Systemic racism persists in policing, and we cannot become complacent
W hile we cannot call this verdict justice, accountability seems to have come to Minneapolis. This moment feels bittersweet. Of course, it’s good to know that other people agree that George Floyd’s life mattered. Yet America’s policing problem runs much deeper than one case.
Each generation of Black people sees people who look like them killed by police brutality. My brother once told me, “I’m more afraid of them than criminals.” Ever since he became a preteen, police officers have followed him around in stores. We discussed these events — the loss of his innocence in their eyes.
Giving the police the benefit of the doubt undermines the victims
Protesters took to the streets after hearing the news. A Brooklyn Center officer shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Many wondered how this could happen again. Another unarmed Black man lost his life from a police encounter. Wright died a few miles away from Minneapolis, where George Floyd’s death played on repeat. The jury has yet to deliberate Derek Chauvin’s guilt, though that day will soon arrive. The physical and thematic proximity of these cases shocked an already grieving community. Kim Potter, a 26-year-old veteran of the force, and the police chief have since resigned from their positions. But, before…
Black actors settling for trauma roles should be a thing of the past
After winning two NAACP Image Awards this past year, Marsai Martin recently turned heads in an interview. When asked what type of projects she wanted to produce next, she made it clear. She would say no to any “Black pain projects.” Even at 16, the star recognizes her power and has no qualms about wielding it on and off the set.
Martin may be young, but she’s nobody’s rookie. In short order, she became a household name by starring in ABC’s hit series black-ish. Then she broke a world record by becoming the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history.
Systemic racism robs children of their innocence
In North Carolina, officers arrested a six-year-old Black boy for picking a tulip near his bus stop. The aftermath of this flower-picking incident shows racism can blossom at any time. Inequality doesn’t wait until a Black person reaches a particular age or milestone. Rather, systemic racism starts impacting children at a young age and never stops. It seems Black innocence is like petals, lost to the wind.
Currently, America doesn’t have a federal law that protects children as young as six from arrest. Each state decides at what age a person can stand trial. …
WEOC Profile
Hi, world. I’m Allison, and I love writing about race, equality, women, and history. I’m interested in social sciences, which is why I’m a Ph.D. candidate. But, let’s get down to the fundamentals, who I am and what I stand for.
I’m a New Orleans native. That’s right. I’m from the very bottom of the map. And, while the South isn’t an ideal place to live for Black people, my family has found a way to make it work. We each found our niche. For me, it’s always been writing. Though I must admit, I’ve always been a radical. Even…
An unpopular analysis about a Hip-Hop giant
How do we reconcile love for a Hip-Hop giant with the legacy of misogynoir his music leaves behind? I’m not sure, but we have to try. Since Earl Simmons passed away, I’ve been feeling conflicted. As a tween, I loved listening to his music. But then it hit me, “What you bitches want?” Trying to vibe with the same music is different now that I’m a grown, Black woman. One of DMX’s hit songs, like so many others, characterizes women as ignorant, annoying, needy, and promiscuous.
I fucks with these hoes from a distance
The instant they start to catch…
Stereotypes diminish our quality of care
Implicit bias and stereotypes dot the landscape of the American healthcare system. White doctors and medical professionals often dismiss the pain of their Black patients. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, “half of white medical trainees believe such myths as black people have thicker skin or less sensitive nerve endings than white people.” This statistic shows how stereotypes threaten the health and wellness of Black people.
The American healthcare system falls short when compared with other industrialized nations. It’s a mixed bag at best. Some people have private insurance, while others receive it through their employer. Others receive…
Normalizing white nationalism threatens national security
The America First Caucus features the Anglo-Saxon political tradition. With no shame at all, a sect of conservatives decided to center their agenda around whiteness. This move is concerning, given the rise of white nationalism in the mainstream. The AFC gives a silent nod to some of the same groups responsible for storming the capital. Last year and again this March, FBI director Wray warned about racist extremists.
Racially motivated violent extremism is the biggest chunk of our domestic terrorism portfolio.— FBI Director Wray (Bump, 2021)
At this point, there should be no doubt about the dangers of white supremacy…
They twisted it into something it never meant
The word woke, got tossed like a salad. What started as a phrase amongst Black advocates has become an abused tool. White people on both sides of the ideological spectrum misused this word.
Liberals often use the term as a sense of pride. They theorize that wokeness can save them from white privilege and their role in white supremacy. This perspective is noble but misguided. On the other end, conservatives lament, woke police, accusing them of cancel-culture. Instead of self-introspection like the liberal, the conservative rejects the assertions by woke Black people. Thus, they try to condemn the very idea…
