Reparations Means Taking This Seriously

Ok, I must admit: this is very frustrating.

On May 7, 2008 and April 25, 2008 we discussed this issue. And now, on June 18, 2008, we need to discuss it again. When will enough become enough?

Reparations means taking this seriously. Police brutality is still a pariah in the Black Community. Watch this video:



Did you hear this child's screams? Do you like what you see? I hope so, because we are the ones who allow this to happen. I allow this to happen. YOU have allowed this to happen. If that is not enough, read this. To add insult to injury (no pun intended...well, maybe intended), they ruled that the injuries were unintentional! How could you say the officer used excessive force, but then rule the injuries unintentional? Must be to protect them from further legal repercussions.

Reparations means taking this seriously. We asked you before: What Can We Do to Protect the Community against Police Brutality? We also asked for your help in Building Effective Police Review Boards.

It is our responsibility to defend our community. And, with all the talent and expertise within the Black Community, we ought to be ashamed of ourselves that these problems persist. We have the power to change this dynamic! We have the ability to create an environment where the police serve their rightful purpose of protecting and serving the Black Community, rather than abusing our people.

Why must we continue to cringe when we see the police? Even us - law abiding Black people - flinch when we see those flashing lights. Think about it: does your heart flutter when you see them flashing behind you?

Reparations means taking this seriously. We cannot wait for the Government to do something about police brutality. Nothing will be done. We have to be the ones to force a change. Our ancestors in the struggle for Civil Rights did not wait for the Government to end segregation. They forced the hand of Government. And, they fought so that we - their children - could have greater opportunities. The eyes of our ancestors look down upon us...what will we do?

And so, we must push so that our children will have greater opportunities. We must act now so that our children can play in communities where they live without fear of the police. We must fight for a social climate where the hearts of our children need not flutter at the sound of sirens.

So, again, join our Google Group. Engage the debate. Post your thoughts and together we can change the way police treat our people.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Recognizing Cognitive Dissonance

Ok, I must resort to the big words and scientific terms: Cognitive Dissonance. According to Dr. Joy Leary (author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome), it is cognitive dissonance that explains what we view as racial insensitivity.

Reparations means recognizing cognitive dissonance. For example when 19 Philadelphia Police Officers brutally attack 3 unarmed Black teens, it is cognitive dissonance that explains why the police commissioner would suggest that the police were under "stress and pressure" after losing one of their own. Does that justify their actions? Does "stress and pressure" mean that it is ok for the sharks to go on a feeding frenzy? But, he must attribute their actions to something because he must show that there is no racism on the police force and that this attack did not happen because the teens were Black...it happened because of the officers' stress-level. It is this dissonance that leads Mayor Nutter to say that we must view this incident in the proper context. The hope is that we feel sorry for the officers and have no feeling whatsoever about the real victims.

Cognitive dissonance would explain why in the Sean Bell Murder Trial, everyone focused on the criminal records of the victims and not the crime. It is this dissonance that causes the judge to state that the credibility of the officers outweighed the credibility of the victims...and that this negates the crime. Is the judge saying that because they had a criminal record, they deserved to be shot and one deserved to be killed?

Reparations means recognizing cognitive dissonance. These suggestions are just distractions. And, they must pose distractions so that they can remove any conflict between what we are told about American society and what we see in American society. And, recognizing this means that we are not distracted by contortions that have no bearing on the true issue.

This is why we need Reparations. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome affects both the enslaved and the enslaver. To deal with this generational trauma we engage in cognitive dissonance...preferring to ignore the issue or act as though it does not exist. Yet, the only way to recover from trauma is to deal with the trauma. And, that does not mean numbing folks down and reinforcing inferiority complexes. But, it means building institutions through which we give people the tangible tools to overcome the problems plaguing people. It means engaging in dialogue that exposes us to dissonance, because the only way we can extricate a problem is to recognize its existence. And that folks, is how we repair our nation.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations Means Strategizing to END Police Brutality

You know, I do not have much to say. You will not believe this video! It is ridiculous! Nineteen (19) police officers in Mayor Michael Nutter's City of Philadelphia and one police dog, jumped three black teenage boys. Yes...you heard me right. Nineteen cops jumped three teenagers. Apparently, the three teens were involved in a shooting. But, in this Country one is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. We also know that there is no possible scenario in which 19 officers were needed to apprehend these teens. And surely - without doubt - there is no reason for such use of force.

Reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. I do not care how much stress a trained police officer may be under at a particular time. We all are supposed to be professionals. If my stress-level results in gross negligence on my job, I would be fired - without an investigation. If your stress-level results in grave mismanagement on your job, you would be fired...there would be no investigation. Yet, all Mayor Michael Nutter has called for is an investigation and says:

You have to take this in the context of the environment of what were operating.

Hunh!?! In what context does it become acceptable for 19 officers to stomp and beat three teenagers? Can you think of one? If so, please tell me...

Watch this:

Now, this was only a small snippet. There are more videos here. The Mayor's office said that the police union prevents them from firing without proper procedures. So the police are protected, but the people are under attack. In speaking with the Mayor's press office, I was advised not to "prejudge" anything. I was asked that we let this all play out. It was stated that this event had only happened a few hours ago and the investigation had not been yet conducted.

Why should we not prejudge? What hope do we have that this time will be different? When have we seen the police held accountable - personally and/or professionally - for their abuse of Black people? Why should we not assume that this "investigation" will result in some justification for the actions of incompetent authorities?

But again, this is our fault. Like Amadou Diallo...like Sean Bell...like many, many others...this exercise of so-called justice is our fault. It is our fault because reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. And, we have not done that. All of the brilliant political minds, police genius and legal expertise has gone for naught.

To his credit, Mayor Nutter did pass the Philadelphia Police Advisory Board legislation - despite then Mayor (now Governor) Ed Rendell's staunch opposition. Rendell vetoed the original legislation and when Mayor Nutter had the votes to override, Rendell negotiated a compromise to water-down the Board's authority. Who knows: maybe the original legislation had more teeth. But as with most police review/advisory boards, there is bark but no bite.

Reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. And, that will not happen through police review boards as practiced. It takes the commitment from our leaders.

That is why we must overthrow an elitist Black Leadership. While they sit in their posh offices, 19 cops jump three Black teens. The Black Elite will jump now to lead rallies, build their membership and make a few dollars. Then they will return to their caves until the next opportunity for self-aggrandizement arises. But, where are they on strengthening review boards? Why do they not mobilize their organizations during the formation of these boards, to ensure these boards actually have some real power?

But despite their negligence, reparations means strategizing to end police brutality. And, it is time for us to snatch the torch from our failed leadership and protect the Community. We must be the ones who make these review boards more substantive...to push for stronger review boards to be passed. So, head to our Google Group and let's get to work.

Come and Get Your Reparations!