I spent a lot of time teaching my kids politeness and respect for seniors, like most parents. When entering a room, they must greet their elders (unless they speak first). Sitting people must stand up to shake hands while meeting. All kids learn a few things early on. Girls and boys. When they’re tiny, you forgive and remind them, but as they get older, you angrily question why they don’t do what you’ve taught them for years. Parenting is fun. It’s fun. 

When I witnessed Lil Wayne introduce his three children to Queen Latifah courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game and they shook her hand but didn’t stand up, my face contorted. I wondered why they didn’t get up, but I recognized that youngsters need reminders in the moment. (This game was on Nov. 22, 2023, versus the Dallas Mavericks, so maybe they learned their lesson, but me, you, your mother, and your cousin just watched this footage on social media, so we’ll speak about it.) 

Anyway, Lil Wayne didn’t urge his fellas to stand up, which confused me. That surprised me because Lil Wayne is from the South, where such things are taken seriously. I know Lil Wayne isn’t like us, but he’s from New Orleans and has a Black mother, and Black mothers are the first to disgrace you for making them seem terrible. Feаr of making our mothers appear terrible frequently leads to action, even if they’re not around. 

I’m shocked Lil Wayne didn’t directly order his boys to stand up, as my parents would. My folks would need not urge, “Stand up and shake her hand.” The “stand up” with “the look” would do all the heavy lifting while I gathered myself and prayed I wouldn’t get a public talking to. Public speaking is unpleasant, especially for kids. Thankfully, my kids know to straighten up when I give them “the look.” 

My experience with Black mothers is that “the look”—cutting the eyes—is directed toward a youngster who should know better but isn’t doing better. In my second-grade class photo at Atterberry Elementary School in Frankfurt, Germany, Mrs. Williams gives Eddie “the look” on camera. I’ll never forget that photo. I’m confused because Lil Wayne didn’t give the kids “the look” or make them stand up. 

Lil Wayne, an extraterrestrial with wisdom, and his kids’ mothers are training them to be respectable inhabitants of the world, so I’ll chalk this up to time. These kids definitely know better than to sit down and shake Queen Latifah’s or Khadijah James’ hand. Social media rules, so someone will tell Lil Wayne, like his kids’ mothers, and the next time they’re out, those lads will be faster than ever. 

All parents notice and care about this. That Lil Wayne wаnted to introduce his kids to Queen Latifah is cool. His introduction tells me he knows better. He’s courteous and patient. After she shook his youngest son’s hand, he respectfully said, “These are my other two boys.” See? He behaves. I didn’t see Queen Latifah’s face, but her body language wasn’t offended. All’s well that ends well apparently. I promise those boys will stand up next time. Black mothers don’t play.