I wrote an article for the Huffington Post addressing the issue of black on black crime. With the advent of the Black Lives Matter movement, many who seek to detract and stymie their momentum, always, undoubtedly fall back on the argument that; if black lives matter so much, then why is there so much black on black crime?
On the surface, it may seem like this is a good retort to use as a countermeasure against the BLM movement. However, once you understand how police brutality and violence have contributed to even more violence within the black community, it becomes clear that this argument of black on black crime is, well..a losing perspective.
You can find my lengthy essay entitled, Why Black on Black Crime Happens, here:
The main gist of the essay is, there is black on black crime, because black people do not trust the police to call on them for assistance in any given situation.
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As black people, we don’t feel the police are here for us but more to protect the rest of America from us. So when there are problems in the black community, calling the police is the last thing on our collective minds.
Why you ask? Because in general, black people have a long and unpleasant history with the police. You’re no doubt wondering, why would black people be distrusting of the police? The better question is, do black people have reason to fear the police and if so, what is it?
That’s a simple question but one with a very complex answer steeped in history that most White Americans do not like to address or acknowledge.
What you have to keep in mind is that whether you realize it or not, Black Americans are still dealing with the ghosts of slavery. Now, before you role your eyes and quietly whisper, god that was a 100 years ago why can’t you people just get past it? Ask yourself, can an acrophobic person just get over their fear of heights? Easier said than done to be sure.
You see White America, what you’re failing to keep in mind is that over a 100 years ago when men rode into the night to lynch Black Americans, who do you think those men were under those white sheets?
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After years of fear, terror and tragedy, it becomes ingrained in you to the point that you just can’t ‘get over it’. It’s not that simple. Besides that, it’s hard to ‘get over’ something when you are constantly being reminded that you are different and seen as different or not treated in the same regard as White Americans.
You see White America, what you’re failing to keep in mind is that over a 100 years ago when men rode into the night to lynch Black Americans, who do you think those men were under those white sheets?
By day they were businessmen, shopkeepers, grocers and police officers. However, these very same men, respected in their communities went out into the night in white sheets and became something else. These respectable men, rode through black communities looking to terrorize black people and instill fear in them by burning crosses and lynchings. All seemingly accepted as long as it was done at night an under the cover of a sheet. Keep in mind those very same men were probably ones that black people spent their money on in their shops and places of business during the day.
So in knowing this fact as all Black Americans do, all we have observed now is that the sheets have been taken off but the very same atrocities that happened 100 years ago are still happening today. The difference now, is that it’s no longer done under the cover of night, but under the cover of a badge and authority.
Much of it is preconceived ideas about how America views blacks. Evidence of this could be seen with one officer in Austin, Texas infamously stating that “Black people have violent tendencies”. Talk about a blanket statement wrapped in the cloak of racism.
As Black Americans, we automatically have been taught at an early age, what makes a police officer dangerous. It’s not his gun, can of mace, his night stick or the handcuffs. It’s the simple fact that a police officer knows he can lie or falsify a report and be believed.
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So yes expect black people to recoil when confronted by police officers for those so called “routine traffic stops”. You do not have our terrible memories of things done to ancestors and family members past. After over a 100 years of these hard lessons being ingrained in us as a people, it is almost hardcoded into our DNA to distrust the police. It’s because history has shown us, that in America, you can be a hero by day and many times a villain by night and this is what America refuses to face because it’s infinitely easier to turn a blind eye and give shallow excuses as explanations for why so many tragedies befall Black Americans.
As Black Americans, we automatically have been taught at an early age, what makes a police officer dangerous. It’s not his gun, can of mace, his night stick or the handcuffs. It’s the simple fact that a police officer knows he can lie or falsify a report and be believed. Especially since America has gone out of its way, seemingly, to try to discredit all black men in some way or another. Almost as if America won’t be happy, unless every single black person has some type of criminal record. Thus making Black Americans easier to “handle” because no one is going to care about a Black American with a criminal record.
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By now, we all know the story of the White police officer in North Carolina who shot and killed a black motorist. He then placed his tazer gun next to the victim’s body and later filed a false report stating the victim was going for the officer’s tazer gun. The facts turned out to be nothing even remotely close to what happened as it was all caught on tape. The issue at hand is this police officer knew that if he filed a false report about the incident, he would most likely be believed. Why else would he do it? What’s worse is, if he did it this time, he has probably done it countless other times. Which then logically means, some of those in prison who claim to be innocent, just might be. That’s a horror that Americans don’t want to face as long as it’s not happening to them or their loved ones. It’s having to face the harsh reality that the system is stacked against you, if you happen to be anything other than white.
It’s blinding indifference that perpetuates racism and that gives way to violent encounters. Whenever violent incidents do occur, White America always looks to justify it in any way possible. If for only to not have to acknowledge there’s something inherently wrong in the system and with the Country itself when it comes to its fundamental approach to Black Americans.
So if you’re an American who hates hearing the slogan “Black Lives Matter”, maybe stop and think for a moment. Dare to allow yourself to speculate that it could be peoples’ indifference or the indifference of those in your social circles that could have actually spawned this movement.
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“If only he would have followed the police officers’ instructions”. “If only he would not have resisted”, are the common excuses and comments I hear from White Americans in a weak effort to try to exonerate the actions of the police. The other extreme is; “too bad but he had a criminal record so he got what he deserved”. America is way too quick to dismiss a black death as it being the fault of the victim. It’s this callous attitude that fuels racism and gives rise to such groups as the Black Lives Matter movement.
So if you’re an American who hates hearing the slogan “Black Lives Matter”, maybe stop and think for a moment. Dare to allow yourself to speculate that it could be peoples’ indifference or the indifference of those in your social circles that could have actually spawned this movement. For every cause there is an equal effect. When people are treated as ‘castoffs’ or second class citizens in a so called free society, they will undoubtedly rise up and make their voices heard, whether you want to hear them or not.
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For so long Black Americans have said, ‘we are being targeted in every way possible by the police, the courts and many other government institutions’. No one listened, no one cared. Most probably feeling, it’s a ‘black problem’ and not a problem for the whole of society to ponder. However, with the advent of the internet and camera phones, the feeling that Black Americans are being targeted is now inescapable as it is inexcusable. There’s just too much evidence that can’t be explained away.
The real question we should all ask ourselves is; are we now ready to take a real long hard look at ourselves and face this issue so that we can try to start the process of healing and reconciling, so that we can really put these dark chapters in American history behind us?
Sadly, most White Americans feel that if they just don’t talk about something it will eventually just go away. This is immature thinking. Any mature individual will tell you that ignoring an issue does not make it go away, it just gives it the opportunity to grow and fester into a larger issue that cannot be ignored. This is where we are as a nation.
As long as White Americans act or seem indifferent regarding the attitudes towards black people that many have, racism in all its forms, will never be eradicated from our society.
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