‘NOW MORE THAN EVER
Is the time for us to stand up
Growing up in a predominantly white town, I realized from a young age how much different my life was from my peers, simply because of the color of my skin.
Just being a part of the black community makes you remember certain “firsts” in your life. You remember the first time your parent warned you about what to do when a police officer approaches you, you remember the first time someone directly commented on the color of your complexion, or the first racial incident that you faced directly; more importantly, you remember the first time you truly realized that you are in fact an African American in the United States.
I remember it was junior year when I fully grasped the idea that not everyone saw racism the same way I did. I recall sitting in my class feeling powerless after having a disagreement with a teacher over whether the heinous act of blackface was wrong. My educator argued that it was freedom of speech and implied it shouldn’t be as controversial as it is now. At that moment, I realized the importance of knowing my history. I had absolutely no clue how to rebut
her statement. I always knew that something like blackface was wrong, but I never had a real understanding of why.
With everything currently going on in our country regarding racism and police brutality, it is important that we remain educated on the issue and continue to stay informed. I truly believe that it is impossible to combat an issue this large without being informed on every aspect we are fighting. I also believe it is important to continue to inform others on what is going on.
We all have a platform, whether big or small. It is crucial that we utilize any platform we have to continue to spread awareness about this issue and make information accessible to those in need of it. The absolute worst thing we can do right now is stay quiet about the issues occurring in this world. To be silent is to be complicit. Not spreading awareness, speaking out or acknowledging the problem simply gives power to the oppressors. Their main goal is to silence us and ignore the treatment of the black community. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to stand up to these injustices, starting with the issues going on within our own communities.
It takes roughly six months to become a police officer in the state of Connecticut. That’s less than a year going through the academy. Anyone who really wanted to could become a police officer and gain an abundance of power instantly. These officers have sworn to protect and serve our communities, so why is it that the individuals within this profession are feared the most?
Perhaps it is because in most cases an officer no longer takes on the job of just an officer. When it comes to detaining a black individual, the officer involved easily can go from a cop to a judge, to a jury, and eventually an executioner.
Every time a police officer makes the decision to pull their trigger, apply a bit more pressure when detaining, or act irrationally, another helpless life is taken from this earth. The harsh truth is that in a lot of cases, black men and women won’t have the chance to defend themselves in a court of law following an incident, because an officer came to a ruling for them. We live in a world where an officer’s first instinct is to shoot first, ask questions later, and it’s taking the lives of members of the black community at a rapid pace.
The brutality that African Americans face on a daily basis shouldn’t be excused simply because it occured in the hands of an officer on duty. No one, despite their position, has the right to take away the life of an innocent man or woman.
The issue of police brutality, however, is just the surface of what need to be addressed.
We haven’t even touched upon the overcrowding of minorities in our prisons, lack of black educators, lack of diversity in office, discrimination in housing, and public health equity. The black community has been fighting for years to be treated as equals in a world where we are seen as lessthan.
Now is the time that we as a community must work together to stop this oppression once and for all.