Round and Round We Go...

                                                                                                                

One of my good friends (Hey Rebecca!) sent me an article this morning about the George Floyd murder case. In this article, Civil Attorney Benjamin Crump was talking about how the State of Minnesota needs to charge Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer accused of murdering George Floyd, with First Degree Murder. Dude...are you serious??? Why is HE the spokesperson for ALL of these cases? You mean to tell me he's licensed in ALL of these states? In my opinion, since he’s a civil lawyer, he definitely shouldn’t be commenting on criminal matters. It simply confuses the two sectors, which leads to a lot of misinformation out there. WE NEED STRAIGHT FACTS...NOT OPINIONS...NOT SPECULATION! There's NO OTHER brilliant black lawyer that can take on these cases? He irritates my spirit like Jesse Jackson Sr. Even if the two men knew each other (from working at a restaurant/nightclub), you still have to prove that Officer Chauvin planned it. This is EXTREMELY difficult to do. He would most likely be acquitted; just like George Zimmerman, the cop that killed Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO, etc. At most, the charge should be 2nd Degree Murder. A relatively competent lawyer would argue that yes, Chavin killed George Floyd, but he didn't plan on doing it. I think he's a piece of shit, but you can't prove it. 3rd Degree or Manslaughter is the right charge. It's fucked up, but they need to make an example out of him. It's 2nd degree at the most; but you could argue that yes, he killed him, but he didn't plan it. I think he's a piece of shit, but you can't prove it. 3rd Degree or Manslaughter is the right charge, right now.

We as the people have to have a structured plan to make LASTING change. They things that we constantly do to solve the situations are obviously not enough. It’s like putting a band-aid on a gun wound. The entire situation is fucked up, but they need to make an example out of him. We would go for that charge, then Floyd's family should go after him and the police department because he has a history of this type of behavior. Then the people need to get legislators in office that will change laws; commit this shit again, and you're gonna be fired, we're gonna take these settlements out of your pension and jail time is mandatory. Hold these clowns accountable; if they knew they were facing jail time and losing that pension, I promise some shit will change.

People are rioting because they feel like they have no choice and this is the only way they can make their voices heard. But with rioting, you look like the criminal; you have to keep the focus on the police officer. It's easy to blame the public when they're stealing furniture on live TV like they were last night. I understand where they are coming from, but you have to get gutter like the system. You have to know the system so that it can be changed. That's why I said whatever protests they do have to be strategized. If there's no plan, this shit will happen again. I'm not saying lay down and take this shit either; I don't agree with the non-violence approach, but you have to be strategic.

Every time this happens, I think about law school; my brother Gary and I talk about it all the time. I think we'd be dope as hell at it...but that time and price tag...nope. LOL. All these businesses that support the police unions and businesses that treat people like shit. Boycott them and support a black business instead. See...money is green and it talks to EVERYONE, regardless of race. If they miss that, they'll do what it takes to keep you. I've been doing this for the past 3-4 years and I haven't missed a beat. You have to make them respect you as a person and they have to know without a shadow of a doubt that you will walk if they don't treat you right. Which is a shame; you should treat folks with respect regardless of skin color, religion, etc. Even then, it’s not enough. Some people just don’t care. One day, people will learn to get up from the table and create their own.

I used to say shit like “We aren't our ancestors,” and my dad was replied one-time “Daughter, that shit is so disrespectful.” He said that our ancestors were beaten, killed, spit on, and they organized. They took action and saw it through. He was like y'all just complain on social media. Y'all are reaping the benefits of the shit that they went through to get to this point. So yes, you aren't your ancestors. They were bout it… The non-violent aspect is what's publicized because if we knew how people did fight and strategized...we would get riled up and take action. That's why we don't hear about the HUNDREDS of slave rebellions that happened. We only hear about two: Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey. We need to learn from our past and make changes...or history will repeat itself...again and again...

• Amadou Diallo
• Eric Garner
• Sean Bell
• Oscar Grant
• Mike Brown
• Rekia Boyd
• Aiyana Jones
• Sandra Bland
• John Crawford III
• Tamir Rice
• Breonna Taylor
• and so many more...

NIGGER - Let's Have a Discussion...

It's been a while since I've posted anything...school thoroughly kicked my butt this semester. But it's over now, and I can write about some things that are on my mind. Since I've been working in the school district, there's been two things that have driven me absolutely crazy...one is the students' lack of respect for themselves and others...

The other thing that drives me absolutely CRAZY....is the use of the word NIGGER/NIGGA.

The students at my school use the word to no end...and every time I hear it, I cringe. What bothers me is that white, Latino & Arab students use it like it's OK What bothers me more is that the black kids are OK with it. Today, I had a black student tell me that he was a nigger and he was cool with that. Why? Because real nigger do real things...(WTF does that mean?) When I told him that he's in no way a real nigger because real niggers don't go to school everyday, I got the blank stare and I would’ve sworn I heard crickets chirping in the background. He's cool with other people (including white kids) calling him that too. “It's only a word...Drake, Lil Wayne and Waka Flocka use it all the time...”

The next class that I went to (same day), I heard a white boy use the word. I asked him to stop because it was offensive. His reply: “if black kids get to use it, why can't I? It's just a word Ms. Cooper.” My first response was to drop him off in the Ickes and let him call somebody out there a nigger and let him see what happens...

When I was in school (not that long ago...lol!), being called a nigger was the ultimate insult. It was a fighting word. And when someone of another race said, they got their ass beat – no questions asked. Now some of my friends used the word (still do) as describing someone as a term of affection (nigga). I admit, I've done it before too. But now, I find myself not doing it anymore at all because of what it means. From what I hear in the hallways, the terms are interchangeable and the kids don't care how they use it or how it's interpreted. I've heard it used as a term of affection and an insult. I don't know...I guess it bothers me because I hear others saying it and I see that the black kids are cool and accepting it. I think I get so offended because I know the significance of what it meant to be called a nigger back in the day. I also know how it feels to be called a nigger in a derogatory way – it happened quite a few times in college, and let's just say...some folks learned a hell of a lesson after I got finished with them. I guess I'm not as tolerant as kids are now.

This bothers me so much. When I hear a student say it, I try within all reason to let them know in the most professional way possible that it's not acceptable and to please refrain from using it...but the just don't get it. But the personal side of me wants to punch some of these kids in the face so hard that they get it...(I know that's a little extreme, but I hope you get my point). When I tried to explain the significance of what it meant, they blew it off. “I know what it meant Ms. Cooper.” But after asking them pointed questions, I find that they are so far from the truth...it would be funny if it weren't so damn sad.

Am I getting too old? Am I that far removed that I've lost touch with the current reality? Should the word be used now? Honestly, I don't think that we'll ever get rid of the word, but I think that there's something that should be done. I know how I was back in the day, and I know how I react to it, and I admit, I honestly don't know how to address the situation in any other way that I have been doing. I know if I react the way that I would on the street, I wouldn't have a job. I just don't know what...I feel like Laurence Fishburne at the end of School Daze – Waaakkkeee Uuuppp!

What do you think people? Let's discuss...

Buying Black

When I went to church this past Sunday, we had a guest speaker, Maggie Anderson, from the Empowerment Experience.  In a nutshell, Maggie and her husband John, pledged to patronize only Black-Owned businesses for one year.  Now, I was truly feeling her message.  We need to give Black Business Owners a shot at establishing and growing their companies.  Large scale corporations squeeze out the Mom & Pop businesses all the time (where you at Starbucks & Wal-Mart?), so it feels good to root for the underdog, so to speak.

I went home and looked up the Empowerment Experience online, and just when I thought all was well…I found out that it wasn’t.  This is not to say that the Andersons are doing something wrong…other ethnicities do this as well.  Jews support Jews businesses and Latinos support Latinos, etc.  On MSNBC.com, people spewed so much hatred…you would’ve thought that they murdered somebody.  Comments about sending them back to Africa where they belong were commonplace.  Then I thought about it.  If I bought from Black-Owned businesses only, would that make me a racist?

I’m not sure; and while I’d love to support Black-owned businesses, there are some places that are owned by Whites, Asians, Latinos, Indians, etc.  that I patronize on the regular.  Why?  Because they give great service and they have great prices.  Would continuing to support them make me a sell-out?  I’ve been going back and forth on this for the past couple of days…what do you think? 

A Civil Conversation...

Now that the election is over, I have finally exhaled and now it’s back to business…On a day to day basis, I make it a habit of cruising the blogs and checking out people’s opinions about politics and popular culture, etc. One of the central themes that this election has exposed is the infamous topic of race. When I cruise the different sites, I see the most offensive comments about race from both blacks and whites…and we wonder why we can’t get along!

Here’s a sample of what I’ve come across; this is from The Root:

“Blacks are here because of white people. They are where they are because of white people. Stop trying to take credit for this. Obama broke the color barrier...NO white people let him! We gave black people a life, a chance to be here…They still do nothing but blame white people. YOU HAVE AS LIFE AND A FAMILY HISTORY BECAUSE OF WHITE PEOPLE. DON'T FORGET THAT!!! and don't play dumb and ignorant. History is written in fact. You can't change it to suit your fight. Start thanking us for what you have!”

That was one of the tamest comments…from what I assume (I could be wrong) is a white person. Here’s another one; this is from the Chicago Tribune from what I assume is a person of color and equally disturbing as the comment listed above:

“I'm sick of reading racist, JEALOUS, comment's from White People who try to circumvent the truth with their illogical logic. You people are so jealous and hateful and so much like little children. You must share your stolen toys with the REST of the World. So get use to it. All you Hitler Wannabbees.”

Online (believe it or not, on sites like The Chicago Tribune and the Indianapolis Star), people say the most ignorant things and they hide behind them with sterotypes and faulty logic. It seems to me that the most racist people are the ones that smile in your face at work and talk about you behind your back (or post hateful, vile stuff on the internet under a pseudonym). Personally, I'd rather you say what you hav to in front of my face...that way I know how you are from the jump. When I was in college, I participated in a program called Conversations on Race. My class composed of people from many races & backgrounds. Once everyone’s defenses came down, we began to have some very meaningful discussions and we began to have a new appreciation for each other’s race and culture. It amazed me that there are people that STILL have these feelings towards a group of people. Come on people…All black people aren’t lazy & gangbangers…all white people aren’t racists…all Latinos aren’t gardeners, all Middle Eastern people aren’t terrorists, and all Asians don’t own nail shops!

I guess the million dollar question is: Can we EVER move beyond hiding behind the internet and have a civilized discussion about race? Talk to me people…

Shondra :)