Jeff Jones asserts that sharing videos of blacks being brutalized by police damages the public perception of his race.
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I have a problem with videos like the one of Eric Garner being illegally choked to death by a New York City police officer. And even though I haven’t and won’t watch that particular video, I still have a problem with it, and others like it, and it’s most likely not the same issue everyone else has.
My problem is with the over saturation of images and videos of black people being brutalized, which, in my opinion, paints an overall negative image of the black race; we’re not the hunted, nor should we be perceived as such.
We live in a show-me-now society, one that plays on the emotions of people to the point where they become either traumatized or desensitized to whatever violence is promoted; it becomes socially acceptable, even when it’s not.
I understand there needs to be evidence to prove police brutality in court, but a steady stream of videos where black people are being shot, choked and killed like animals does nothing to improve our public perception. American law enforcement has little to no regard for black life, that’s a widely accepted ideology, so video proof isn’t needed—at least not at the level at which its currently presented to the public.
So if you aren’t going to do anything radical or progressive to prevent the next Eric Garner, please stop fueling the fire by watching and sharing these videos. And for the sake of communities, don’t allow the mainstream media to cloud our view to the point where we develop a mob mentality instead of a cognitive surplus that can solve tough problems, together.
My prayers go out to the Garner family. #RIPEricGarner
Thanks for reading.
B.O.L.D member Jeffrey C. Jones is a motivational speaker, 2014 BMe Leader and the Founder of Greater Days Head.
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Photo: Courtesy of C. Norris