Entertainment Overnight -- "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist"

Everyone needs to see and know and be aware of this. As it says it's from the Broadway play "Avenue Q." Great, great, even fun play. Important subject and subjects.

The Present Racial, Police Brutality Problem As Today, But 50 Years Ago

I found this yesterday on YouTube. Some of their marketing their own videos, I'm sure. Regardless, it is stunning that it's the same, exact discussion and debate and problem we have today, now---and it's from 50 years ago.  This was posted on the video by one David Hoffman:

This was on national public television (PBS) in the prime time in 1971. It was considered shockingly bold to present this debate and to hear police officers and chiefs of police honestly and bluntly state how they saw the racial injustices in the department and in the society. Some things have clearly changed for the better. But it is, at least for me, strangely familiar and uncomfortable to see what has not changed. Since the murder of Floyd George, once again, police injustice and inequality is front and center in the news across America.

Stunning.

We haven't changed a bit.

Necessary In 1968, Still Poignant Today

I just coincidentally, fortunately ran across this video yesterday. It's a talk by and from James Baldwin, American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist. in 1968 concerning the race riots of that day.  Still so very poignant--and necessary--today, of course, sadly, even maddeningly.



Let's do better, America.

Quote of the Day -- On Racism

“There is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly, destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is a slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat.”

--Robert F. Kennedy, 1968, shortly before his assassination

Examples of How and Why America Needs to Change

Just looking at the facts of a few situations here in America point out what, exactly, and how we need to change here in America, regarding race, specifically for blacks and African-Americans.

Number one:

From the "What Never Happens to White People" file.

Philando Castile Was Pulled Over 49 Times in 13 Years, Often for Minor Infractions

Not Minneapolis but the other Twin City, St. Paul, 4 years ago.

"On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile, a 32-year-old African American man, was stopped while driving--apparently for a cracked tail light-- then fatally shot by Jeronimo Yanez, a 29-year-old Hispanic-American police officer from St. Anthony, Minnesota.

Castile was driving with his partner Diamond Reynolds and her four-year-old daughter when at 9:00 p.m. their vehicle was pulled over by Yanez and another officer in Falcon Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota. After being asked for his license and registration, Castile told Officer Yanez that he had a firearm (Castile was licensed to carry) to which Yanez replied, 'Don't reach for it then', and Castile said 'I'm, I, I was reaching for...' Yanez said 'Don't pull it out', Castile replied 'I'm not pulling it out', and Reynolds said 'He's not...' Yanez repeated 'Don't pull it out' and then shot at Castile at close range seven times, hitting him five times. Castile died at 9:37 p.m. at Hennepin County Medical Center, about 20 minutes after being shot."
Dead.

Because of a possible cracked tail light.

Next up:

"I can't breathe": Death of black man in Tacoma police custody ruled a homicide

"Manuel Ellis...died on March 3 (this year) in handcuffs while being restrained on the ground by Tacoma police.,,At one point, Ellis can be heard saying, 'I can't breathe.'"

Sound familiar?
Third:

This Is The Toy Gun That Got Tamir Rice Killed

On 22 November 2014 Tamir Rice, a 12-year old boy, was fatally shot in Cleveland, Ohio by Timothy Loehmann, a 26-year-old police officer. Rice was carrying a replica toy Airsoft gun; Loehmann shot him almost immediately after arriving on the scene.
The police officer shot and killed 12 year old Tamir Rice within 3-1/2 seconds after arriving on the scene in his police car.

3-1/2 seconds.

Dead.

For a toy gun.

Fourth:

Breonna Taylor killing: 

FBI opens investigation

A young woman.
26 years old
An EMT.
Alone.
At home.
In her bed.
Killed.
By police
March 13.
No knock search warrant.
Wrong address.
Middle of the night.

FBI is now opening an investigation. June 4. And they're likely only just now opening this investigation because of the George Floyd protests. Who knows what would have happened, if anything, and when it might have taken place without these protests.

Finally, his one broke yesterday. It's stunning.

Bills QB Jake Fromm apologizes after saying guns should be expensive so only 'elite white people' can buy them

How do you face your fellow teammates after saying something so deeply ignorant, racist, stupid and offensive?

Sadly, maddeningly, even, there are far more than just this brief list, too. This photo shows far more and it's just a fraction of the tragedies and horrors---murders--that have taken place in our nation's history.

   (Click on picture for easier reading. And please do read it all).

Hopefully our time has come, America.

Berkely Professor Robert Reich made a great proposal.

Robert Reich @RBReich

"What if — and hear me out here — we invested in Black communities rather than mass incarceration and the police?"

And that, actually really would be a fantastic and intelligent, very real solution, especially given how much we imprison people.

The US incarcerates more than any other country

We need to be over this. We need to be over the racism. We need to put this all behind us. We need to never have these senseless murders take place again. Think of it. We have a FRACTION of the population of either China or India but we incarcerate more, far more, than any other nation. Additionally, of those incarcerated, a far higher percentage of those are African-Americans.

Black Americans incarcerated five times more 

than white

We can do this. We have to. We must.

Let's do this.

Quote of the Day -- Prescient, Local Version

Great statement from the protest locally I heard on the evening news. It was said by a speaker at the protest this past Sunday, I believe, by one of the organizers, on the Plaza:

"This isn't black against white.

This is people against racism."

A Comparison of Presidents

Three former Presidents have made public statements on our current national situation, given the George Floyd death. I thought seeing 4 of them, side by side, could and possibly would be telling.  I think I was correct on that.

First, we'll hear from Jimmy Carter:

“We need a government as good as its people, and we are better than this. As a white male of the South, I know all too well the impact of segregation and injustice to African Americans. As a politician, I felt a responsibility to bring equity to my state and our country.”

Next, George W Bush:

"America's greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity. The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals — to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights,"

Barack Obama:

“There is a change of mindset that is taking place, a greater recognition that we can do better, That’s a direct result of the activities and organization and mobilization and engagement of so many young people across the country who put themselves out on the line to make a difference,”

Finally, current President Donald J Trump:

“You have to dominate. If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time, They’re going to run over you. You’re going to look like a bunch of jerks.”

It speaks for itself. It all speaks for itself.

What Far Too Many White People Don't Get

A friend linked me to this today on Facebonkers.

This is a professor who has the tools to articulate how this encounter affected him. He also has the age and wisdom that allowed for him to maintain his composure and not lose his life. Now, imagine a YOUNG Black person, who is not equipped with either.

Steve Locke wrote:

"This is what I wore to work today.

On my way to get a burrito before work, I was detained by the police.

I noticed the police car in the public lot behind Centre Street. As I was walking away from my car, the cruiser followed me. I walked down Centre Street and was about to cross over to the burrito place and the officer got out of the car.

“Hey my man,” he said.

He unsnapped the holster of his gun.

I took my hands out of my pockets.

“Yes?” I said.

“Where you coming from?”

“Home.”

Where’s home?”

“Dedham.”

How’d you get here?”

“I drove.”

He was next to me now. Two other police cars pulled up. I was standing in from of the bank across the street from the burrito place. I was going to get lunch before I taught my 1:30 class. There were cops all around me.

I said nothing. I looked at the officer who addressed me. He was white, stocky, bearded.

“You weren’t over there, were you?” He pointed down Centre Street toward Hyde Square.

“No. I came from Dedham.”

“What’s your address?”

I told him.

“We had someone matching your description just try to break into a woman’s house.”

A second police officer stood next to me; white, tall, bearded. Two police cruisers passed and would continue to circle the block for the 35 minutes I was standing across the street from the burrito place.

“You fit the description,” the officer said. “Black male, knit hat, puffy coat. Do you have identification.”

“It’s in my wallet. May I reach into my pocket and get my wallet?”

“Yeah.”

I handed him my license. I told him it did not have my current address. He walked over to a police car. The other cop, taller, wearing sunglasses, told me that I fit the description of someone who broke into a woman’s house. Right down to the knit cap.

Barbara Sullivan made a knit cap for me. She knitted it in pinks and browns and blues and oranges and lime green. No one has a hat like this. It doesn’t fit any description that anyone would have. I looked at the second cop. I clasped my hands in front of me to stop them from shaking.

“For the record,” I said to the second cop, “I’m not a criminal. I’m a college professor.” I was wearing my faculty ID around my neck, clearly visible with my photo.

“You fit the description so we just have to check it out.” The first cop returned and handed me my license.

“We have the victim and we need her to take a look at you to see if you are the person.”

It was at this moment that I knew that I was probably going to die. I am not being dramatic when I say this. I was not going to get into a police car. I was not going to present myself to some victim. I was not going let someone tell the cops that I was not guilty when I already told them that I had nothing to do with any robbery. I was not going to let them take me anywhere because if they did, the chance I was going to be accused of something I did not do rose exponentially. I knew this in my heart. I was not going anywhere with these cops and I was not going to let some white woman decide whether or not I was a criminal, especially after I told them that I was not a criminal. This meant that I was going to resist arrest. This meant that I was not going to let the police put their hands on me.

If you are wondering why people don’t go with the police, I hope this explains it for you.

Something weird happens when you are on the street being detained by the police. People look at you like you are a criminal. The police are detaining you so clearly you must have done something, otherwise they wouldn’t have you. No one made eye contact with me. I was hoping that someone I knew would walk down the street or come out of one of the shops or get off the 39 bus or come out of JP Licks and say to these cops, “That’s Steve Locke. What the F*CK are you detaining him for?”

The cops decided that they would bring the victim to come view me on the street. They asked me to wait. I said nothing. I stood still.

“Thanks for cooperating,” the second cop said. “This is probably nothing, but it’s our job and you do fit the description. 5′ 11″, black male. One-hundred-and-sixty pounds, but you’re a little more than that. Knit hat.”

A little more than 160. Thanks for that, I thought.

An older white woman walked behind me and up to the second cop. She turned and looked at me and then back at him. “You guys sure are busy today.”

I noticed a black woman further down the block. She was small and concerned. She was watching what was going on. I focused on her red coat. I slowed my breathing. I looked at her from time to time.

I thought: Don’t leave, sister. Please don’t leave.

The first cop said, “Where do you teach?”

“Massachusetts College of Art and Design.” I tugged at the lanyard that had my ID.

“How long you been teaching there?”

“Thirteen years.”

We stood in silence for about 10 more minutes.

An unmarked police car pulled up. The first cop went over to talk to the driver. The driver kept looking at me as the cop spoke to him. I looked directly at the driver. He got out of the car.

“I’m Detective Cardoza. I appreciate your cooperation.”

I said nothing.

“I’m sure these officers told you what is going on?”

“They did.”

“Where are you coming from?”

“From my home in Dedham.”

“How did you get here?”

“I drove.”

“Where is your car?”

“It’s in the lot behind Bukhara.” I pointed up Centre Street.

“Okay,” the detective said. “We’re going to let you go. Do you have a car key you can show me?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m going to reach into my pocket and pull out my car key.”

“Okay.”

I showed him the key to my car.

The cops thanked me for my cooperation. I nodded and turned to go.

“Sorry for screwing up your lunch break,” the second cop said.

I walked back toward my car, away from the burrito place. I saw the woman in red.

“Thank you,” I said to her. “Thank you for staying.”

“Are you ok?” She said. Her small beautiful face was lined with concern.

“Not really. I’m really shook up. And I have to get to work.”

“I knew something was wrong. I was watching the whole thing. The way they are treating us now, you have to watch them. ”

“I’m so grateful you were there. I kept thinking to myself, ‘Don’t leave, sister.’ May I give you a hug?”

“Yes,” she said. She held me as I shook. “Are you sure you are ok?”

“No I’m not. I’m going to have a good cry in my car. I have to go teach.”

“You’re at MassArt. My friend is at MassArt.”

“What’s your name?” She told me. I realized we were Facebook friends. I told her this.

“I’ll check in with you on Facebook,” she said.

I put my head down and walked to my car.

My colleague was in our shared office and she was able to calm me down. I had about 45 minutes until my class began and I had to teach. I forgot the lesson I had planned. I forget the schedule. I couldn’t think about how to do my job. I thought about the fact my word counted for nothing, they didn’t believe that I wasn’t a criminal. They had to find out. My word was not enough for them. My ID was not enough for them. My handmade one-of-a-kind knit hat was an object of suspicion. My Ralph Lauren quilted blazer was only a “puffy coat.” That white woman could just walk up to a cop and talk about me like I was an object for regard. I wanted to go back and spit in their faces. The cops were probably deeply satisfied with how they handled the interaction, how they didn’t escalate the situation, how they were respectful and polite.

I imagined sitting in the back of a police car while a white woman decides if I am a criminal or not. If I looked guilty being detained by the cops imagine how vile I become sitting in a cruiser? I knew I could not let that happen to me. I knew if that were to happen, I would be dead.

Nothing I am, nothing I do, nothing I have means anything because I fit the description.

I had to confess to my students that I was a bit out of it today and I asked them to bear with me. I had to teach.

After class I was supposed to go to the openings for First Friday. I went home."

~Steve Locke

https://www.stevelocke.com/blog/i-fit-the-description

We need to change. We need to end institutional racism, America.

Why There Are Protests and Riots Just Now

It's George Floyd, sure.

But it's so much more.

   (Click on picture for easier reading. And please do read it all).

So much.

We'll start just with 1999.

A List Of Every Unarmed Black Person In The U.S. Killed By Police From 1999-2014

Police killed more than 100 unarmed black people in 2015

Also 2015:

Young black men killed by US police at highest rate in year of 1,134 deaths

Here's A Timeline Of Unarmed Black People Killed By Police

Police killings of black men in the U.S.

14 high-profile police-related deaths of U.S. blacks

Police killings of black men in the U.S. and what happened to the officers

Michael Brown Death Anniversary: 12 Unarmed Black Men Have Been Shot and Killed By Police in 2018

14 high-profile police-related deaths of U.S. blacks 

US police killings headed for 1,100 this year, with black Americans twice as likely to die

Police are still killing unarmed black people

A Decade Of Watching Black People Die

That's why.

All of that.

Let's change this, America.

The Donald Trump Presidency

What it's like having Donald Trump "steering", leading---if you can call it that--the nation.


The good news?

We haven't crashed yet.

Well, not completely crashed, anyway.

Yet.

God help us.