One more time this month I am writing a blog while I am upset because my steady way of being would likely not say things in the manner I want to say them now. But the reality is, a large percentage of Americans are more sympathetic and empathetic to what happens to their dogs than to a black man or a person of color for that matter.
What will it take before Americans realize that murder is never alright because of either an unjustified fear or the disregard for the life of a black man or anyone of color?
Philando Castille, the black man a police officer stopped and murdered solely for driving while black in Minnesota, life did not matter to twelve jurors. They acquitted the officer who killed him. The narrative remains the same, if you are black or a person of color and you have an encounter with an officer, pray he is in a good mood or that he is not having a bad day. Because if he or she decides to take it out on you, not even a video of the event can save you from potential death.
And it isn’t just a male testosterone thing. The video showed Officer Betty Jo Shelby murdering Terence Crutcher. 12 jurors acquitted her. A jury could not even convict an officer where there is a clear video showing him shooting the black man in the back as he ran away. It is evident in the video that Alton Sterling was no danger to police officers, yet they killed him at close range. Did the video help? No.
Are you the mother or father of a black child or a child of color? What do you think that child is feeling right now. To some police officers are virtually always their friend and protector. To others, we can only hope we will get the police officer who is just that.
There is a pretty important scene in CNN’s United Shades of America where host W. Kamau Bell who is black is sitting down with his wife who is white and talking about getting a gun for their home. She was hesitant because of her concern that if a polices officers ever had to enter their home, that gun would add to the mortal danger facing her husband.
If willfully ignorant white Americans, willfully ignorant black Americans, and willfully ignorant other people of color cannot understand the genesis of the Black Lives Matter movement with the constancy of the systemic murder of black men and people of color by cop, nothing will and we are doomed. Why? Eventually the aggrieved will react.
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