This
week on Facebook was a video posted of a mother talking to her son about police
profiling young black men with a comment that no mother should have to have
that conversation with her son. True,
because “wise” people will examine all angles.
1) Why are young black men primarily the ones confronted? 2) Exactly who are the police
protecting? 3) In the wide-angle lens,
who is asking for protection? Don’t jump
on a bandwagon based only on “surface” information or from initial emotional
feelings. Do a little digging before
solidifying your own point of view. 1)
Young black men commit the majority of the crimes, proportionately – statistically proven time
and again. 2) The police protect the
public – that includes people who work in places of business, live on any given
street, and who are being preyed upon by criminals. 3) Most help is requested from people being
harmed or threatened or who in some other way are in need of assistance.
For
years we lived just outside of Washington, DC.
It is not uncommon for small businesses where people approaching the
establishment can be readily seen for even the black owners or employees to
engage their automatic locking systems when they see black teens and men
entering their places if of a certain age, clothed or acting a certain way,
etc. Most crime committed against a
black victim is done by other black people.
When people of one race are skeptical about others of their own race, it
boils down to learning who is most likely a threat or who is likely to be
harmless. The kid in the video says he
stays indoors a good part of the time.
But if he’s not running with a gang (which would offer protection – so
the thinking goes), he’s acting the way many other people his in his
environment act because they are more likely to be targets of the rougher
youngsters on the block than they are targets for the police.
Keep
in mind that the police protect most law-abiding residents, and that includes
black residents. It might be surprising
to find statistics of how many officers are injured or killed while defending
one black person against another. Oh
yeah, those facts are overlooked, aren’t they?
Rarely does the news media show stories of blacks who are grateful for
service they were given from the police, and yet you can find those people
every … single … day. Probably even
every … single … minute somewhere in these United States.
There
used to be more stories and documentaries on public TV where neighborhoods,
realizing their police departments were short staffed, took it upon themselves
to set a higher standard for how to live and speak in their communities. Realistic, responsible adults took on
leadership roles to “clean up the hood” and be role models. They did not buy into the pity parties that
led to a victim mentality. No. They saw things for what they were, pushed up
their shirt sleeves, and took care of business.
And
it was not just the older adults getting involved. Remember that in the late 1970s the Guardian
Angels group was formed. They still
exist today. They were very successful
in NYC, and they became recognized worldwide (and still are). These were mostly young thugs -- or people
who would’ve potentially been good thugs -- who were fed up with crime and also
fed up with no one jumping in to help alleviate the problem versus sitting back
and just bitching or even adding to it.
Inaction or complacency can sometimes be just as harmful as the crimes
being committed. Requests from all over
came in for the Guardian Angels’ assistance, and groups of Angels were formed
in numerous places. “Google” up the
Guardian Angels to read about their history and also see their current web site
depicting how they are still active today.
They continue to go through three months of training and remain loyal to
and respectful of rules and rituals.
It’s worth learning about them, or recalling them to memory for those of
us who already know about them.
So,
the conversation every mother should have with her teen – male or female – is
how to be a responsible, productive person; and accept the fact that sometimes
the way you are treated is not against you personally but is based on the
perception other people your age and color have imprinted on the minds of
others. Instead of always expecting
other people to understand you, start trying to understand them! If the perception is wrong where it concerns
you, then behave in a way that will show others that you are the
exception. Then go a little further and
step up to be a role model instead of someone hiding behind doors, expecting
someone else to take care of unpleasant realities.
Many
police departments provide the “ride along” program where a citizen can ride
along with an officer during part of a shift.
I highly suggest everyone do that at least once. I’ve done it, and the view can look a lot
different when you’re in the other seat.
Bottom
line for every individual: Be respectful
and trustworthy towards others, and pray others will be respectful and
trustworthy, too.
Copyright © December 2014 by Maeke
Ermarth
Ocean City, Maryland
