Outrage
continues in America over the murder of two police officers in New York City. Officers
Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were slain by a hail of bullets in broad daylight while
sitting in their vehicle. After the gunman opened fire on them, he fled to a subway station where he
committed suicide.
I share that outrage.
The shooter, Ismaaiyl
Brinsley, was apparently no stranger to crime. His rap sheet includes robbery
and carrying a concealed weapon. Earlier that day he was near Baltimore where
he threatened suicide before shooting and seriously wounding former girlfriend Shaneka
Thompson. Turns out he also reportedly had a history of mental illness.
The fact that
the shooter was deranged does not excuse him from his responsibility for the despicable
acts he committed in New York and Baltimore. I categorically reject any aspect
of his reasoning (if you can call it that) for gunning down the officers,
particularly his assertions on social media about wanting to claim revenge for
the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner — unarmed men who were killed by
police and have sparked months of civil unrest that continue to this day.
I am outraged that
someone would so callously and willfully assault human beings who are mandated
to protect and serve us.
And...
I’m also outraged
that many of the same people who share my anger regarding this tragedy have
been silent when it comes to the deaths of African American men and boys. Young
males who are systematically being beaten and killed through acts of police
brutality.
(I personally
believe a minority of police engage in unwarranted violence of this kind and it
is them and their culture of prejudice to which I direct my anger. To them and
the militarized law enforcement culture that supports them.)
Similarly, I am
outraged by the people, who through their silence, affirm the disproportionate mass
incarceration of young African-American males. I'm outraged that they believe
it's right and just for young black men and boys to be systematically discriminated
against in courtrooms that jail them at significantly higher rates than white
males who commit similar crimes.
I'm outraged at
white people who only see their point of view, a white-washed lens through
which they are complicit continuing acts of injustice. I'm outraged they minimize,
dismiss or even justify so many heinous acts of physical and emotional violence
historically perpetrated against people of color – from slavery to Jim Crow to
lynchings, to housing and job discrimination, to the continuing racial discrimination
plaguing today’s education, employment, housing, judicial and yes, law
enforcement institutions.
I'm outraged about
white people who enthusiastically call out obvious, individual acts of racism but
refuse to connect the dots when it comes to systematic racism.
I'm outraged that
when I got pulled over by a County police deputy and tell him I was in the act
of putting on my seatbelt when he saw me that he accuses me of lying. I'm outraged
that when I told a mall retail store manager I've waited in the TV section of
his store for 15 minutes to buy two televisions and was ignored by not one but
two sales clerks, he told me that he wasn't there so he doesn't know what
happened.
Am I so
invisible, irrelevant and untrustworthy? Are all black males so? That is,
unless we raise our voice, raise our hand or raise an issue of injustice, then
we become a “problem.” I'm outraged that when we do these things we suddenly become
quite visible, often to the point that we are perceived as aggressive or angry.
Or dangerous.
I'm outraged that
white people have the kind of privilege in our society that allows them to
ignore or otherwise not engage on issues that negatively impact persons of
color.
And yet…
I’m also encouraged.
Encouraged by the growing number of white people who are coming to the table,
sitting down and listening. To these people I tip my hat. I know how hard it
can be to listen to another person’s experiences for which it can often be
impossible to relate.
As we think
about the terrible tragedy of slain officers, also think about all those who also
suffer and die unjustly. But not just the ones you can relate to.
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