Black folk in Pittsburgh have again shown me that they have not a clue as to what time it is politically,we have allowed the news media in this town to define how we should responed to the savage beating of one of our children by three Pittsburgh cops.As some of you may know I have a part time job in a stop and go kind of store and get to interact with a lot different people.O f the many black folk I get a chance to talk with not one has express any concern or angry about this beat down of this 18 year old high school honor student.Yea I know we have gotten use to cops coming into our community knocking heads and getting away with it.But folks when is this shit going to stop?When are we as a community,going to demand that the police protect and serve us with justice and not a ass whipping? When are we going to get involved in the policing of our community? When are we going to elect leaders for City Council who truley represent our needs and issues? The City Councilman representing this area(HOMEWOOD) calls himself a man of the cloth! In my opinion he has not the balls of a lion,but of a pussy cat! The reason this lowlife bastard can get away with not being forceful about this beat down by these three thug cops is because most of the black community is asleep at the wheel of political and social reality of Pittsburgh,Pa.Black folks maybe in postions you would consider powerful postions,but the reality is they are puppets,like Police Chief Nate Harper,another person without balls. It's Friday and black folks in this town will fill all the bars and clubs wall to wall tonight getting their grove on and someone's kid will be getting their ass beat or hassled tonight by Pittsburgh's thugs in blue! And these same thuggish bastards walk in the store where I work and wonder why I look at them with hate!
Bigmac
10 comments:
I hope you will acknowledge that not all cops are "thugs in blue." I am pretty sure I can get them to admit that not all black people are "thugs with drugs." :-)
Madmike,the behavior I discribe is not a once in a blue moon type of behavior by the cops here.I will admit the I used a broad brush to paint an entire police department,but I feel the silence thats coming from the rank and file of this department is deafing,even the Black Officers Assoc..haven't issued a postion!
I posted on that Pittsburgh police fiasco too. (Actually, it was just a brief link; not a full post.)
Pittsburgh is my hometown (I was ten when we moved) and it seems like there's been an awful lot of horrifying stories lately in the Pittsburgh area. Police brutality (besides this most recent one), that maniac who lured 3 cops to his house so he could shoot them...
Those 3 cops who jumped that kid for no reason need to have the book thrown at them. The last I saw, their punishment consisted of being "reassigned." OOOOOHHH!! That'll teach 'em a lesson they'll never forget.
Tom I'm not a native of Pittsburgh and maybe that's why I'm so pissed at how this whole incident and beating has been handled.I don't hate or dislike people because of what they look like or do ,I hate and dislike their behavior.And the behavior of these three cops can't be explained away,but I'll bet you my paycheck they will be back on the street in six months and it will be business as usually.Simply because so many residents are so passive and dismiss the wrong that happens right in their faces!
I will be the first to admit that in every police barrel there are a few bad apples, but it is important that we admit that in every black neighborhood there are a few bad apples. When these two forces meet, there will be war. The police get busted for everything they do...Black people get busted for everything they are suspected of doing. This is a war of attrition my friends. It has been going on for decades and it won't end anytime soon. There are enemies on both sides.
Wow, this post on a "local" matter sure generated a hearty discussion. (Admittedly, this is a local matter that's mirrored in cities across the continent, probably worldwide.) You're right, Bigmac, someone has to make sure that the people with power are held accountable.
Wow, this post on a "local" matter sure generated a hearty discussion. (Admittedly, this is a local matter that's mirrored in cities across the continent, probably worldwide.) You're right, Bigmac, someone has to make sure that the people with power are held accountable.
Everyone is right here. Stimpson is right that police brutality is rampant in cities across the nation. While most officers are not abusive, as Mike correctly says, it's all too common. Mac is correct that citizen apathy is unconscionable. I will add that police officers are far to ready to form ranks to protect their abusive comrades from the just consequenses of their acts.
Every major city should have a citizen review board.
It's hard to relate to the hate I have displayed here for the Pittsburgh cops involved in the beat down of this 18 year old honor student,if you have not walked in his shoes and the shoes of ANY BLACK MALE.It doesn't matter to cops if you are a law abiding person who work 50 hours a week,pay your taxes,go to every PTA meeting for your children you are still guilty of being some kind of criminal in their minds.This country has demonize every black male in this country as being a thug or a criminal and that is the furthest from the truth of life for most black men in this country.At the part time job I work,I'm suited up in the company's uniform and even smile do you know that some white folks are shocked and surprise that I'm kind and gentle?They say stupid stuff like wow you are so nice!Or say something stupid like Harry Reid!Some people may want to believe that America is post-racial,but I'm here to say that America is just as racist in many aspects today as it was when I was growing up in the 1950's and 1960's.The difference is the racism in people today is masked!
Sometimes we get used to things we should never get used to.
I've had my share of negative interactions with the police; and unfortunately I'm not the only man of color to experience that type of shit.
This is the America that I know.
I would hope that as time goes on these instances of racial injustice decrease; until one day they are a thing of the past. You'd think that by now in the 21st century that this still wouldn't be going on.
Post a Comment