At only 12 years old “This Is Us” actor Lonnie Chavis seems to have a grasp on how differently a Black person compared to others has to navigate through society because of racism.
Chavis painted a picture of his sense of understanding in an open letter that he wrote in part to help him process his emotions following the death of George Floyd of Minneapolis. On Thursday, June 18, Chavis posted what started as a letter to his mother on Instagram. In it, he touched on what it’s like growing up Black in the United States.
“My life matters, but does it?” Chavis began his letter. “America paints a very clear picture of how I should view myself. America shows me that my Blackness is a threat … I actually didn’t learn about being Black and what that would mean for me until I was 7 years old. I thought I was a peach man, so my parents educated me on being a Black man really quick with long talks, books and movies like ‘Amistad’ and ‘Malcolm X.’ “
He added, “I also remember being invited to events but then being treated very poorly by security or entrance checkers, like I wasn’t supposed to be there, until I had a publicist to announce me.”
But once Chavis made it past suspicious security people, he was still reminded of his race because people often asked him if he was the “boy from ‘Black-ish’ or the boy from ‘Stranger Things.'”
“Can you imagine being confused for any other Black kid just because you all share the same profession? I can,” wrote Chavis, who already has created an impressive resume for himself. Besides playing the younger version of Sterling K. Brown’s character Randall on “This Is Us,” he’s been on shows like “White Famous,” “The Thundermans,” Nickelodeon’s “Bella and the Bulldogs” and “Supergirl.”.
Chavis wrote of how racism has followed him outside of Hollywood, including once when he was accused of stealing.
“I was racially profiled at a restaurant in San Diego while visiting one of my young Black costars,” he wrote. “Her Black cousins and I were accused by a young white girl working the cash register of trying to steal the few tips in her tip cup.”
Another intense moment where race seemed to be involved came when Chavis turned 10 years old. That particular birthday fell on Thanksgiving 2018, but a day of celebration turned into fear after the police arrived at his home.
“After coming home late with my family from my birthday party, a Long Beach police officer twisted my dad’s arm behind his back and pulled him from our doorstep with the door opened, claiming he was being detained for a traffic ticket,” Chavis explained.
“I thought my parents were for sure going to die going up against the police,” he added. “By the grace of God, they are both still with me.”
