First and most, I’d like to dedicate this post to George Floyd, his death will not be forgotten; my condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family, friends and to our African-American community, I hear you, I see you.
After the recent events that took place in Minneapolis I needed time to process everything, allow myself to feel angry, sad, disturbed and disappointed. I also really needed time to do my research on today’s racism in America and learn about the hiring process of a cop. I am a blogger and also a social worker, so I know the best way I could potentially promote social justice and advocate for the human rights of my fellow African-Americans, as well as immigrants, would be through my writing.
First thing is first, in no way or form am I generalizing or categorizing any individuals discussed in this post. I also do not condone any violence towards African-Americans, police officers, and for that matter any human being, especially given the situation. I also want to express that although I am all for social justice, freedom of speech and peaceful protesting; I do not agree nor support the current violent rioting, looting and destruction of properties occurring in multiple cities. The purpose of these protests is to call for action in regards to George Floyd’s murder- as a community, as human beings, we must make sure it stays this way, rather than “a given opportunity” to practice evil acts.
Without further ado, let’s get to it: Police Brutality
Data was taken from “Mapping Police Violence,” for more information, visit https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/.
Between 2013 and 2019, police in the United States killed 7,666 people, according to data compiled by Mapping Police Violence, a research and advocacy group. On May 25, 2020 , George Floyd, a 46-year-old resident of Minnesota, became yet another victim of police brutality as he was killed in police custody while unarmed. Floyd’s death has prompted thousands of protesters to march in cities around the country demanding justice and an end to police violence. The number of police killings in the US disproportionately affects African Americans. Despite only making up 13 percent of the US population, Black Americans are two-and-a-half times as likely as white Americans to be killed by the police” (Haddad).
Haddad, M. (2020, May 31). Mapping US police killings of Black Americans. Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2020/05/mapping-police-killings-black-americans-200531105741757.html
POLICE HIRING PROCESS
This process may differ from other states
One does begin to wonder, what is it exactly that leads to the maltreatment of minorities, because let’s call it what it is, in many cases, these type of scenarios often or if not always occur to people who come from different ethnicities and as stated above, mostly African-Americans. As I began doing my research, I came across this statement and it really spoke to me:
If the African American leaders interviewed are correct that the great majority of police officers are good and fair people, then is it the problem systemic? If it’s a matter of bad cops, and if it’s a small minority, is the problem institutional? Police officers see themselves as protectors. They understand the strained relationships and the history of race relations, yet they became cops. Within this environment, why would a purposely racist person join the ranks of law enforcement? How do you make a biased cop change? We have spent decades investigating and polygraphing people who want to become cops to weed out those who will create problems and cost cities hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits. How did that system fail?”
The Death Of George Floyd-Riots-And What Happens Next? (2020, June 01). Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.crimeinamerica.net/the-death-of-george-floyd-riots-and-what-happens-next/
How did that system fail? I was looking at the hiring process of a police officer and what really struck me is that it’s actually quite the thorough process; from background checks, to a psychological examination to a written and oral exam, where scenarios are given to put their skills to a test and see whether or not they are fit to become cops.
So what happened with Derek Chauvin? because quite frankly, he had a resume that should have been seen as concerning and alerting.
It boggles my mind that a man like Chauvin, not only passed his background check, because it appears this man has a violent side to him, but what kind of scenarios were presented to him during his exam? Also, what I like to know or question is whether or not police officers are required to participate in workshops or trainings relating to race, culture and ethics. This has happened way too many times, is the system just set up to fail? I know we see it in movies from time to time, where cops, bigger agencies, the government itself is shown as being corrupted, but is it really this bad? how are these “neglectful” and “biased” police officers getting hired? how is it that they are passing these steps through their hiring process when clearly they are not fit to represent and protect us.
Now something that I want to establish is that I do not believe that the wrong doing of “bad cops” speaks for all cops. Absolutely not. I happen to know good cops, kind-hearted ones for that matter who are mortified by what is happening at this moment. I have also encountered really shitty cops, even creepy ones, from personal experience. Back in 2014, as I was leaving a nightclub, a cop outside the club called me over, literally grabbed my hand and phone and said to me “If you are looking for a good fuck, call me.” Who the fuck says that to a woman? this was harassment and clearly abuse of power.
Same goes to African-Americans, who are constantly categorized as criminals because of the wrong actions of a few black individuals, same for the Hispanic people, who are labeled as rapists, murders, thieves and “illegals,” when the majority of us (I am Hispanic) aren’t any of it. Even for White folks, not all of them are racists, except for “Karens’,” which by the way as humorous as it is, my name is Karen, so I am not really taking that lightly.
Here is an example of what I am talking about:
With that said, the way I see it, this is a huge systemic problem. This has been going on for decades. The abuse of power we experience everyday is undeniable. The reality is that we need social reform, policy change and more training or workshops among agencies, including law enforcement. The same law needs to be reinforced and implemented on any individual, no matter their social status, or whatever agency they represent; when the rights of a human being are violated and a crime has been committed, there needs to be accountability and these people need to be held responsible for their wrong doing.
ME, I said it!
Listen, I don’t think many understand the real issue here, although I could certainly see negative emotions taking over common sense, given the recent inhumane actions; most African Americans right now, are protesting for the injustice killing of many innocent black lives, including George Floyd’s. For the most part, and I am certainly leaving the individuals who are clearly taking advantage of this situation” by looting, being violent towards other police officers and destroying properties,” out because I want our focus to be on the protesters that are doing this for the right reasons. These individuals are not stating that ALL police officers are racist bigots, or to blame for this broken justice system nor do they mean harm or are promoting killing the police. We are human beings. Their message is bigger than that, it’s the fact that with given evidence, they are often targeted for their color of their skin, and are being treated like animals, to the point they are being executed publicly. You need to understand the history, trauma and their suffrage; it’s not easy being black in today’s America, or for that matter it’s not easy being a human being from a different background or ethnicity in An America that is very much divided.
THIS IS AMERICA:
Why has it been difficult to reduce racial bias? this is fundamental learning. Part of it is that a lot of it has been conditioned in people, “To understand why American policing is so fraught, you first have to understand its history. In the South, policing evolved from slave patrols, white vigilantes who enforced slavery laws; in the North, it emerged as a way to control a “dangerous underclass” that included African-Americans, Native Americans, immigrants and the poor. “Policing’s institutional racism of decades and centuries ago still matters because policing culture has not changed as much as it could, the roots of racism in American policing, first planted centuries ago and have not yet been fully purged.”(Bokat-Lindell).
You know I am not here to justify the wrong actions of others, and by others I mean all individuals who represent each one of us because of what we do for work and where we come from, because I know as human beings, we are not perfect and unfortunately, we do live in a world where evil does exist and bad people exist. What I want you to consider is a couple of things: 1. WE must accept that Racism is still an issue. Oppression is still an issue. Discrimination is still an issue. Violence is still an issue. Crime is still an issue. Poverty is still an issue. I can go on really, but I am sure you get the point. 2. WE must also accept and recognize that one or I guess in this case, a group’s wrong doing does not represent a whole agency or ethnicity. For instance, a crime made by one Hispanic or black, does not represent the whole African-American community or Hispanic Community. A prejudice and biased social worker, does not represent other social workers. A crooked lawyer or politician does not represent others within their own agency…and yes, a bad cop’s wrong doing, does not represent all cops. You get my point right? and lastly 3. Solidarity, Compassion, Empathy and Listening is needed right now, each and every single day….you see, even though we are all different, including our political views, at the end of the day, we just want peace and unity. We don’t always have to meet eye to eye, but we also can’t stay silent and pretend that what happened to George Floyd wasn’t murder. Our silence and ignorance is what continues to kill people. Think about it, we have a purpose in life, we are better than this, we can be better than this. Everything stems from home. What we teach our children, it’s what they will practice and/or fear. Spread love not hate. Listen and allow others to express themselves, that is their right. Try understanding where their pain is coming from. Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, we can’t be prejudice and make assumptions.
I think I’ve said enough, so I’m going to go ahead and leave you with this:
References:
Bokat-lindell, S. (2020, May 28). Why Is Police Brutality Still Happening? Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/opinion/minneapolis-police-brutality.html
Haddad, M. (2020, May 31). Mapping US police killings of Black Americans. Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2020/05/mapping-police-killings-black-americans-200531105741757.html
The Death Of George Floyd-Riots-And What Happens Next? (2020, June 01). Retrieved June 02, 2020, from https://www.crimeinamerica.net/the-death-of-george-floyd-riots-and-what-happens-next/
With Kare 4 You ♡ 