This Is Us star Lonnie Chavis, 12, reveals racism experiences

Publish date: 2024-05-02

This Is Us star Lonnie Chavis has opened up about what it's like growing up as a Black boy in America as he details his experiences with racism and encounters with the police that had him scared for his parents' lives. 

The 12-year-old actor is known for his role as nine-year-old Randall, the younger version of the character played by Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown, but his fame has not shielded him from the stark realities of systemic racism.

In an essay published by People, Lonnie recalls instances in his young life where he was racially profiled, treated poorly, mistaken for other Black actors, and fearful of police brutality.

Heartbreaking: Lonnie Chavis, 12, wrote a poignant letter recalling the instances in his young life where he was racially profiled, treated poorly, and terrified of police brutality

Heartbreaking: Lonnie Chavis, 12, wrote a poignant letter recalling the instances in his young life where he was racially profiled, treated poorly, and terrified of police brutality

Famous face: The This Is Us star plays nine-year-old Randall, the younger version of the character played by Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown

Famous face: The This Is Us star plays nine-year-old Randall, the younger version of the character played by Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown

The poignant piece was started as a letter to his mother, Najah, about growing up as a Black boy in the U.S. as he struggled to process the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, who was killed at the hands of a white police officer. 

'My life matters, but does it? America paints a very clear picture of how I should view myself,' he wrote. 'America shows me that my Blackness is a threat, and I am treated as such. I actually didn’t learn about being Black and what that would mean for me until I was seven years old.'

Lonnie said his parents, Najah and Lonnie Chavis Sr., had long talks with him and used books and movies such as Amistad and Malcolm X to educate him on being a Black man.  

'I was overwhelmed with confusion, fear, and sadness,' he recalled. 'I had to lean on my faith in Christ for hope, protection, and understanding.' 

He explained that being a young Black actor in Hollywood has only made him more fearful as he described how security and entrance checkers at events would treat him 'very poorly' and made him feel like he 'wasn't supposed to be there' until he had a publicist to represent him. 

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Share Living in fear: Lonnie said he has witnesses his parents, Najah and Lonnie Chavis Sr., being racially profiled and harassed by the police just becauase they were Black

Living in fear: Lonnie said he has witnesses his parents, Najah and Lonnie Chavis Sr., being racially profiled and harassed by the police just becauase they were Black 

Scary: He recounted a police officer twisting his father's arm and pulling him off the doorstep of their home as he hid upstairs with his younger siblings

Scary: He recounted a police officer twisting his father's arm and pulling him off the doorstep of their home as he hid upstairs with his younger siblings 

'I think of going to Hollywood events with other actors and actresses where I was constantly asked if I’m the boy from Black-ish or the boy from Stranger Things. I guess we all look alike since we are all Black,' he shared. 

'Can you imagine being confused for any other Black kid just because you all share the same profession? I can.'

Lonnie went on to recount crying on set as he listened to an actor portray a grandmother who was racist toward his character. 

Although he didn't name the show, a 2017 episode of This Is Us, titled Still There, features a plotline in which Rebecca (Mandy Moore) confronts her mother Janet (Elizabeth Perkins) for her racist treatment of her adopted grandson Randall. 

Lonnie said the director and writer told him he didn't need to cry for the scene, but it was hard not to as he witnessed the show's depiction of his reality as a Black boy. 

Behind the scenes: The actor once cried on set as he listened to an actor portray his character's racist grandmother

Behind the scenes: The actor once cried on set as he listened to an actor portray his character's racist grandmother

Heartbreaking: Lonnie had to explain to the white people in the room why he couldn't hold back his tears while witnessing the scene depicting his reality as a Black boy

Heartbreaking: Lonnie had to explain to the white people in the room why he couldn't hold back his tears while witnessing the scene depicting his reality as a Black boy

'I wasn’t acting, I was crying for me,' he explained. 'Can you imagine having to explain to a room full of white people why I couldn’t hold back my real tears while experiencing the pain of racism? I can.'

Lonnie also recounted being racially profiled at a restaurant in San Diego while visiting one of her young Black costars. He was out with his friend, her Black cousins, and their parents when a young white girl at the cash register accused them of trying to steal the money from her tip cup. 

He said the police were about to be called when a 'wonderful fan' who was white intervened and told the restaurant employees that he was a professional actor on This Is Us and didn't need the money. 

Lonnie has also witnessed his own parents being racially profiled and harassed by the police, recalling how a white police officer pulled over her mother in their new BMW just blocks from the Paramount Studio lot when she was driving him to work. 

When the cop approached the driver's side window, he immediately asked her: 'Whose car is this?' 

Horrifying: Once when he was out with one of his young Black costars, a white employee accused them of stealing from her tip jar. He's pictured with Asante Blackk and Lyric Ross

Horrifying: Once when he was out with one of his young Black costars, a white employee accused them of stealing from her tip jar. He's pictured with Asante Blackk and Lyric Ross 

Ignorant fans: Lonnie said he is constantly mistaken for Miles Brown from Black-ish (pictured) and Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things Ignorant fans: Lonnie said he is constantly mistaken for Miles Brown from Black-ish and Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things (pictured)

Ignorant fans: Lonnie said he is constantly mistaken for Miles Brown from Black-ish (left) and Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things (right)

'I had been taught about how to behave if ever getting stopped by the police, but nothing prepared me for this,' he said. 'My mom was guilty of driving while Black. 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. I didn’t know what to do in that backseat, but just to get on the phone with my dad.'

Lonnie said his parents have been pulled over three other times in Los Angeles simply because they 'were Black in a nice car.'   

But one of his family's scariest encounters with the police occurred on his 10th birthday on Thanksgiving in 2018. 

They had come home late from his birthday party when a Long Beach police officer twisted his father's arm behind his back and yanked him away from the open door on the doorstep of their home. 

Hit show: Lonnie is pictured with his This Is Us costars at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Hit show: Lonnie is pictured with his This Is Us costars at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Sharing his story: The anti-bullying advocate stressed at the end of his essay that America as a whole needs to change so Black citizens will no longer fear being murdered

Sharing his story: The anti-bullying advocate stressed at the end of his essay that America as a whole needs to change so Black citizens will no longer fear being murdered

Lonnie said the officer claimed his dad was being detained for a traffic ticket. His mother was filled with fear when she told him to go into his little brother's room and stay away from the windows.  

'She put my new baby brother in my arms and told me that no matter what I hear from our front yard to not come to the door — no matter what,' he explained. 'I held my baby brother and cried as I could hear my mother yelling outside of our home. I thought my parents were for sure going to die going up against the police. 

'By the grace of God, they are both still with me, and that racially motivated harassment against my father was dismissed. Can you imagine holding on to your three little brothers while thinking that you are all going to be orphans? I can.'

The activist, who has launched the anti-bullying #FixYourHeart campaign on social media, stressed at the end of his essay that America as a whole needs to change so Black citizens will no longer fear being murdered.  

'If you don’t understand what’s going on in the world, then understand this: This is what the world looks like for me. A 12-year-old Black boy,' he wrote. 'This is my America.'

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