As a white person who lives in the suburbs and only knows what she sees and hears through news reports and television I am writing this purely to try to understand.
I do believe that racism is still prevalent in our society. I do believe that it is wrong and that it needs to change. All aspects of racism need to change.
I do believe that there are bad police officers who want to throw their authority around. Who stereotype individuals. Who believe the bad first and don’t take the time to find out the good. This too needs to stop. Police unions need to quit defending those who are being too aggressive. They need to work with those officers instead of condoning their behavior.
But I believe, and know, that there are far more good officers than bad. I don’t believe that it is fair or right to lump all police officers into the bad category. I don’t believe that someone who has chosen to defend and protect should be targeted because they are trying to uphold the law and keep people safe.
I see these videos on the internet of officers using force on seemingly “peaceful” protestors. What these videos aren’t showing are how many times the protestors have been asked to relocate to a different location. To stop blocking streets. We don’t see why the officers are led to the point of using the batons. Is it wrong to use the batons, pepper spray, rubber bullets? Maybe. Maybe not. I think that everyone’s perspective is different and that I could be standing right next to someone and both of us could see the same exact thing in total opposite ways.
I also see videos of stores being looted and people are trying to blame hate groups for starting the destruction (probably pretty close to accurate) but then the videos are followed up by blacks and whites taking whatever they can from those businesses. There is not even an option of whether this is wrong or right. It is plain wrong!!!
So, here is the real reason I am writing this. As I mentioned up top. I see and hear a lot based on television and social media because I am not in those areas. What I hear is that some members of the black community want to know why the police are not helping them. Why the police seem to neglect certain areas of cities. But then I hear about a murder or robbery or rape or gun fight in an area and when the police do go to try to solve the crime they are met with individuals who won’t talk. Who witnessed the crime but are not willing to give any details. Or who start attacking the police when they do come and protecting the suspect(s). What my understanding is that so many people are afraid to testify. They are truly afraid for their lives and the lives of their families because of the repercussions from gangs in the neighborhoods. (Again, all perspective from someone who see’s from the “outside”).
As a white person it does make it hard to figure out a way to bridge the gap when so much of what I hear are black on black crimes. It’s hard to have compassion when it seems like every time I read a headline I see another 14 year old black child has been killed by a 15 year old black child or 20 black people are killed in Chicago on one weekend by other black individuals/gangs or a 3 year old black girl is killed when two gangs shoot each other up and a stray bullet penetrates the wall and hits the sofa where the little girl was sitting. Or I hear that intercity schools don’t have the funding or resources needed to give the youth a proper education but then stories of teachers being beaten up because they took a cell phone away from someone or they told a student to sit down and listen. A lot of people will use the reasoning that is all they know. That because of the disadvantages of growing up in a raciest society, fighting and gangs are the only option for a lot of people. Maybe they are.
So, yes, we need to start fixing the problems with how black citizens are treated but it seems that some of it has to start with the black community standing up to each other and trying to find a way to combat the black on black crimes. There are so many good people in every community. So many children who want a chance to grow up and fulfill their dreams. We ALL have to figure out a way to give them that chance.
I don’t have the answers, I can’t even imagine where to start. I know that I will try to do better in how I view things, how I say things and even though I HATE conflict, will try to speak up when I see an injustice happening. I pray for clarity and a positive change in all areas. That’s all I ask of you as well. Help me to see that change is really what is wanted by all.
Change starts from within – individually and community.
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