By: Dr. Samori Swygert
Why does President Obama address the African American community with pacifist verbiage? Okay, I probably just pissed off some of you, and in the same breath, I also validated and endorsed the feelings of other African Americans. We’ll talk about it.
President Obama’s response to the George Zimmerman verdict- “calm reflection”
Below is the White House Press release of President Obama’s official statement on the George Zimmerman verdict in the murder of Trayvon Martin. It’s imperative that you read the link to understand my article.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/14/statement-president
President Obama’s response to the killing of Michael Brown- “reflection”
Below is the White House Press release of President Obama’s official statement on the killing of Michael Brown by a Missouri Police Officer.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/08/12/statement-president-passing-michael-brown
There is a recurrent theme that consistently buoys to the surface of President Obama’s speech when addressing these hard hitting issues. Why are we repeatedly being told to be calm, and just “reflect”? We must remember and commemorate our murdered youth with “reflection”. Excuse me but you don’t get to dictate the manner in which people mourn the tragic, violent, and untimely death of their children.
Maybe it’s simple, easy, and convenient to utter these carefree phrases of pacification because government officials have 24 hour security detail, and travel with an entourage of well-trained, and well-armed combat personnel.
However, what the President should note is that he’s observing the tip of the iceberg from decades of suppression. African American communities are growing intolerant of the police brutality, excessive force, and misconduct by their local police departments.
The Game
Citizens are growing tired of “feel good rhetoric”, because empty promises are made, and there is no true permanent reform. Policies are not revised to the point of any substantial impact, police officers are typically put on paid administrative leave, an investigation takes place, a rally occurs, false ad-hoc black leaders are given 15 seconds of attention and news coverage, the case goes quiet for a few months, the news forgets about it through “convenient amnesia and media ADHD”, and typically the officers are found not guilty.
Justice is denied, and the community retreats back to their respective neighborhood in frustration. Feelings of dissatisfaction and underrepresentation with the system we finance with our tax dollars begin to ensue. Police officers, and other offenders can go back to living a normal life, while our families are forever shattered.
So it’s hard to be told to have “calm reflection”!
Calm and Reflection
Let’s briefly discuss “calm” and “reflection”. Are these police officers “calm” when they engage the victims of these brutal killings? The majority of these cases involve officers engaging individuals that were minding their own business, however the officers provoke the incidents in an “un-calm” fashion.
Did these officers take time to “reflect” on their training in the police academy? Do these officers “reflect” on the actual laws, policies, and legalities in the performance of their duties, or are they just acting off pure emotional vigilante privilege? The behaviors displayed by these officers doesn’t distinguish their behavior from the average street thug. There is a fiduciary obligation for officers to conduct themselves with a higher standard of behavior and decorum.
Expanding on “reflection”, the President needs a mirror to look in and visualize his reflection. Embrace his reflection and understand that there is a different standard of care, appreciation, and acknowledgement of blacks than whites. Let me make my case!
Michael Brown was unarmed and gunned down by authorities. However, let’s look at Cliven Bundy, the Nevada cattle rancher that allows his cattle to graze on federal land without paying. Cliven Bundy said he isn’t paying any money to the government, and teams of heavily armed predominantly white militia came to his rescue, and conducted an armed barrel-to-barrel stand off with authorities. Nobody was shot dead, Cliven Bundy is still on his ranch, and still refusing to pay. When has it been okay to draw AK-47’s and AR-15 assault rifles at federal agents with no recourse?
See Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell were shot over 50 times, because police “THOUGHT THEY HAD A WEAPON”.
What message does that send? It sends a message of privilege and a race based value scale of human life in America. When an unarmed black teen is gunned down because of a verbal spat, yet a white cattle rancher, and a legion of “armed and aimed” white militia are allowed to live and continue unlawful activity, …..that’s a racial double standard. Reflect on that!
Also, let me be crystal clear. In no way am I asking for an armed revolution because that would be futile in effort, and historically speaking, it has always resulted in the damage of our own African American communities and economic enclaves.
I’m saying, cut the small talk and applause ready phrases. Do a complete overhaul of the policing system in America. We can reform Healthcare, then we can reform national police policy. We can reform “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”, then we can reform national police policy. We can make executive orders, and push for “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”, then we can reform national police policy. What we are asking is nothing new or groundbreaking.
When tragedy strikes white America, legislation gets discussed, and laws are created in the name of the victim. When Colorado and Newtown occurred, President Obama wasn’t talking about reflection, he started talking gun control legislation. When little white girls go missing, we get AMBER ALERTS. When little white girls get raped and murdered, we get Megan’s Law. Amber alerts and Megan’s law weren’t created during Obama’s term, but Mr. President we need sweeping police legislation executed with the importance and priority of the aforementioned.
Also, I encourage you to review THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1820. This is the same state that wanted to be admitted into the union as a slave state (meaning it was okay to conduct slavery). So understand that the roots run deep.
http://www.history.com/topics/missouri-compromise
Whether fastfood or protests, there’s always BEEF when we RALLY.
hit me on twitter: @docswagg06
You can also read this article at BlackBluedog.com:
http://blackbluedog.com/2014/08/uncategorized/dr-samori-swygert-president-obamas-calm-reflection-pacifies-community-outcries/
