What you talkin' 'bout, girl? You really mean for us to act like those white people who converse with their children all the time and don't view physical punishment as the first resort?

You're absolutely right. A history of stress and humiliation has caused us to act out anger, authoritarianism, and violence with our children. We have been acculturated to this and have been made afraid to behave differently from fear of ridicule by other black parents. It is not disrespecting our "culture" to be understanding, communicative, and available. We can't allow peer pressure to keep us from doing what is best for our children. We are growing people, not punishing slaves. We don't need to continue incorporating artifacts from a humiliating past into our present practices. I can't thank you enough, and I hope that thousands of people read this piece.