Courageous
Conversations helps us to be better educated, and that is exactly what every
educator should want. Courageous Conversations About Race (2nd ed.) is a perfect
place to begin.
Foreword of Glenn E. Singleton's
book,
Courageous Conversations About Race
Gloria Ladson-Billings
Purpose of this Blog Post
To encourage conversations about the marginal topic concerning race. How can we get to the essence of this issue? Once identified, how do we grapple with, or unravel the deeply rooted impact of how race issues dramatically impact our progress toward a united nation?
Preface
One of my Facebook (FB) friends posted a forum discussion question on his timeline, and I responded.
Forum Discussion Question
I would appreciate help and advice of my American friends on here. For me this is very difficult to comprehend. Is there much debate in USA on this incident?
(He was referring to the video that you can find in the link below).
Utah Nurse in Arrest
My response:
Yes, it's all over the news and FB. It has gotten lots of coverage and people cannot believe it one bit!
Statement/Question posed to me from another FB visitor
Cherrye to be fair it is not new, this has been happening, the police have become so emboldened. It is not just Black and Hispanic youth. What is new is the cameras. Yet still that officer felt that behavior was appropriate in that environment. He was in communication with his boss as well telling him to get the sample. He is still not under suspension. Back to (name here) country the first battles between the police and the black community broke out in the early eighties when the harassment moved from the youth to the middle age and middle class. This is an exceptionally worrying video. Last week Trump scaled back Obama's XO stopping military surplus going to local sheriffs. So here is the question: When that nurse is having a conversation with her teenage son about respecting the police, are her words the same as yesterday or does she sound like a black mother?
My response:
Hello (name here)
How are you today? I hope fine.
Actually, I didn't mean to imply that the actions of the police officer were new. My attempt was to answer (name here) question: "Is there much debate in USA on this incident?" Perhaps I misinterpreted (name here) question. I answered it in the here and now. I thought (name here) was asking about this particular incident, and not the reality that SOME police officers in some parts of the U.S. hatefully target and racially profile black people just because they have hate and disdain in their hearts for black people. I suppose I missed (name here) point altogether.
If I had interpreted (name here) question using your slant, I certainly would have answered his question in a much different manner. I realize this has gone on for years, and that the cameras are new. Actually, that part is beginning to bother me as well. I'm wondering why Chief police officials in higher places look at some of the footage using different lenses, are blind, or heartless because it appears that the cameras are not being used to convict. In fact, SOME police officers (those who hate and abuse the system) have become very clever using words such as: "I feared for my life" or "I felt threatened" or "He appeared to be going for a weapon." Need I say more? You know the jargon.
This video is just as appalling as the many we've seen for months, and the one that I witnessed today where the cop violated a young black woman by performing a body cavity exam right on the streets humiliating her. That one is on FB as well.
To answer your question, "When that nurse is having a conversation with her teenage son about respecting the police, are her words the same as yesterday or does she sound like a black mother?"
In my opinion, the nurse's response could go variety of ways depending on where she is (in terms of her thought processes, emotions, and recent experiences).
What I hope is this: She's had time for personal reflection.
Has she been a White woman who in her past has blamed black people overlooking their plight failing to understand what black people has gone through for years? If so, perhaps this incident has humbled her heart and spirit, so that now she can teach her son love, equality, and true diversity.
What I really hope is that ALL people, regardless of their race, creed or color will teach their children to look past skin tones, and do what is just, good and right for ALL people.
To boot, (name here), Racism against black people shouldn't just be a 'black mother' issue. It should be a people issue. If one's heart doesn't hurt witnessing a White cop unjustly and unnecessarily murder, thereby taking a black child from his black mother, then their heart is cold, cruel and hateful, and only God can help them.
Finally, she shouldn't have to sound like a 'black mother." She should sound like a good, God-fearing mother.
Dear Fans,
How would you answer the question?
When that nurse is having a conversation with her teenage son about respecting the police, are her words the same as yesterday or does she sound like a black mother?
Note: Using effective dialogue and discourse respecting one another's points-of-view, please weigh-in on this very important topic. When doing so, please respect the fact that we comprise differing background experiences, home life experiences and influences.
Just as Glenn E. Singleton said, we must begin to have courageous conversations about race.
You know, one thing my father, who by the way was friends with the local police, always told me was to never trust the police. I am Caucasian and yet, was told this repeatedly. Believe father knew the corruption that was within the field, even back then. It has always been there but in today's world, we have cameras and technology. So, will the mother think differently about law enforcement? Probably. Will she sit down have 'the talk', which most black moms have with their children? I don't know. And I say this because reality shows that there is definitely a bias within law enforcement versus black and white. I've seen in from relatives in mixed marriages whose young men are mistaken for someone else; actually charged with offenses, and yes, harassed continually when merely driving to work.
ReplyDeleteThe nurse may very well see law enforcement in a different light, now that it became personal to her. I also believe so many officers are jaded as they have met people who pull guns, knives and such on them. They've seen a comrade gunned down in cold blood. They must live in fear for so much of their life, doing their job. Perhaps the nurse will simply state what my father told me. And I am not saying all law enforcement acts in this horrid manner, but enough to realize a change must come.
Thanks for leaving your thoughts, Monica. I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteYes, the bias is there is SOME cases – Not all.
I think we can agree there are many wonderful police officers who are great to have in our communities. I’ve met a few in our school systems, and in our community store fronts. Thank God, they are there.
Here, I'm not talking about Police Officers who have great cause to protect themselves. That goes without saying, in my opinion.
I’m mainly focusing on those who use their badge to adversely harm others, just because they can, AND because they hate ‘people of color'. Enough is enough, I strongly feel, and am bothered by it.
Thank you for weighing in on this important topic, Kathy. I agree with you. Police officers (only those choosing to take advantage of their positions in this horrifying manner) should be dealt with, and harshly (getting their attention). They should be permanently removed from the force, and lose their pension, too.
ReplyDeleteI just read recently that TEA is now enforcing similar regulation where its members, whether current or retired, could be in jeopardy of losing their pension checks if found guilty of certain behaviors such as with children, or domestic abuse (as they well should!), and I'm summarizing from my own understanding and interpretation of what I read. Please read for yourself as I don't want to misquote, or share incorrect information.
But, my point here is everything should be revisited.
Going back to police officers, their actions are nothing more than modern day lynchings, and for them a great loop-hole in order to get away with it.
The hate and bias is real! Those choosing to ignore it, are just as guilty, in my opinion.