LIFE TOPICS

Facing Racism In America Today: This Has Got To Change. We Have Got To Change.

May 29, 2020 | Posted at 2:36 am | by Benjamin (Follow User)

Photo Credit: via Twitter

As a Black person, the recent events surrounding Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd are morally reprehensible and far too often common. 

For centuries, Blacks have been brutalized and dehumanized by law enforcement.

There are deep-rooted systemic issues that allow for Blacks to be killed and for people in positions of power to not be held accountable unless there is external pressure for accountability. This has got to stop.

Breonna Taylor was murdered in her own home while asleep, the officer that suffocated George Floyd is not behind bars, and it took over a month for the two men who killed Ahmaud Arbery to be arrested since the murderers had connections to law enforcement.

These images and videos have been very difficult to see, especially knowing that the officer, Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd has a history of complaints filed against him.  I have tried my best to compartmentalize my emotions, but it is almost impossible to not experience stressors since I have been targeted by police multiple times just by existing and doing regular activities. 

Although different, even the most recent case of Amy Cooper in Central Park can be connected to structures that perpetuate violence against Blacks by law enforcement. How so? Cooper falsely claimed that she was going to tell the cops that she was being “threatened by an African-American man.” 

There have been countless occasions of police officers claiming their lives were threatened by a person of color, which has exonerated them from serving time in prison. I am not making the case that Amy Cooper wanted the man to be killed, however, she knew that what she was saying was loaded and could be weaponized against that man.

I am proud that people are exercising their right to protest across the country. It is almost a weekly occurrence that we learn of a person of color dying unjustly at the hands of law enforcement. Watching the video of George Floyd and listening to people tell the cop that Floyd was dying while the officer had his hands in his pockets and quite frankly not giving a damn was disturbing…

It makes many people feel powerless when an injustice is happening before their eyes by people who have sworn to protect them. The FBI held a news conference saying that they are working fast and are asking for more information to provide for a thorough investigation. 

So, now you are telling me that I am supposed to trust the same system that allowed for the officer in the Eric Gardner case to go free and who only recently got fired? It took five years after the incident! George Floyd also said that he could not breathe, and history has proven to us time and time again that we cannot trust the system.

 

#BlackLivesMatter