The photograph above, is
of the last public [event] hanging in recorded U.S. History. Rainey Bethea, est. age 27 years, Owensboro,
Kentucky; August 14, 1936.
Coincidentally, as the work of Angela Y. Davis (Kimmel et al) describes
in “Rape, Racism, and the Myth of the Black Rapist”, the young man of color being
executed, was accused of rape.
Some
of the most flagrant symptoms of social
deterioration
are acknowledged as serious problems
only
when they have assumed such epidemic
proportions
that they appear to defy solution. (Davis, 1981)
It was with a heavy heart
that this student turned the pages (575-586) of Kimmel et al, reading Davis’ resounding
words.
How in the heavens are
such despicable behaviors sustained?
What in the devil’s name are humans doing, accusing one another of
heinous crimes, that in many instances, the accused did not even commit? What does this say about mob mentality? About justice? About the abusive use of power, cultivating
hate, lies, and fear--- pitting man against woman, and woman against man. Where can one go, from here…(?)...
Young activists often stated that
nothing could
protect
Black women from being raped by the police.
As
recently as December, 1974, in Chicago, a
17-year-old
Black woman reported that she was
gang-raped
by 10 policemen. Some of the men were
suspended,
but ultimately the whole thing was swept
under
the rug. (Davis, 1981)
One of the (many)
disturbing passages shared in the Davis article pointing out that systematic
oppression, and the diabolical mistreatment of certain marginalized U.S.
citizens has a lingering history, and unfortunately, significance presently.
May 5, 2003, Portland,
Oregon: A young woman, Kendra James, is
shot and killed during a routine traffic stop, essentially for refusing to get
out of the car, and allegedly starting to drive away. James posed no physical threat, yet officer
Scott McCollister felt the need to use deadly force. McCollister was suspended for 5 months
without pay.
February 26, 2012, Sanford,
Florida: a young man walks home one evening, in a hooded sweatshirt. No knives, no guns, no weapons. Trayvon Martin was shot and killed, and the
killer, George Zimmerman was set free.
Within the last week, a young 18-year-old male, Michael Brown, of
African-American lineage was shot and killed by Ferguson, Missouri police. The young man was unarmed. Why?
According to recent News 4 KMOV reports:
Dorian
Johnson, and his friend Mike Brown were
walking
home from a convienence store; on the street,
when
a Ferguson police officer, from his vehicle, told
the
boys to get out of the street. Johnson
says, they
kept
walking causing the officer to confront
the boys.
First
from his car, then got out of the car, firing a shot.
Johnson
says him and Brown were scared, and ran away
from
the officer. Johnson, “..he shot again,
and once my
friend
felt that shot, he turned around and put his hands
in
the air, and he started to get down, but the officer still
approached with his weapon drawn, and he fired several
more
shots...”
What is going on, fellow
citizens? Is it time to move beyond
cultural, gender, race, sex, and religious (spiritual) persecution, or
what? Time to band together yet? Time to love thy neighbor?
The cold, calculating
ugliness perpetrated by the few is threatening the peace, safety, and liberty
of all U.S. citizens. Whether one is blamed
for rape, is murdered, or assumed to be a criminal---based on ignorant
profiling, and unabashed erroneous accusation---the time has come for this type
of archaeic, so-called justice to end.
Now.
SOURCES:
KMOV.COM Another
witness to Brown shooting comes forward; video shows graphic scene. 2014.
Web.
NPR. The last public execution in America. 2014.
Web. http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/apr/010430.execution.html
New
York Times. Zimmerman Is Acquitted in Trayvon Martin Killing. 2014.
Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/us/george-zimmerman-verdict-trayvon-martin.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Portland
Cop Watch. Kendra James Case Continues to Reverberate. 2014. Web.
World
Star Hip Hop. Police Fatally Shoot Unarmed Black Teenager Michael Brown. 2014.
Web.
PHOTO:
Unknown, NPR website.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.