests but tries not to let it get to him.

When he was younger, he had shuffled between his mother’s house and his father’s place, where he clashed with both, mostly about him not taking his education seriously. He skipped class, not doing school work. William Brown, about George FloydQuote icon

 

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MalcolmJenkins LarryFitzgerald TG3II Still poignant BlackLivesMattter WhenWeAllVote RevolutionNow USA

Tamir's America? Are black people going to keep falling for this narrative that they're victims because of a few cherry-picked examples? We know he'd have grown up to be a criminal anyway, so it's no great loss.

YoungGiftedandBlack

Why not another story on Bubba Wallace, America's favorite race card driver?

Keeping Americans angry and divided for election day.

بعضی وقتها که میرفتم تهران و قدم میزدم در خیابان‌هایش در جوی های کثیف و نجسش در خیابان،باورکنید موشهای عزیزی را میدیدم که شاید بیشتر از یک یا دو کیلو وزن داشتند...با خودم فکر کردم اگر اتفاقی در تهران بیوفتد همان موش های عزیز و گرسنه و وحشتناک به خدمت مردم عزیز تهران میرسند...

THANK YOU!! We need more of this!! Im also asking that you dedicate your front page to BreonnaTalyor her story,the gross injustice of how her case is being handled deserves as much coverage/time/discussion as possible.. djaycameron ENOUGH!! Bring JusticeForBreonnaTaylor NOW!!

You guys should change your name to, “Race-stories-only Today.”

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These Black teens are turning 18 in Tamir Rice’s America'Getting pulled over by the cops is like ... fear. It's fear,' Bryce Tarver said. Ahead of what would have been Tamir Rice's 18th birthday, the USA TODAY Network talked to 31 teenagers about growing up Black in America. These are some of their stories: SHUT UP! First of all why are you doing something to get pulled over for?! Millions of Blacks all over the country have NEVER been pulled over by the police! And most who do are polite, cooperate with the police & never run their ignorant mouth & don't try to attack or run! White Privilege. I have 5 white sons. Never did I think they would die at a traffic stop. Not once BlackLivesMatter
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‘You don’t get over nothing like this’: Mother of Tamir Rice says moving on has been painfulFor Samaria Rice, moving on from her son Tamir’s death six years ago has been painful. “You don’t get over nothing like this,' Rice said. 'It's an empty feeling of loss when you don’t have your puzzle complete.' Yeah that true for many many people like victims of serial killers random rape killings Physical abuse leading to death we all ask why did it have to happen Hijackings Gangwars Human trafficking Losing people throw that kind of violence is never easy for anyone Tamir's death is what compelled me to take a look at myself and spread the truth about racism in America. When I saw how they rolled up and just shot him I was horrified. It's why his picture is my profile to remind me and others that BlackLivesMatter we must all do better! Sad
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