It’s the talk that many Black parents struggle to have with their kids, the discussion of how to deal with the police, and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” reality diva Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker are no exception.
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and, most recently, Rayshard Brooks at the hands of law enforcement are stirring up intense emotions for Black mothers and fathers nationwide.
On Wednesday, June 10, Burruss explained on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” the talk that she and Tucker had to have with their kids Kaela Tucker, 23, Riley Burruss, 17, and Ace Tucker, 4.
“Obviously, I’m getting it all from all different ages. We have Riley and Kaela, who are on the older side of things — which, Riley, she’s very opinionated,” Burruss said to the host, Cohen.
“And from the jump, she was like — she goes to a school where obviously the minority is Black [and] the majority is white — but she was like, ‘OK, I am unfollowing every single friend or person that is non-Black who is not speaking up about this, who is not showing that they are an ally with our community.”
Burruss went on to discuss her 4-year-old son, Ace, who dressed up as a police officer for career day at his preschool last year.
“My husband was trying to explain to him, you know, what was going on and why everybody was so upset and what was happening with the police,” Burruss said.
“Ace was confused. He was like, ‘So, the police are the bad guys?'”
Burruss then became emotional and teared up, saying, “Now isn’t that crazy to have to explain that to a 4-year-old? For you to be Black and have to worry about the police being the bad guys.”
She said she cries all the time because “that’s an emotional thing for me.”
Tucker expressed his thoughts on Instagram last week with a picture of Ace in his police uniform.
“I haven’t been very vocal lately as my heart has been hurting. My son was a police officer for his career day last year. We were watching the news, and he asked me, ‘the police are bad guys?’ With a puzzled look,” Tucker wrote.
“It was so hard explaining to him that the police can also be the bad guys. He was so confused. And I’m still working on explaining to him the horrific acts of the police. We must have honest conversations with our children and prepare them,” he concluded.
Tucker’s willingness to have this conversation with his son at the age of 4 caused his followers to applaud him for his efforts, share their prayers, and send their advice.
“Aaah man,😔😢 that’s a tough one.🙏🏾.”
“Amen, 🙏🏽 there is good and bad in anything… our fruit, food, and of course, in people.”
“Better soon than later👍❤️.”
“He has a great example at home. Bless your family ❤️.”
“You are so right. It’s hard but necessary. We love Ace.💖.”
“My son was 6 yrs old when I had that conversation. Pray and ask God for guidance. Be very transparent when you have that conversation. ❤️❤️❤️.”
“Probably the best way of explaining would be: ‘Most police make good choices, and there are a few of them that make not-so-good choices.’ I taught elementary school for 5 years; they understand that logic of choices.”
“Awww I can’t imagine how confusing this has to be for him and all the other kids who idolized police officers. I pray that his heart and faith in police officers is not broken due to some bad apples in the bunch. My heart is broken that he, as well as the other children, have to see this injustice that we, as a nation is experiencing right now. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.”
Watch Burruss’ exchange with Cohen below.
