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We are still fighting the fight for young boys to be able to express themselves without fear of judgement from the outside world.
Unfortunately, young boys are still pretty aware they may become targets based on how they choose to express themselves.
Alicia Keys' 4-year-old-son Genesis Ali—after choosing to paint his nails rainbow—had a reaction that Keys said was "very frustrating."
"After [the manicurist] painted his nails, he looked at me and he said, 'Mommy, I don't want this on my nails,' He was like, 'People are not going to like it.' Can you believe this? He's four and already understands the concept that someone is going to judge him because he chose rainbow color on his nails."
Keys reassured him that men wear nail polish semi-regularly, which made the boy feel better, "but it just got me to thinking how completely judged we are all the time."
Keys added:
"I oftentimes express the masculine energy that's inside of me."
"And, all the time, if that happens, there are the judgments, and there's the stereotypes, and there are all the energies that come towards that."
@HuffPost Comm’on let the kids be kids..— Kaney (@Kaney)1573441743.0
@HuffPost Good job, mama! 💜💜💜— Carrie (@Carrie)1573442673.0
@HuffPost Aien't no shame in that game👍— Stephen Paul Eaves (@Stephen Paul Eaves)1573444336.0
@HuffPost Rainbows are beautiful. Rock that shit, kid.— william bartelt (@william bartelt)1573434162.0
True to what Keys predicted, people have gone out of their own way to be judgmental and cruel about Keys and her son.
So, Alicia Keys is the latest "celebrity" to emasculate and socially castrate her son. She encourages her son to pu… https://t.co/CF5FPibrwy— Coach Greg Adams (@Coach Greg Adams)1573431301.0
Alicia Keys can't wait to put a dress on her son https://t.co/ikQSNeTvM1— darkskinwhiteman (@darkskinwhiteman)1573413865.0
@drkskinwhiteman 4 and your pushing this crap on him— trackstarrz-lyn (@trackstarrz-lyn)1573469548.0
@drkskinwhiteman 🤦🏾♂️Oboy. I think "I" will stick with the Bible. Atleast Jesus, the Son of God brings clarity. Ma… https://t.co/rEhB2pd9h8— Willie Green (@Willie Green)1573474026.0
But thankfully the mom's energy is also being matched, and people are coming to her defense.
@livekomik @Ms__Shirleen People are saying her son shouldn’t be in a nail shop but last I checked there ARE MEN in… https://t.co/VdOa934mz8— Chakel Bennett (@Chakel Bennett)1573390576.0
@livekomik Rock that nail polish! I been wearing nail polish for over 20 years. https://t.co/ODG0rKukxg— Robb'e 💅🏾 🦶🏾👣 (@Robb'e 💅🏾 🦶🏾👣)1573431737.0
@livekomik Love this. The bigots are fuming 😂— DumbWhore4 (@DumbWhore4)1573420243.0
Rep*blicans are telling Mrs. Alicia Keys how to RAISE HER OWN SON wtf???? If that kid wants to paint his nails LET… https://t.co/UjCW2Otk2F— a póbi da thay senhor (@a póbi da thay senhor)1573423846.0
This whole Alicia keys thing and her son painting his nails is making me mad. Why do YALL care if a 4yr wanted his… https://t.co/H7cGB3VrLY— Mr.Verdi👨🏾 (@Mr.Verdi👨🏾)1573481725.0
Nail polish is not inherently masculine or feminine, but society has decided that it must hold some weight over gender or sexuality.
Alicia Keys, and others, are working to fight that narrative. Someday, let us be less judged for our personal style choices.