Police Brutality Against African Americans

This is a topic that I have been hesitant to write about, but it is a topic that must be discussed. There seems to be a profound contrast between the Black and White communities life experience in the United States. The difference is so vast that some White people can’t imagine the obstacles that Black people encounter. They see it as part of the struggle that all people go through and Black people are just complaining needlessly. This is far from the truth.

As a Black man born and raised in the South in the 60’s and 70’s, I have been extremely fortunate that I have not had any bad encounters with the police. However, from a very young age, I was instructed on how to respond to police so as not to be viewed as a threat. My parents and I had several more discussions after I started driving and would be out on my own. The whole list was burned into my mind, keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times; have your license out and available, so I didn’t have to reach into any pockets after the police got to my car; be extra respectful, no sarcasm or attitude, so it doesn’t trigger an aggressive response. This is something my White friends haven’t had to consider. They have no issue with arguing with a police officer if they feel they were stopped for no reason.

The Black community has been aware of the violence imposed by White police on Blacks for decades, however more recently, these incidents are being captured on video (as with Rodney King in the 90’s). In addition to the videos, social media has enabled a means to share these incidents across the country in a matter of days, hours, even minutes. There are too many examples to lists, but here are a few from just this year, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, etc.

You would think with video evidence, some of these incidents would have be irrefutable. But once again, the life experience between the races give each a different lens from with to view the same event.

When I discuss these events with my some of my White acquaintances, they reason the actual brutality away.

- The incident would not have happened had the victim complied to police orders or resisted arrest.

- There is police brutality against White people too.

-The victims were involved in criminal activity

-More black people are shot/killed by Black on Black crime.

My rebuttal to these arguments would be basically it doesn’t matter when excessive force is used on an unarmed victim.

-There are more incidents on video showing the victim complying and/or in handcuffs already, but still being assaulted.

-There are incidents of police brutality against Whites also. I have no argument other than the percentage against Blacks is higher based on our percentage of the overall US population. White folks should be as outraged and want police reform as well.

-Usually the Black people being stopped aren’t engaging in any criminal activity. They are just walking down the street, standing outside their homes, sleeping, etc. They are given the excuse that they match the description of a suspect. Then after they are assaulted or shot, the police look for ways to make them look like career criminals.

-Black on Black crime has nothing to do with police brutality. The term “Black on Black” itself is racist to me. Why is that the only demographic that is called out? I’ve never see any mention of “White on White crime”, “Asian on Asian crime”, etc. It feels like it’s a means of saying Blacks are more violent, which is not the case.

I will stop here for now, but have a few more points to make at a later time.