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A Teen Shared Unwritten Rules His Mom Makes Him Follow As A Young Black Man

"Don't drive with a wifebeater on. Don't drive with a du-rag on. Don't go out in public with neither."

Cameron Welch is an 18-year-old who lives in Houston.

And he recently shared a TikTok that has gone viral, generating over 8 million views. In the video, he tells the unwritten rules his mom makes him follow as a young black man:

@skoodupcam

Jus some unwritten rules my mom makes me follow as a young black man #fyp #blacklivesmatter

♬ original sound - marcappalott

Below are the rules he highlights in his TikTok:

– Don't put your hands in your pockets.

– Don't put your hoodie on.

– Don't be outside without a shirt on.

– Check in with your people, even if you're down the street.

– Don't be out too late.

– Don't touch anything you're not buying.

– Never leave the store without a receipt or a bag, even if it's just a pack of gum.

– Never make it look like there's an altercation between you and someone else.

– Never leave the house without your ID.

– Don't drive with a wifebeater on.

– Don't drive with a du-rag on.

– Don't go out in public with a wifebeater or a du-rag.

– Don't ride with the music too loud.

– Don't stare at a Caucasian woman.

– If a cop stops you randomly and starts questioning you, don't talk back, just compromise.

– If you ever get pulled over, put your hands on the dashboard and ask if you can get your license and registration out.

BuzzFeed spoke to Cameron, who said, "I want people to understand the type of things my mom has to instill in me because my people continue to be judged by the color of our skin and not the content of our character, as Martin Luther King Jr. said. It is a required conversation our parents must have to ensure that we come home alive."

Cameron further explained the importance of his video's message: "Our voices are heard but not felt by the people. We endure too much pain and hurt to just be heard — we need you to feel just a fragment of what my people feel on a day-to-day basis in order to get meaningful change. I believe if you felt the bottled-up emotions of silence that our country makes us hold in, then we can make real change, because not one race should ever feel this way."

Click here to follow Cameron on TikTok.