I

A lot of us folks that are not Black need to be more aware, respectful, sensitive and educated with the systematic oppression that has been taking place within the communities of Black people not just in the USA, but all over the world. All art and global pop culture take or steal from Black Culture. It is disturbing to see people that only consume the “cool” aspects of Black Culture. Your favorite Black Artist tells you through their art if you are listening and not hearing what they deal with because of systematic racism. There is so much debate with racist people that try to discredit why we protest for Black Life by masking their agenda with Blue Lives Matter or All Lives Matter. The deaths are disturbing and I can’t watch clips of police officers repeatedly murdering or not protecting innocent people. The origins of policing itself do not make for equal protection and service to the public. Below is an excerpt from an essay from Dr. Victor E Kappeler “A Brief History of Slavery and the Origins of American Policing“:

“The birth and development of the American police can be traced to a multitude of historical, legal and political-economic conditions. The institution of slavery and the control of minorities, however, were two of the more formidable historic features of American society shaping early policing. Slave patrols and Night Watches, which later became modern police departments, were both designed to control the behaviors of minorities. For example, New England settlers appointed Indian Constables to police Native Americans (National Constable Association, 1995), the St. Louis police were founded to protect residents from Native Americans in that frontier city, and many southern police departments began as slave patrols. In 1704, the colony of Carolina developed the nation’s first slave patrol. Slave patrols helped to maintain the economic order and to assist the wealthy landowners in recovering and punishing slaves who essentially were considered property.”

Has policing changed much in 2020? In 1993 the NYPD banned the use of a chokehold by a police officer. Fast forward to 2014, Eric Garner was murdered by the police with the same technique that was outlawed 21 years from his death. The two cops involved with the murder Daniel Pantaleo and Justin D’Amico were not indicted. Pantaleo was fired just last year in 2019 and Justin D’Amico is still in the force. Daniel Pantaleo tried to sue the NYPD to get his job back after he murdered Eric Garner.

From 2014 to 2020 there were 996 complaints of officers using the chokehold. I could not see a report where officers were held accountable by complaints made by civilians. On June 8th of this year, NYS passed a senate bill identified as the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, which makes the use of a chokehold by a police officer a felony. Just last weekend a police officer used the maneuver on a Black man, Ricky Bellevue. Laws are passed, but I continue to see abuse of the shield because they are protected.

II

The reality is people born into this present time will live in a society with a current system that benefits white men first then white women and whatever else they believe as follows. This is not to ever say we cannot ever find success, have better lives, but the road has more hurdles for Black folks and other ethnic groups. The battle we are fighting today is between those that want to keep their privilege and everyone else to be at a disadvantage. To be blunt it’s those that are racist versus those of us that seek the truth, justice, equality, and reform. What is to say that if the current policing policies that echo hate and oppression are still allowed, isn’t in other branches of our society such as our education system, lobbying, policies & law passed, financial institutions and media to just scratch the tip of the iceberg of how deeply rooted this idea of racism is in civilization?

I. Education

I tried to recall what was taught to us as American kids in history books. I spent all of my education through the public school system here in New York City from when I immigrated here from 1st grade up to the 12th grade. I do not recollect of educational materials teachers are required to teach us from going into a very deep dive of criminal and murderous acts the US government committed to people that were not white. Please research and read on the destruction of Seneca Village in Central Park, Black Wall Street, and The Philadelphia Police bombing a city street in 1985. It’s shameful that I found out so much untold history on my own that isn’t ever shared openly with our youth or the general American public. Why does the government choose to not educate our future the real history of this country rather than to misinform them with sugar-coated tales and lies of the brutal truth of exploitation and racism in this country?

II. Lobbying

As a country how can we progress if Democrats and Republicans are the two only parties still playing this system? Take a look at the legalization of “lobbying”. It is illegal for a company or individual(s) to directly give money to politicians, but if they go through a lobbyist it is within the rules of the law. Who is to say that the politician will do what is in the best interest of serving the American people rather than the special interest company or individual(s) that is giving their political party large donations? If a party of an individual declines, the lobbyist can still find another politician to influence depending on how much money and power the corporation has on its market. This causes corruption on both sides because if a company has a monopoly, the outcome they want may not necessarily be the best for the American public, but the outcome is what benefits the corporation and their constituent on the payroll.

III. Policies & Laws Passed

How are they defined? From a great website Difference Between in this article as they define these terms as:

“Policy is the outlines of what a government is going to do and what it can achieve for society as a whole. “Policy” also means what a government does not intend to do. It also evolves the principles that are needed for achieving the goal. Policies are only documents and not law, but these policies can lead to new laws.”

“Laws are set standards, principles, and procedures that must be followed in society. Law is mainly made for implementing justice in society. There are various types of laws framed like criminal laws, civil laws, and international laws. While the law is framed for bringing justice to the society, a policy is framed for achieving certain goals.”

If police are not following policies that are implemented as the law such as the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, referring back to the cop that choked Ricky Bellevue, had 4 prior incidents of brutality, why was he not ever held accountable? A 16-year-old does not need to be pistol-whipped losing two of his teeth. I will not link that and you can research the case yourself on the crooked cop.

It makes no sense to defund our summer youth employment program, layoff staff except top officials and Di Blasio. He promised to defund the NYPD for $1 billion on June 7th, but has backtracked his promise recently. The NYPD allocates $2.8 billion in pensions alone.

IV. Banks & Mortgage Companies

It has been 52 years since the federal Fair Housing Act banned racial discrimination in lending practices. Based on this article from February 2018, there was an independent investigation by The Associated Press that showed Blacks (turned away at highest rates), Latinos, Asians and Native Americans are more likely to be denied a loan for a home than whites.

V. Media

Ninety percent of American media was owned by 50 companies in 1983. Compare that to 2011 when the same percentage is controlled by only 6 companies which are GE, News-Corp, Disney, Viacom, Time Warner and CBS. You are getting bias news with an agenda tied to their constituents. This informative chart sources the discrepancy of 232 media executives that dictate the information consumption of all Americans.

What people are experiencing in protest is very different from what is being reported and shown in the media. Focus is not on the actual cause, but with other groups or hateful individuals inciting or trying to change the shift and focus on Black life, ownership, and empowerment. There are selfish groups and individuals that have their own agenda that is not allowing or wanting Black people to have real progression and ownership. It all starts with policies and reform of the law.

III

How much more oppression and murder must we see for nothing to be done? Enough is enough. Too many cases where cops are acquitted from their actions that overtake their duty to protect and serve because they are the judge and jury. Where is the accountability if justice is not served? Where do we go for help if we cannot trust law enforcement that they selectively choose who to be brutal to or murder based all on their skin color? Loved ones are being killed that is someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, child, grandmother or grandfather, aunt, uncle or friend.

I’m tired of being lied to by the system that is the government, corporations, and the media. I am sure not alone. Racism is rampant and people do not understand how brainwashed and conditioned they are by this Eurocentric system. You can unlearn wrong and it is okay to admit you were not educated with the truth. Look at the climate outside and how other people are feeling. There is a reason for unrest and protest. People are tired of the bullshit being told and the only way for change is to go through this process which our era has not experienced. I have so many questions that I want to know why? Why was there racism in science? Why do they hide where we come from? Are they scared we will find out the truth? Why did they construct racism?

It’s very important that we educate and understand history. If they are erasing or concealing Black history, who is to say they aren’t doing the same with other ethnic groups? This is just the surface we are scratching of the iceberg that is racism that must be destroyed at its very core that we cannot see above the surface deeply rooted and hidden.