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        <title><![CDATA[‘This Is Us’ star Lonnie Chavis, 12, shares experiences with racism]]></title>
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            <media:title type="html">‘This Is Us’ star Lonnie Chavis, 12, shares experiences with racism</media:title>
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        <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At just 12 years old, “This Is Us” actor Lonnie Chavis has already experienced racism in America.</p><p>&#8220;My life matters, but does it?” the young star begins in an essay <strong>penned for People magazine</strong>.&nbsp;“America paints a very clear picture of how I should view myself. America shows me that my Blackness is a threat, and I am treated as such.&#8221;</p><p>In the essay, Chavis — who plays a 9-year-old version of Randall on the NBC show — recalled the time he feared for his parents&#8217; lives upon their return home from celebrating his 10th birthday.</p><p>“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,&#8221; he wrote.</p><p>Chavis detailed how his mother, Najah Chavis, &#8220;put his baby brother&#8221; in his arms, told him to stay away from the windows and &#8220;no matter what [you] hear from our front yard to not come to the door.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Can you imagine holding on to your three little brothers while thinking that you are all going to be orphans? I can.&#8221;</p><p>Chavis also described how his family has been pulled over by the police multiple times &#8220;because we were Black in a nice car.&#8221;</p><p>He said his mother was pulled over while taking him to work one day in their new BMW.</p><p>&#8220;The white cop approached my mother’s window and asked her, &#8216;Whose car is this?&#8217; — not about her license and registration, or even why he pulled us over,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;She had to go to her trunk for more paperwork, and I watched the cop hold his hand on his gun as if my mom was a threat. I was scared for her; I was scared for me.&#8221;</p><p>And even at such a young age, the &#8220;White Famous&#8221; actor says he&#8217;s already dealing with racial profiling and prejudice in Hollywood that have left him “even more fearful.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;I was constantly asked if I’m the boy from &#8216;Black-ish&#8217; or the boy from &#8216;Stranger Things.&#8217; Chavis said. &#8220;Can you imagine being confused for any other Black kid just because you all share the same profession? I can.&#8221;</p><p>The actor ended his essay with a call for reform.</p><p>“Policies need to change, laws need to change, the police need to change, Hollywood needs to change, hearts need to change, America needs to change.&#8221;</p></p></div></p></div>]]></content:encoded>
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