A black teenager was pepper-sprayed in his own home after a neighbor mistook him for a burglar.

North Carolina teen Deshawn Currie, who lives with his white foster family, was confronted by police in his own home after a neighbor called them, assuming Currie was a trying to burglarize the home.

From Mother Jones:

When police arrived, Currie was forced to explain a situation that never needed to be explained, as police humiliatingly pointed to family pictures asking how on earth a black teenager fit into the story.

“They was like, ‘Put your hands on the door,'” Currie said. “I was like, ‘For what? This is my house.’ I was like, ‘Why are y’all in here?'”

Apparently unable to wrap his mind around the fact a black teenager lives with a white family, and frustrated with Currie’s defense, one of the officers then proceeded to pepper spray him in the face—right inside his very own living room.

Read more at Mother Jones

The family is outraged and rightfully so.

Why did the police find it necessary to pepper-spray Currie? 

Why do neighbors, etc. continue to assume the criminality of black youth? 

Sound off below!