How many times have Southern White cops seriously investigated the death of a Black person possibly caused by White people compared to the vigorous investigations they do if a Black person is accused of killing a White person?
Nina Simone said it so well in “Mississippi Goddam.”
I grew up in Boston. Not anywhere near Mississippi. I was taught the same about the "police". I grew up hearing adults call them "pigs". There was no trust between community and cops. I grew up in poor black/latino neighborhood, but worked in middle class/rich white folk areas - and I saw with my very own eyes - as a kid and young adult - how cops behaved and interacted with white folk. Yes, earned skepticism - from experience. Sadly, nothing has changed. I have no evidence to trust cops and I barely have the ability to "trust the system." My one saving grace, is watching so many Black men specifically, standing up and helping the family walk through this with resources. Bless them all. Colin, Tyler, Ben...etc.
Once again I hate reading what you write. I hate it but I welcome it, too. The truth really does hurt---as banal as that sounds. "Earned skepticism" is too kind. (For the record, I am an old white feminist who marched for civil rights in the past and who is more than skeptical about the cops.) As you say---everything about this is heartbreaking. I can't think of anything else to add.
How many times have Southern White cops seriously investigated the death of a Black person possibly caused by White people compared to the vigorous investigations they do if a Black person is accused of killing a White person?
Nina Simone said it so well in “Mississippi Goddam.”
I grew up in Boston. Not anywhere near Mississippi. I was taught the same about the "police". I grew up hearing adults call them "pigs". There was no trust between community and cops. I grew up in poor black/latino neighborhood, but worked in middle class/rich white folk areas - and I saw with my very own eyes - as a kid and young adult - how cops behaved and interacted with white folk. Yes, earned skepticism - from experience. Sadly, nothing has changed. I have no evidence to trust cops and I barely have the ability to "trust the system." My one saving grace, is watching so many Black men specifically, standing up and helping the family walk through this with resources. Bless them all. Colin, Tyler, Ben...etc.
It is very suspicious, the whole damned thing.
Crying. His “friends” left him, alone? A young, African-American man left alone on an island?! My god, this speaks volumes.
Once again I hate reading what you write. I hate it but I welcome it, too. The truth really does hurt---as banal as that sounds. "Earned skepticism" is too kind. (For the record, I am an old white feminist who marched for civil rights in the past and who is more than skeptical about the cops.) As you say---everything about this is heartbreaking. I can't think of anything else to add.
an interesting choice of words re: 'earned skepticism'---an 'understatement' to say the least.
💔💔💔
“Earned”.
They just killed another young man in Maine! When will we stop this lunacy.