Gabrielle Union Shares Concern For Her Kids Growing Up Black In America

In a candid disclosure, "Being Mary Jane" star Gabrielle Union on Thursday voiced concerns about her children growing up in the U.S. amid racial discrimination. The 48-year-old was defining "Black Beauty" in an interview with ELLE.

The actress revealed that she is looking for schools that are diverse enough for her kids and recalled how she used to think that her mother did a good job in terms of raising Black daughters.

She also noted how her mother tried to fit in the representation of Black girls shown in the books and magazines while staying connected with the community.

"But as much as she was doing, it paled in comparison to being at school and in sports in largely white spaces," she added. Union further explained that if she is not able to provide her two daughters a diverse environment in school as the global population, then she has to constantly reaffirm the girls.

Furthermore, Union said handing children books and magazines or watching "Black Is King" repeatedly is not enough. Instead, kids should be surrounded by "additional teachers," People quoted her as saying.

"Part of that is constantly reaffirming their Blackness outside of them so they can constantly see themselves in the flesh, mirroring what we're teaching at home," she added. She added that this was a piece that her mother missed as her family didn't live close to the Black communities or have Black friends.

Union is not the only Black actress who has shared concerns about raising her kids in the country. Mickey Guyton also shared her concerns ahead of delivering her baby boy in June 2020, People reported. Following the tragic death of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, who were murdered by the police in 2020, Guyton said that her newborn might also face challenges growing up as a Black man.

"I've seen racial injustice happen to my husband. I've had a 'Karen' falsely make claims against him and say some of the most heinous things, like the N-word," Guyton told People.