Tyler Perry has opened up about his decision to delay a conversation about race with his seven-year-old son, Aman, in a recent interview with AARP The Magazine. The 52-year-old actor and filmmaker, who shares Aman with his ex-partner Gelila Bekele, shared his thoughts on parenting and the delicate balance between protecting his son’s innocence and preparing him for the realities of the world.
In the interview, Perry explained that he wants to shield Aman from the harsh realities of racial discrimination for as long as possible. He admitted that he hasn’t yet talked to his son about the fact that some people will judge him based on the color of his skin. “I want to hold out as long as I can,” Perry said. “I don’t want to tell him that there are people who will judge him because of the color of his skin, because right now, he’s in a school with every race, and all these kids are in their purest form.”
One of the reasons Perry is waiting to have this conversation is because Aman has not yet associated his friends with their racial identities. Perry noted: “When he describes his friends, he never defines them by race.” However, he acknowledged that once Aman becomes aware of the racial issues in society, it will be a painful moment. “The moment he loses that innocence is going to be a very, very sad day for me,” Perry shared.
Despite his hesitation to bring up the topic just yet, Perry understands that the conversation is inevitable. He revealed that Aman is already beginning to ask “really tough questions” and emphasized his desire to raise a child who is conscious of social justice. Perry said: “What I want him to be, more than anything, is somebody who sees injustice, speaks out against it, and effects change.”
The Madea star also discussed his efforts to keep Aman out of the public eye, allowing his son to lead as normal a life as possible without the weight of his father’s fame. Perry added, “I want him to know what it’s like to have his own name and his own life and not have the pressure of trying to live up to whatever or whoever your father was.”
In previous interviews, Perry has spoken about his parenting priorities, including teaching Aman about the struggles of life and instilling a sense of gratitude for what he has.
