Beach incident confirms need for dialogue on race

Virginia Beach found itself in the spotlight recently for all the wrong reasons. A young Black male was cuffed in public in front of his family. Turned out his only crime was he fit the description of a suspect wanted for using stolen credit cards.

I grew up in North Philadelphia in the 1950s and ’60s and over the years I had hoped this type of activity would have faded out. I have started to reflect on my experiences living in America. My reflections are mine alone.

I do not profess to speak to speak for all Black men in America. As a race we are not monolithic, I will say many Black men my age seems to have experienced the same trials and tribulations as far as the criminal justice system works in America.

Once again America has not come to grips with its past, starting with the aftermath of the Civil War. This nation permitted a vast system of laws and procedures that was designed to keep the powerful in power and the newly freed slaves disenfranchised. Not everyone was in cahoots, but too many Americans stood by and did nothing. This created a caste system where generations of Americans grew up in their own isolated worlds. Police officers assigned to the inner cities often lived in the suburbs. This arrangement could cause the officers to not have a connection with the people they serve.

My interactions with the police in Philly was limited by design. The less contact I had with Philadelphia’s finest the better off I was. In that era there were no civilian review boards. The police commissioner was Frank Rizzo, who often acted as though he commanded troops instead of police officers.

Confrontations with police in those days were met with swift and brutal street justice.

Traffic stops were the worst. Being Black and stopped at night struck terror in criminals and law-abiding citizens alike. Being stopped at 3 a.m., the feeling was how do I survive this encounter and go home in one piece?

Your survival often depended on the officer’s perception of how you responded to his commands. It did not take much for a “routine” traffic stop to escalate because the officer “feared” for his safety.

I remember being in high school and a community action group had permission to come to the school, bring us to the auditorium and conduct a forum on how to survive encounters with police officers. The lessons I learned has stayed with me still.

I am not saying that a confrontation happens every time. I have been stopped by Virginia Beach police and have been treated with respect. I have been pleasantly surprised that the officer referred to me as “Mr. Butler.” What does that say about this country that I feel the bare minimal of respect from the police is cause for celebration? What does it say about me?

When I am pulled over, while I am waiting for the officer to run my tags, I put my license and registration on the dashboard and keep both hands on the wheel. When he asks me for my credentials, I say out loud I am reaching for my license and registration. Too much, you say? It has worked for me all these years. I have been stationed in four southern states back in the day, retired here in Virginia and have been pulled over in each of these states without incident. As far as I am concerned my method works.

We do not know yet the whole story of why Jamar Mackey was cuffed. If incidents like this keep happening, America will never heal. The present system must be overhauled. Perceptions must change. A new dialogue must be established between people of different backgrounds.

Paul Butler is retired from the U.S. Navy and the Transportation Security Administration in Norfolk. He lives in Virginia Beach.

Once again America has not come to grips with its past, starting with the aftermath of the Civil War. This nation permitted a vast system of laws and procedures that was designed to keep the powerful in power and the newly freed slaves disenfranchised.