MY THOUGHTS ON THE BERNARD MONROE SHOOTING
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Posted By: Siebra Muhammad on March 18, 2009 From WomanistMusings.com March 17, 2009 He could be anybody’s grandfather and in fact he was a great grand father. This 73 year old cancer survivor was enjoying a barbecue and some family time when the police arrived to question his son Shawn Monroe. At the time of this incident Monroe had no standing arrest warrants pending. The media of course make a point of letting the public know that Shawn has a lengthy record. The fact that someone has a criminal past is often used to delegitimize any of their commentary and set up the ground work for victim blaming. I certainly do not know how much evidence is needed to prove that we continue to live in a racialized society. The election of Barack Obama for some blacks was a signal of how far we have come but clearly whiteness views his ascension to power as a call to arms. They have marshalled police forces across the nation to murder blacks upon the flimsiest of excuses. What are the police but a neo version of the KKK run amok with the freedom to perform violence on innocent civilians at will? When they shot an unarmed man, their initial reaction was not shock or sorrow that someone lost their life but to cover up their heinous crime. This is no different than when officers attempted to plant drugs on Kathryn Johnston after bursting into her home on a trumped up no knock warrant. The social myth is that police exist to keep society safe but in actuality much of their job entails terrorizing people of color into submission. Their corruption often goes unchecked as the blue wall of silence descends to protect white privilege at all costs. When the police chief of a town can make the following commentary there can be no doubt that race plays a huge role in how the law is enforced. “If I see three or four young black men walking down the street, I have to stop them and check their names,” said [Homer, Louisiana Police Chief Russell] Mills, who is white. “I want them to be afraid every time they see the police that they might get arrested. We’re not out there trying to abuse and harass people—we’re trying to protect the law-abiding citizens locked behind their doors in fear.” The only thing threatening about this old man was the colour of his skin. Blackness is often the only provocation that officers need to become violent. When we look at the type of person that is attracted to this kind of work is it really any surprise? A young girl gets beaten for throwing her shoe. Jimmy Blackwell got beaten so badly that he lost the sight in one eye. Dymond Miller somehow got confused with a white prostitute . Robbie Tolan had the audacity to stand in his own driveway when the police decided that no black man could possibly afford to live in that neighbourhood. Somehow, Oscar Grant despite being in handcuffs was resisting arrest and ended up dead. Finally there is the story of Adolph Grimes III who was shot 14 times with 12 of the bullets entering his back. How much of a threat can you be when you are not even facing the officer doing the shooting? Many have asked when blacks are going to stop using race as an excuse and the answer is simple; when whiteness stops slaughtering us at will. How much black blood must flow through the streets before these rogue officers are made to pay for their crimes? Their actions are clearly white panic at the mere thought that we could possibly one day achieve equality because surely it must be recognized that though Obama may be commander in chief, race continues to be a divisive issue. Whiteness can afford to sit in coffee houses and chit chat about race relations; it can afford to wear ironic t-shirt and baffle why blacks just don’t get it but for those of us that are of color, each day we must fear that the next interaction with the long arm of the law could be our last. There is not a single responsible black parent that does not speak to their child about how to react when stopped by the police. Our fear forces us to tell our children that they must announce every action, speak slowly and clearly, never show any forms of resistance, and at all times keep their hands visible. Following these directions could be the difference between life and death. While we are having these essential conversations white parents get to spread the lie of officer friendly and how benign he is. If a 73 year old cancer survivor cannot be safe in his own home, what hope is there for any of us? Black rage is not unreasonable nor is it unwarranted; it is the expression of every single slight, and every single drop of blood that has been spilt so that whiteness can live with undeserved privilege. It is not militant to demand equality and it is certainly not militant to demand human respect; only in a world where some bodies are deemed more valuable could this possibly be interpreted as the noise of a discontented rabble. When Monroe finally gets laid to rest he will simply be just another black men who met his death through violence to uphold our dissonance in worth and value and if that isn’t a sad testament to how little we value life, I don’t know what else is. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Siebra Muhammad
A Registration Clerk/Specialist, New Orleans Public Schools Other College... class of 2001 Member Since November 2008 |
Comments
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Wow. Sooooo true. I have always said that while we have president obama the rest of us will pay for his election. America is truly not ready for people of color to be equal, still separate. Think about how often can we speak our mind and not be branded with negative connotations. Can we move as freely within this nation without reason just for the heck of it? Can we bobble down the sidewalk without fear of retribution? Can we walk pass the police without wondering if they're gonna get us now? Wow. Thanks Wednesday, March 18th 2009 at 5:29PM |
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Wow. Sooooo true. I have always said that while we have president obama the rest of us will pay for his election. America is truly not ready for people of color to be equal, still separate. Think about how often can we speak our mind and not be branded with negative connotations. Can we move as freely within this nation without reason just for the heck of it? Can we bobble down the sidewalk without fear of retribution? Can we walk pass the police without wondering if they're gonna get us now? Wow. Thanks Wednesday, March 18th 2009 at 5:29PM |
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...“If I see three or four young black men walking down the street, I have to stop them and check their names,” said [Homer, Louisiana Police Chief Russell] Mills,“I want them to be afraid every time they see the police that they might get arrested"... What!!! Wednesday, March 18th 2009 at 6:57PM |
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I think that our Black law enforcers should take a stand and inplace of always arresting young me, build a support system to help them understand how important their live is, the bible says many are called but few our chosen, they have to ask God is this my assignment and if it is understand that every case they meet is different not every black young male or female is out to do something illegal, many of them are simply looking for help, so many of our familys have been lost in the system without no head in the house meaning the father, men need to stand up and take responsibility for their offspring. It is their blood line that is running through their veins, who better to teach a man that another man, how to respect his heritage and respect his self. I often tell the young men I see that the most valuable thing they have in Life is their name, A good name has plenty rewards, emerge that into the power of God and take the dominion that he has given to supply your need. Richeness in the word of God in many passages means grace and the abundant life means to abundantly live in the Promise he has granted for you. We have to stop seperating our familes so I will say future fathers please train your children how to honor and respect the life that is given, to make right choices, and ask God what development stage you are in right now, Lets focus on the rights that belong to us and if we speak up as people we can change laws that affect our community, Police Officers (Black officer) don't look at your people as un generated and don't use their failures as a means to get a star on your badge. What I saw the entire time of the Election was a family man and know this the devil is going to try everything he can to dismantle this man unless we bow down on our knees, commanding (God said come bodly to the throne of grace) God to cover his family with the anointing he has placed on him to do this task. He will not fail because of the plan of God but what are we going to do to help him change a raciest society into a society void of resisting change. Wednesday, March 18th 2009 at 11:37PM |
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The election of President Barack Obama, is ordained by God, as a symbol; indicating that God, has not forgotten His People of Color here in America. The time has come that we as a People should begin to acknowledge that doors have been opened, we must walk in and take our proper places. We must become accountable, exhibit integrity and unity. The killing of Mr. Monroe, and others who have been killed and harmed is an indicator to let us know that we still have a long way to go. Let's not give up, keep praying that God, will continue to bless us and give us the Wisdom to continue to move into the promises He, has stored up for His People. Thank you for posting this article. Thursday, March 19th 2009 at 4:17PM |
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