Land of the Free?

Malcom X once said:

"You cannot separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has freedom."

America has long been known for its opportunities and freedom, but the dehumanization of people of color in this nation proves otherwise – from blackface to lynching to mass incarceration. As time passes, America somehow manages to continuously degrade and dehumanize people of color. As of 2019, there has been a new analysis stating that 1 in 1,000 black males in America can expect their death to be at the hands of authorities. In other words, black men have a better chance of dying before ever winning the lottery. This analysis also showed that the death rate of colored American people (Latino men/women, black females, Native Americans) is higher than the white American people. I mean, no shocker there.

What's happening in America in regards to police brutality towards the black population has created a unity amongst many. Many feel outraged. Many feel disgusted. And as we should because we are living in a nation that supposed to stand for freedom. We have the freedom to feel rage and to protest. Or do we truly? Peaceful protests are planned yet somehow end in arrests and chaos. So then what? We lean towards violence. Americans want to be heard. Americans NEED to be heard. We don't want to hear about another black man dead at the hands of a police officer. We don't want to hear about the failure of the justice system as they deem guilty people innocent. What is innocent about taking the life of a SCARED SOUL?

Let's say it's two scared people; the suspect scared of the officer and the officer scared of the suspect (though I believe that may not be the case sometimes). As a police officer (or any other sort of authority) you MUST be mentally and emotionally ready for any and everything, including hesitant suspects. But this doesn't mean being ready to use unnecessary excessive force whenever things take for a turn. As a human, being detained by a police officer is fucking stressful and I get it, the job of a police officer is stressful on a daily basis. To wake up in the morning, get dressed to start your day and not know whether you'll come back home alive to your family, pets, friends – it's a sick feeling. But unfortunately, that comes with the job of a police officer. It is NOT supposed to come as a burden to just exist, including and especially as a poc. Police officers are set at a higher standard. I believe if you cannot handle a hesitant suspect/tricky confrontation, maybe don't pursue the job. Simple as that. When I say hesitant suspect, I mean those who lack sufficient responses to officers' questions simply because they're fucking scared and nervous. I mean those who don't know whether to keep their hands on the steering wheel or just keep their hands on their lap where they may also be visible. There's no fucking "how-to" on being detained. This isn't something that's embedded into our brains. I wouldn't know what the fuck to do if I were to be detained. I might not do shit and just stay put still which might even piss off the officer ultimately leading to a worse situation. In the moment, no one knows what they're actually going to do. It's easier said and thought than done. It's a stressful situation with stressed people and stressed responses. Being part of a police department isn't a light job. It was never meant to be. Don't get me wrong; I appreciate the police officers who actually try to do their best in following protocols. Being a part of the police department comes with so much. Only some are fit for it while others are not, the same others who are creating a bad reputation for the rest. But hey, it was no problem for many whites to allow stereotypes and a few criminals to represent the whole population of colored people. It's interesting how it goes – a person of color trying to remain calm in a police confrontation to avoid problems, just like a police officer may try to remain calm to follow protocols in this confrontation in order to avoid problems such as excessive force/brutality. Within the murders of many poc in the past few years, two different problems have been highlighted: racism and the abuse of power.

One does not need to step on a neck or ignore the cries of help. "I CAN'T BREATHE."Why would one ignore that? To hear those words, to see the tears and feel the hyperventilating body and STILL use excessive force is cruel. It is with a heavy heart that I say this is the truth of America. The hurt of our people is being seen but nothing is done. Not much is being done to justify these feelings we feel and the deaths we mourn. Our words and our screams may be heard but they are not being accepted. Instead they're left with condolences and empty promises. So as long as we remain united and consistent with our pleads, maybe, hopefully justice will be served. I hope those who are fighting for justice today get to see the day it is rightfully served.

The infamous history between whites and colored people will never be forgotten. It cannot be forgotten. Native Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and many more have experienced a level of racism that unfortunately the white population will never understand, or even experience. Reverse racism isn't a fucking thing. All lives matter, yes, but what's happening in America CLEARLY shows that no, all lives don't fucking matter to some people.

White suspects are not being treated the same as black suspects. PERIOD. Black suspects are being beaten and killed while white criminals are escorted in handcuffs. Black people who are automatically seen as suspects are being questioned for stupid shit while white criminals get years cut off their sentencing because they pled with the reason of mental illness. The incarceration of black people are exaggerated whereas the incarceration of white people are excused. This is not justice. This is systematic racism which inevitably encourages societal racism. This is not what America is supposed to stand for.

The lives that colored people live shouldn't feel like a threat to others. The lives of colored people shouldn't be filled with fear. The lives of black people are being threatened. They're being taken away and they're being taken away with LITTLE TO NO JUSTICE. They're being taken away by the hands who are supposed to help and protect them. The lives of black people matter. They actually matter a little bit more now since the death rate keeps increasing. The lives of black people fucking matter.

What has the world come to? Black parents feeling forced to have the talk with their children. Black parents living in fear for themselves and for their kids. Black children living in fear for themselves and for their parents. Black people thinking twice about wearing their hoodies up or selling anything on the street to make a quick buck. The reality of today's society is truly heartbreaking.

No one should have to live in fear. But unfortunately that's what you live with being a poc in America. It was like this many years ago. Entitlement has allowed history to repeat itself. This is sad. This is heartbreaking. This repulsive. This is injustice. This is racism shining through the holes of history. THIS IS AMERICA. LAND OF THE FREE? NO MORE.

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Below I've listed some links for those who want to help and fight for justice (these are the only ones I currently know of but I'll probably be updating with more soon as I do more research).

Link #1: 
https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis
#justiceforfloyd – Demand the officers who killed George Floyd are charged with murder. 

Link #2:
https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforbre-breonna-taylor-officers-fired?source=coc_main_website
#justiceforbre – Demand the officers who killed Breonna Taylor must be fired. 

Link #3: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/preview?pru=AAABco28I9k*Qf6tf56dlqr22HJn3E2niQ
#antiracism – Engage in some anti-racism works (i.e., books, podcasts, videos, etc.)

Link #4: 
https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/call-for-justice-for-george-floyd
#justiceforgeorgefloyd – Demand justice for Floyd by calling these numbers provided. 

Link #5: 
https://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision
#blacklivesmatter – Look into this list of policy solutions. 

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In search of cases concerning wrongful deaths, I couldn't stop shaking my head from the information I read upon – from young children to elders in churches, schools, and their own home on special occasions or just a regular day, these people never stood a chance against the prejudicial winds flowing throughout this country. Below are some wrongful deaths (believed/proven to be motivated by racism/prejudice). May their souls rest in peace.

Clifford Glover – April 1973, NY

Claude Reese – Sept 1974, NY

Randolph Evans – Nov 1975, NY

Yvonne Smallwood – Dec 1987, NY

Amadou Diallo – Feb 1999, NY

Sean Bell – Nov 2006, NY

Oscar Grant – Jan 2009, CA

Trayvon Martin – Feb 2012, FL

Jordan Davis – Nov 2012, FL

Jonathan Ferrell – Sept 2013, NC

Renisha McBride – Nov 2013, MI

Eric Garner – Jul 2014, NY

Dante Parker – Aug 2014, CA

Ezell Ford – Aug 2014, CA

John Crawford III – Aug 2014, OH

Michael Brown – Aug 2014, MO

Michelle Cusseaux – Aug 2014, AZ

Laquan McDonald – Oct 2014, IL

Akai Gurley – Nov 2014, NY

Tamir Rice – Nov 2014, OH

Tanisha Anderson – Nov 2014, OH

Jerame Reid – Dec 2014, NJ

Rumain Brisbon – Dec 2014, AZ

Clementa C. Pinckney – Jan 2015, SC

Frank Smart – Jan 2015, PA

Mathew Ajibade – Jan 2015, GA

Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd – Jan 2015, SC

Daniel L. Simmons – Jan 2015, SC

Depayne Middleton – Jan 2015, SC

Ethel Lee Lance – Jan 2015, SC

Myra Thompson – Jan 2015, SC

Sharonda Singleton – Jan 2015, SC

Susie Jackson – Jan 2015, SC

Tywanza Sanders – Jan 2015, SC

Natasha McKenna – Feb 2015, VA

Anthony Hill – Mar 2015, GA

Meagan Hockaday – Mar 2015, CA

Mya Hall – Mar 2015, MD

Phillip White – Mar 2015, NJ

Tony Robinson – Mar 2015, WI

Eric Harris – Apr 2015, OK

Freddie Gray – Apr 2015, MD

Walter Scott – Apr 2015, SC

William Chapman – Apr 2015, VA

Brendon Glenn – May 2015, CA

Jonathan Sanders – Jul 2015, MS

Samuel DuBose – Jul 2015, OH

Sandra Bland – Jul 2015, TX

Jeremy McDole – Sept 2015, DE

Corey Jones – Oct 2015, FL

Jamar Clark – Nov 2015, MN

Alton Sterling – Jul 2016, LA

Philando Castile – Jul 2016, MN

Keith Scott – Sept 2016, NC

Terrance Crutcher – Sept 2016, OK

Marlon Lewis – Dec 2016, NC

Jordan Edwards – Apr 2017, TX

Aaron Bailey – Jun 2017, IN

Stephon Clark – Mar 2018, CA

Arthur Walton Jr. – Aug 2019, NJ

Byron Williams – Sept 2019, NV

Jordan Michael Griffin – Sept 2019, CA

Atatiana Jefferson – Oct 2019, TX

Botham Jean – Oct 2019, TX

Christopher Mccorvey – Oct 2019, AL

Christopher Whitfield – Oct 2019, LA

Maurice Holley – Oct 2019, CA

Eric Reason – Nov 2019, CA

Michael Lorenzo Dean – Dec 2019, TX

Amaud Arbery – Feb 2020, GA

Breonna Taylor – Mar 2020,KY

George Floyd – May 2020, MN