Do not walk like a thug, do not grow your hair out and let it “nap” up, do not speak with too much expression, do not talk back, and the last thing you should never dream about doing is harming a police officer.
These are things that not only our family, but America has told the young black men across America. As I listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”, I am unfortunately reminded about some of the tragic situations that inspired tracks like “Alright”; which touched on police brutality.
Black oppression is far from a new topic in America, neither is the violence that comes with it. What is new however, is the way we are able to see these things happen with our own eyes.
Because of social media and smart phones, people are able to see the footage of almost every wrongful police shooting; and sadly, the African-American demographic is seemingly the go-to population for police brutality.
Whether you want to believe the narrative of blacks being kidnapped, or the one about us being sold into slavery, one fact rings true in every instance; we have been either running or fighting since we stepped off of those boats.
My ancestors brainstormed ways to escape the plantation, my grandparents brainstormed ways to fight segregation, and now my generation is brainstorming ways to end police brutality.
Black Lives Matter tried the marching and public protests, and with all due respect to their methods, we have to come stronger in the fight for justice.
I ask, how can police strengthen their relationship with the black community? My answer is; they cannot mend a relationship with the way things are now.
The aforementioned advice that America has given young black youth is proof that we are capable of policing ourselves. African-Americans police ourselves everywhere we go, with the fear of being brutalized by an authority figure lurking deep in our subconscious.
In order to strengthen the relationship with the black community, black people must become that of which we do not trust. Although this answer seems a bit simple, and straight forward, with more blacks in the police force, we will be able to police our own communities.
The theory behind this thought is that America loves black culture, but not black people. Loving the culture but declaring war on its people is proof that they do not care to learn who we are.
The Black Panthers proved that we can establish great programs to help the underprivileged, and police our community effectively.
When songs like “F*** the Police” can be released in 1988, and the actions that sparked the staggering lyrics are still popular in this country; it is evident that the policing strategy does not care to change.
Although our problems with the police have proven to be fatal, we must also look to better ourselves so that we can better our communities for each other. We have to adopt the ways of old when the entire community helped raise the children so that they can become upstanding adults.
If we can show the younger generations a better, healthier way to live, then we will have an outstanding police force with a high percentage of African-Americans.
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