Who will speak for these lives taken since 2012?
George Floyd, Amaud Arbery, Natosha “Tony” McDade, Sean Reed, Steven DeMarco, Ariane McCree, Terrence Franklin, Miles Hall, James Johnson, Michael Dean, Botham Shem Jean, E.J. Bradford, Antwon Rose, Stephon Rose, Stephon Clark, Yassin Mohamed, Finan H. Berhe, Darius Tarver, William Green, Samuel David Mallard, Kwame Jones, Christian Taylor, Samuel DuBose, Laquan McDonald, Kajieme Powell, Wendell Allen, Freddy Gray, Walter Scott, Eric Harris, Phillip White, Tony Robinson, Jerame Reid, Rumain Brisbon, Tamir Rice, Akai Gurley, Tanisha Anderson, Dante Parker, Ezell Ford, John Crawford, Eric Garner, Dontre Hamilton, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Brandon Glenn, Devon Bailey, Christopher Whitfield, Anthony Hill, Eric Logan, Jamerion Robinson, Gregory Hill, Jr., JaQuanon Slaton, Ryan Twyman, Brandon Webber, Jimmy Atchinson, Willie McCoy, EJ Fitzgerald Bradford, Jr., D’ettrick Griffin, Jamel Roberson, DeAndre Ballard, Robert Lawrence White, Anthony Lamar Smith, Ramarlee Graham, Manuel Loggins, Jr., Kendrec McDade, Larry Jackson, Jr., Jonathan Ferrell, Jordan Baker, Victor White, III., Dontre Hamilton, John Crawford, III., Charley Keunang, Jamar Clark, Mario Woods, Quintonio LeGrier, Gregory Gunn, Akiel Denkins, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Terrence Sterling, Terrence Crutcher, Keith Lamont Scott, Alfred Olango, Jordan Edwards, Danny Ray Thomas, DeJuan Guillory, Patrick Harmon, Jonathan Hart, Maurice Granton, Julius Johnson, Jamee Johnson….
I received this list from my pastor and Rooftop friend, Dr. Andrew L. Foster, III. Thank you, it made me began to write out of frustration due to anger residue from encounters as the only female, only black in so many places of employment. It was during those times I would spend time writing while on coffee break and lunch. One supervisor wrote me up for not eating with my peers; I took that evaluation to our corporate office. I told the vice president Î was required to communicate, complete my assignments, be cordial, but making friends was not what they paid me to do.
Being one of two Afro-merican craftsman and the only female, there were daily challenges. When I left the manager said he had learned more from me than any one person he had worked with. If you want people to treat you differently, stop accepting the unacceptable behavior. I’m a full time OJT, on the job trainer. It is an unpaid position, but very beneficial.
This is an increasingly stress filled time, as if COVID-19 is not enough, we are greeted with the unnecessary death of another brown man, George Floyd. He was called a kind, loving man by so many; family, friends & community. I can’t wrap my head around these facts: a policeman perceived his actions acceptable operational department’s policies. I can’t imagine a public servant believed that a possible $20.00 offense was sufficient to stomp on the neck of a citizen until life was squeezed from his brown body. Also, who would believe that three additional colleagues assisted and/or observed the process.
Police respond to a call with guns, handcuffs, tasers, billy clubs and the authority to handle a perpetrator. The alleged crime -Attempting to spend a possible counterfeit $20.00 bill should not warrant the level of violence that would lead to death. I wouldn’t recognize a counterfeit bill if I received one. Therefore, unless the alleged suspect has a pocket full of fraudulent funds, criminal activity may not be the intent.
Brown families experience issues of incarceration, oppression, poverty, and death at a much larger rate, therefore officers may operate with a sense of power which is empty. I suppose the loss of just one family’s officer causes just as much devastation. I say yes, because the entire FOP family claims the same community loss. Imagine the positive results of treating all persons as human, valuable and cared for; this fear, hatred, uncertainty and death could be avoided. The underlying problems may be hidden out of sight and not publicly discussed. Major is the role of policing being more about control rather than reducing crime and implementing justice. Everyone impacted could reap benefits if all participants and those impacted would admit a change is needed and possible.
Just think, George Floyd’s death was about $20, so that means brown bodies are not valued at the same rate, but this is not new info. I remember “White” only water fountains, restrooms, schools, colleges, businesses and of all things, cemeteries. I suppose that also means even dead white bodies are more valuable than brown bodies. There must be a knowledgeable explanation somewhere.
Many have declared the protesting crowd is not conducting themselves in an acceptable manner, they are too destructive. They have destroyed property, cars, Black owned businesses and public offices. Well, that being the current sentiment of fair and right let’s view the country’s history. “White” European males have ruled, reigned, ravaged and raped this land since their arrival. The real theft, a whole country stolen from Native Americans that were already here.
Then consider more unacceptable behavior, the theft, lies and trickery used on the enslaved population arriving with no say in their predicament. Fear of death was an ever-present threat for not complying with “Master” wishes. History fails to teach some jumped overboard, some fought to overtake the ships and several fought and killed their captors; after enduring unacceptable treatment and punishment, including death for standing up.
I’ve heard “power corrupts, absolute power, absolutely corrupts;” so, having extreme power could mean demanding that power be utilized to bring about good change. Let’s work together to create new options. Developing safety plans when a volcano is about to erupt is of no value. Receiving a warning means its time to make preparation for a disaster.
Keeping in mind if our idiot in chief had shared the warning one week earlier, 35,000 could have been saved; 65,000 using a two-week window of action. Timing is of the utmost importance. His republican colleagues agreed with, followed and supported his decisions even when medical experts and scientist failed to do the same.
America has had more than enough time to address these unacceptable modes of operation. I see COVID as a God intervention. A flipping of the switch revealed no one was immune. The royal, Prince Charles; famous, Isdris Alba, Tom Hanks and wife; powerful, Prime Minister Trudeau; rich, basketball player; health care saved them but didn’t protect them.
One TV spokesperson presented the looting as young people’s view of “Restitution”. I want to add to the list reparations for the endless list of denied resources. Predatory lenders, check cashing stores, higher mortgage rates for homes, lower home values for inner city owners, credit interest rates, mom & pop businesses received no CARES cash help while Ruth Chris and Ravens received million, more unacceptable.
Camden, N.J., was the first group of protesters that had citizens and police marching together; there has since been a few additional ones. This is a possible path to successful communications and resolutions. Side by side, smiles, banners, seasoned, young, male, female, citizens and police with beige, brown, almond and peach skins. Creating community; proving a safe exit is possible with proper planning before the emergency. Don’t know who had the first thought, made the first contact or decided when and where; it had to be at least one from both sides. It is an opportunity for all to benefit.
The failure of churches being out in the forefront is truly problematic for me. God’s people should be leading this charge. It is the entity that could make a real difference. I quit my union job to take on the role of Human Relations & Leadership Director of
the Eastern Pa. United Methodist Church. A major task was leading the Healing Wounds of Racism three day, required class for all clergy and Board and Agency leaders.
I’m thinking if they received the hidden history, minds would be enlightened, hearts would be impacted and those that are beneficiaries of “White Privilege” would do more than check the
item off the list of requirements. Also, that Afro-merican people would utilize the much-needed information to change their plantation informed education into one of proper action. They would increase their compassion for each other instead of reporting back to the oppressor.
The most ludicrous explanation I received during the changing “anti-racism training” being, we didn’t need it any longer because we had a black president. Eight years of being led by an intelligent, qualified, loving, compassionate communicator
and leader loved by the world was notice that white privilege was in jeopardy. Hence, the reason we currently have the idiot in chief. If we fail to do more than protest, march, complain and destroy our own communities we are setting the stage for another four years of the biggest failure ever in the White House which black folks built and cared for.
When the Afro-merican bird watching, Harvard graduate, was asked how he felt about the frantic, lying, white woman losing her job he expressed sorrow
and displeasure that she was impacted. I believe they were expecting him to say, “that was good”. But, of course, he felt sorry for her. Well. suppose the cops had shown up with guns ready, he could be dead and added to that list.
Remember how many are dead for no reason, brown-lynchings, beige-drownings, almondcamp interments and peachsmallpox filled blankets & massacres. 400 years after all this, “Racism” is still Alive & Well. People stop letting the offenders and oppressors off the hook
with no accountability. If there is a cost for the injustice, some of it would stop and then others would notice, it would no longer be business as usual.