(18g) Difference in treatment of white and black people
For many people, a surprise decision by an American court: white people involved in an armed standoff that ended with fire exchange with police officers were not convicted and are allowed to walk free while the police accepts the verdict. And thus it is no surprise that black people are angry.
A white family won a court case
The situation: Years
ago the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decided that cow owners should
pay if they want that their animals graze on federal public lands while later
grazing became forbidden on some land in order to protect an endangered desert
tortoise. Indeed, in a world where animals are disappearing at high speed,
sometimes humans have to accept some animals need protection. The problem is
that the white family doesn't accept these conditions and let their cows graze
on public lands. The worse is they defend this right with weapons and during
another dispute including an armed standoff with police that lasted many days,
one family member was killed by police while others were arrested. And now,
months later, the family is not guilty and can go home while the federal
officials accept this verdict although some members still need to be judge for
other offences.
I can't comment on
the details of this conflict as I don't know enough of it. Still, it seems the
people within this family do not accept the authority of their own federal
government as they claim it is an issue for the local State government although
they use proudly the USA and thus federal flag. And thus I think the local
government could have confirmed the federal law should be followed. Further,
they protest not by defending their case in courts or via politics but by the
use of weapons and occupation of government buildings while BLM officers backed
off in order not to provoke and thus they tried to prevent violent that
eventually still erupted. But it is a fact, everywhere in the world people are
starting to think higher hierarchies are intervening a little too much at local
levels without taking into account local concerns. Also Mr Trump talks about
too much federal government and reducing Washington's influence. Still, imagine
people can occupy buildings, use weapons while law enforcement officers have to
retreat and courts side with the aggressors; it indicates that the use of
weapons is allowed to solve disagreements with governments and in the end with
individuals.
But now, and in
agreement with the main title, compare this with the relation between police
officers and courts versus black people:
- Unarmed Mr Eric Garner sold cigarettes on the street of N.Y. and for this reason police officers constrained him using an illegal method that resulted in his death. The man didn't use violence against the police nor did he carry a weapon. Video footage shows what happened. Court decision: white police officer not guilty. Black Lives Matter protests afterwards while police officers were angry because the mayor made comments the police considered as criticism.
- Twelve year old black boy Tamir Rice played with what seems to be a gun although the person calling the police mentioned it may be a toy gun. An adult white police officer arrived and didn't seem to know how to handle the situation professionally so he killed within seconds after his arrival the black boy. Video footage shows what happened. Court decision: white police officer not guilty. Black Lives Matter protests afterwards.
- A passer-by filmed how Mr Walter Scott, while running away from a police officer was killed because the officer shot eight bullets in his back instead of stopping him by for instance shooting in his leg if the officers considered violence was necessary. Video footage shows what happened. Court decision: trial is about to start but already there is a warning that there is more to the story than the video shows. Still, justice needs to be trusted.
And while until now
mainly black families are involved and their friends, black and white, one day
a white couple may hear their black adoption child is death and thus white
families become involved.
And it is true,
there are people who feel uneasy and even fear in the presence of black people
because to some it seems black people celebrate violence and drug use and
disrespect women as can be heard and seen in many of their current music videos
while people loved artists such as Michael
Jackson or Whitney Houston or Earth Wind and Fire who were less aggressive
in their music and videos. People fear it even influences white music videos.
Other people are simply racists and hate for no reason. And in a society where
people fear they may be killed by someone walking around with a gun, paranoia
will grip that society and people shoot before they speak. In addition, many
American films celebrate police officers who kill the evil guys before they ask
questions as an effective way to remove the bad guys and thus this may become
acceptable. But one would assume police officers are professional and learn how
to behave in certain situations or they should not be allowed to act as police
officers although they can work as civilian. If they can't handle a situation
such as a child, how will they react when they have to face the real dangerous
criminals? On the other hand, if too many people disobey law enforcers, it can
be expected that officers become frustrated and angry.
Still, the
difference with the treatment of the white family is striking. The white people
were not shot for carrying weapons and occupying buildings but instead the
police acted professionally as they tried to calm the people. Only after a long
armed standoff when violence erupted was one occupier killed and others
arrested while they are now free. These white people are now called hero's
because they opposed the federal government who simply tried to enforce laws.
Those opposing these laws could have used other means than violence such as
going into politics to change the laws if possible. These white people won in
court and are now free people while they opposed federal officials, disobeyed
laws, carried guns and used violence. Police accepts the court decision, even
when they may have been killed in the standoff while it gives a signal that
opposing laws is acceptable. But when police officers are found not guilty
after they kill unarmed black people who didn't use violence, then they are
angry when this decision is questioned. And thus the peaceful Black Lives Matter movement started to demand a fairer
treatment of black people by police and justice. Some people however claim the
movement is ridiculous as every life matters or it is aggressive (indeed, some
people become angry enough to use violence). And thus many (white) people don't
seem to understand the anger amongst black people about what seems is an unfair
system. I'm sure, if black officers would arrest or kill white people in a
similar way as happens to black people and are not punished for this, many white
people would protest violently as white people are even prepared to use weapons
against police for the simple fact they have to pay to use public land. An
example is the reaction from white politicians who claim President Obama is too
soft against the Black Lives Matter
demonstrators who cause unrest. But only after accepting that some police
officers make errors and thus need better training or are racist and thus need
prison sentence, police forces will be trusted by everyone and thus will be
able to serve everyone.
Another example of differences in treatment
Another example in the
different treatment of black versus white people is given by Mr Van Jones. In
the video he describes what Mr Trump can do, a powerful white man and compares
this with the situation of black people but equally with that of white women.
Mr Trump can talk about women and groom them and still continue his campaign to
become president of the USA. However, when a black person would admit this he
would be called a thug, very likely be arrested and scandalized. Of course,
there are powerful black persons who misbehave but this should not become
public or they will lose their position as can be expected. The differences
between black and white are still enormous. He also mentions that even white
women can't speak as powerful white males can without being punished. Still,
the reaction about Mr Trumps behaviour, including from many white men although
not all, shows society is changing.
Responsibility
White people
White people over
centuries mistreated others for their own benefit: they conquered the world,
destroyed cultures and killed millions while enslaved many of the survivors
(thereby using black traitors who captured other black people to sell them to
white people while those remaining now live in the poorest continent on earth).
Of course, white people were not the only people to do this but the others
should speak for themselves; in addition throughout history white powerful
persons also abused other white people for their own benefit. But first we need
to acknowledge the evil we have done to others because the others wouldn't mind
what white people did to each other as long as white people continue to
mistreat others. Ones we accept we did wrong in the past, we can study the
present, listen to complains from others and understand why some people are
angry and then try to improve their situation. Indeed, white people have done
much good and where the first to understand that slavery should be abolished;
even resulting in civil war in the USA. White people also educated others, both
in their own countries and other continents. Still, as long as there are white
people who continue to mistreat others and certainly black people, the
impression that black people are second class citizens will continue and thus
much of the positive done will not be recognised. Therefore, it is important
that the white community recognises that certain of their members are racists
who mistreat others and that this behaviour is no longer acceptable.
And thus white
people, after seeing these videos, start to realise that indeed there seems to
be something wrong in the relationship between police and black people (men)
and thus a number of white people joined the Black
Lives Matter demonstrations to show solidarity. And this is courageous
because when people are angry, they start to think one-dimensional and thus
some may start to think that all white people are the same and thus that the
white demonstrators are part of the enemies, certainly when some white
demonstrators are in effect undercover cops who try to identify the
demonstrators. On the other hand, many in the white community may consider the
white demonstrators are traitors. Therefore, if only also the police and justice
would accept there may be a problem with some officers, then discussions
between each other could result in a better relationship. Failing to do so may
only result in more anger and distrust and finally more violence.
Black people
Still, this doesn't
liberate the black community from taking responsibility. Indeed, there are
black gangs that sometimes force black youth to join them while others join
because they are tired to do good in a society that still distrust them (e.g.
President Obama experienced tough opposition from mainly white people so many
black people forget that many white people voted twice for Mr Obama so he could
become president). These gangs not only scare (white) police officers who then
mistrust every black person, also black people die (of course, also white gangs
exist). Today also an important section of the black music seems to be an
extension of those gangs that worship money as the highest thing to achieve
while denigrates those who are less successful. Black people should condemn
those gangs while ask the artists to be positive examples. Black kids who try
to study at school should be encouraged by the black communities so they feel
confident to continue just as white children in the past where encouraged to
study and progress. Black kids should be informed from a young age that they
should improve their community, even when this means they earn less (does not
equal little), as this will gain them much more respect than becoming rich in a
questionable way. Indeed, black people need examples who defend hard work and
make it honourable even when they are not as wealthy as other people. As long
as many in the black community don't recognise this, many will continue
worshipping money, in whatever way they get it. But of course it is also
important that finishing studies can result in a good job with a decent salary
or people may turn to criminal activities as everyone wants to escape poverty.
Of course, as a white person, it is almost not possible to say this without
being called a racist. But equally, this also concerns mainly white boys who
grow up in poor communities with little prospect for a decent job and as a
result are not very motivated to study well. And I understand that getting out
of ghettos is not easy but the black community can start by going to black
hairdressers and shopkeepers while wealthy black people can support certain
projects that gain them support within the community instead of increasing
their own wealth to emphasise their own importance. Doing it this way, black
people don't have to wait for the approval of white people although many white
people already employ black people. And of course, white people can't
completely abandon their own kind in favour of others who often don't seem to
support each other.
An example. Instead
that many black people complain there are not enough black characters in films
and cartoons (and very important black actors exist), why can't they do as
white people: find (financial) support within the black community so they can
make their own movies and cartoons and then promote them amongst like-minded
people who will watch them so these movies and cartoons can become a hit and
attract more people. Already, thanks to social media, black and other people
are starting to make their own small movies and gather a large audience.
Afterwards, big companies can discover and employ. Indeed, both education and
social media liberate people, a reason why some elite start to oppose this:
increased tuition fees and condemnation of social media. Of course, social
media should not be used to insult people but otherwise it improves democracy
as leaders can't misbehave or people will question them.
An example from the
past: gay movies. Big studios, although many gays were part of them, thought
gay themes won't make money and thus gay characters were ignored or portraited
as stereotypes. And thus gay people started to make independent low budget underground
gay movies that earned money as there was a market for this kind of films; big
companies noticed gay film can make money and as a result there are now gay
characters in blockbuster movies while even some straight actors play certain
gay roles when they find them interesting. And thus the integration started.
The side effect: many pioneering independent film companies can't compete with
the big film companies and thus struggle to have an audience and disappear so
big companies dictate again how gay people are portraited. And thus, people
start making their own short gay movies which they can show via social media.
Black examples
There are black
examples although often parts of what they do is ridiculed by other black
people who prefer to listen to successful powerful white people. For instance,
concerning gay rights is religion often more important than what a black person
says although also here things are changing.
Mr Barack Obama is such
an example for coloured people. In the past, he did community work and
eventually he became president of the USA. And while he should be an example
for his own people, many white people feel embarrassed with the obstruction and
disrespect that certain white politicians and individuals show towards him so
that someone like Mr Trump could gain sufficient support amongst white people
to be the opponent of Mrs Clinton in the presidential election (this election
is not an example how to behave). Still, many white people also oppose Mr
Trump.
Mr Nelson Mandela is
another example and this in the heart of the black continent who was able to
forgive after his liberation that white people put him in jail and united the
country when he became the first black president of South Africa. However, some
politicians after him again drift in the direction of old politics whereby
they enrich themselves at the expense of the country. However, as people are
more educated, it is difficult to turn back the time as the educated as well as
those who want to study also want to achieve something such as working as a
doctor and thus no longer accept that politicians are corrupt but demand that
politicians work for a better country where everyone profits. Also the white
will have to make sacrifices such as sharing more of their wealth with black
people to prevent aggression.
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