A Baby at a Philadelphia Eagles Game, Complete with Racism
Should one isolate and insulate one’s child from the world? I don’t believe so, but am well prepared for boorishness and racism that might come with bringing him along to a major sporting event. No snowballs at Santa, but my baby Jack got the offer of some watermelon. They must have been out of fried chicken and collard greens.
I am struck by this blogger’s advice guiding those who might want to take a child to an Eagles tailgate. Surely there is more to it than bringing him a chair and his own little cooler, a smaller football to play with, etc. There certainly more to be aware of when taking a baby to the tailgates before the game, and to the game itself. We went yesterday, and Jack had a splendid time, though there is much to be wary of, including public drunkenness, extreme loud noises, and openly racist tailgaters. That said, I firmly believe children, even babies, should be exposed to life, though while in the protective care of their parents arms.
We arrived at the tailgates outside Lincoln Financial Field and settled in with friends. Those friends were mostly drunk or drinking, but happy in their endeavors. Jack was a hit as he practiced walking and charming the ladies. Sure, he delayed his nap in order to meet all those people in the Eagles jerseys, but the boy is not the cranky sort. We made sure he was warm and also made sure he got enough to eat. Perhaps the only tricky moment was when we needed to change his diaper right before heading to the stadium, and that wasn’t bad, as one of the revellers volunteered the use of her van.
The stadium itself is very noisy, but we’d taped sponges over the earholes in Jack’s plagiocephaly helmet, and he was fine even during the flyover of the F-18s. He frowned when the National anthem was butchered, as did we all, but he wasn’t startled. We also made sure to wear Jack in his Baby Bjorn, which is fine for an 81/2 month old (we’ve got a booster seat to strap him into for when he grows too big for the Bjorn). Jack enjoyed the game, but mostly enjoyed flirting with the women around us in the stands. He eventually surrendered to the need for sleep and did so comfortably in the Bjorn. It was only after the game that we encountered ugliness.
Of course, Jack did not notice. Perhaps my wife and I are a bit sensitive, but it is not common for one to walk through the parking lots outside Lincoln Financial Field and encounter a man offering food. He didn’t offer it to us, but instead made it a point to loudly and drunkenly offer watermelon to our baby. My wife immediately identified the crass stereotype, and I immediately pushed us a bit faster towards the car. But it was clear. the man didn’t offer the watermelon to our black son’s white parents, but to a baby too young to take food from any other source than from his parents.
Still, if a small incident of racism that Jack couldn’t possibly understand is all the worrying incident we have to face at next week’s game, Jack will attend with us again. They’re predicting sunny skies and an Eagles victory. The boy needs to witness his first Eagles victory, after all. In Philadelphia he’s already slogged through his rite of passage, a bad loss.
That sucks, man. I’m sorry to hear it. It’s the kind of thing that makes me want to carry a clawhammer to whack people with when I go there. But then the only time I’ve been back to Philly in the last 17 years has been for funerals. I hate that town. It’s a freaking cesspool.
Unfortunately there are a lot of assholes in Philly just like anywhere. Some people just aren’t’ happy with their own lives so they have to make themselves feel better by belittling others.
Steven, the bigger he gets, the prettier (yeah I know) handsomer he gets!
As for the jerk at the end of the game, small ignorant minds like that are all over the place. The best you can do, when he gets older, is try to explain the ignorance. Brilliance, as well as ignorance, comes in all colors. Unfortunately he’ll be subjected to it just because of the color of his skin. It’s wrong, but I don’t see it being wiped out anytime soon. Just the same as ignorance won’t. Just keep going like you are, he’ll surpass those of the ignorant ilk.
E, it is not that bad in Philly. This guy was probably too drunk to see. Still, the tailgaters are probably Beck listeners, in my experience. So that makes any tailgate in the country dangerous territory for the parents of a young black boy.
I’d like to see that jerkwad offer watermelon to a grown African-American man on his way out of the stadium. He’d probably be able to garnish it with his own teeth.
Steven Reynolds wrote:
I lived in Philly for 17 the years of my life. It wasn’t until I moved to Westminster, Md that I realized Philly sucked. I’m 35 now and I have been back a hand full of times since I left and to be honest I have no desire to go back.
Is everyone in Philly a jerk or racist? No, of course not and Maryland has it’s fair share of them. So does everywhere else in America. Just seems to me that all those times I got hassled for being a [expletive deleted] lover because I had two black friends who hung out with me in middle school are indicative of the tone there. There are assholes in every bunch.
Your baby son is adorable. I enjoy reading about his progress and seeing him grow. However, if you spend the rest of your life documenting every racial slight, life will lose it’s joy and you will quickly burn out. And I’m not sure it’s going to help your son negotiate his way around the world. Maybe Barak Obama’s life will hold some answers for you — as a black child growing up in a white family. I haven’t read his book yet but evidently he learned how to absorb these slings and arrows and come out stronger. We all have slights thrown at us. I have visible scar on my face — it’s not horrible but it was more visible when I was a child. You can’t imagine what people said — not just children but adults which was even worse. My parents couldn’t protect me from everything but their love helped me to ignore most of what came my way. Love your son and make him strong.