Frenzy in Ferguson

So we’re being warned by the FBI and various law enforcement agencies to expect violence in the wake of the grand jury’s decision whether or not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for murder in the shooting of Michael Brown. In Missouri they’ve even taken the unusual step of declaring a State of Emergency so the National Guard can be activated right away if and when violence breaks out.

I’d say this is a big hint that the Grand Jury’s decision is not going to go the way most black people hope. I’ll admit, I avoided this whole Michael Brown debacle like the plague when it played out over the summer. Any reader of this blog knows I don’t tend to shy away from speaking about race and racism. However emotions and tensions ran so high that I didn’t feel like being drawn into endless debates that would accomplish nothing except raise my blood pressure. That being said, I’ve decided to finally weigh in with what I consider to be a well- balanced and fair point of view. The readers of this blog are as always, free to disagree. And many do!

In my opinion, the whole case comes down to credibility. Who do you believe? Do you believe Michael Brown’s friend or do you believe the police? We know we cannot believe the eyewitnesses as they have given a million different accounts of what transpired. I tend not to believe the police in most things. I’m convinced that when given the chance, they will lie their asses off. And why wouldn’t they – they get away with it. Even when caught in a lie, police officers aren’t charged with perjury. They might get a slap on the wrist and are free to go about perverting the course of justice wherever they see fit. Now, if that were you or I lying in court we’d most likely get the book thrown at us – especially if we’re black. So I don’t put much stock in the words of a single police officer or an entire police department.

That being said, I also tend not to believe the word of thugs, petty crooks and race baiters. Look, I’ll be completely honest with you – my thoughts on the Michael Brown case have changed drastically from day one to now. When it first took place I was angry. Here was a young black man who didn’t fit the typical neo-conservative, tea party stereotype of a young black man. He had a loving father in his life and he had just graduated high school and was due to start college in the fall. This runs contrary to most Fox News talking points on young black men! He was, as described by those closest to him, a gentle giant. So yes, I was pissed off. Pissed off that a young black man full of promise was shot by a racist white police officer while walking down the street with his friend, minding his own business. Then I saw the videotape!

I was still angry, however now the focus of my anger wasn’t the police department but those friends and family of Michael Brown who had me fooled. What I saw in the videotape was a brute of a young man, using his bulk to intimidate a store owner half his size and brazenly walking out of the store after roughly shoving the storekeeper into a display. Then I learned this occurred because Michael Brown had stolen a pack of cigars from the store and the owner was confronting him. The actions displayed in that videotape are not the actions of a gentle giant. Anyone who believes that is a fool! I saw the actor Jesse Williams from Grey’s Anatomy on CNN over the summer speaking passionately about the case. He basically made the point that Michael Brown simply made a mistake and it shouldn’t have cost him his life. After all, haven’t we all made mistakes. Well…………yeah I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life. However I’ve never violently robbed a store. While I agree that robbing a store shouldn’t have cost Michael Brown his life, the fact of the matter is the shooting took place eleven minutes after that store robbery.

We have been made to believe by the Al Sharpton’s, Jesse Jackson’s and all of the other race baiters that Michael Brown was simply minding his own business walking down the street and was confronted by Officer Wilson and then for whatever reason was simply murdered. I’m sorry that doesn’t sound likely to me. What seems more likely is that Michael Brown panicked after being stopped by Officer Wilson, knowing that he had just committed a crime. A struggle broke out and he was shot. That’s not murder.

What I do know is that I wasn’t there. And so I can only try to come up with likely scenarios as opposed to making definitive statements as to guilt or innocence like the vast majority of protesters seem willing to do. What I can say is that the treatment of Michael Brown’s body after the shooting was shameful. It should never have been left to rot in the sun like he was roadkill! I also think the militarization of the police force and the way they descended on Ferguson to combat the rioters just exacerbated the situation.

Maybe the recent deepfreeze that has impacted more than half of the United States might be a blessing in disguise. With all of this snow and bone-chilling temperatures, it might make the prospect of rioting and causing mayhem unappealing.

Slavery Reparations and the Uncle Tom

Okay so here’s the situation, a couple of days ago I got into yet another Facebook debate (I think I really need to stay off Facebook). Someone had posted a comment regarding Caricom (Caribbean Community and Common Market) countries going to the UN to seek reparations for slavery. The person who posted it was very much supportive of this initiative. I’m……well…..apathetic! Obviously, as a black person born in one white industrialized country and raised in another, I have seen firsthand the ugly face of racism and have realized from a young age that the challenges I face will be significantly harder than that of my white contemporaries.  As a parent I’m also aware this challenge will pass forward to my children who will have to buck stereotypes and negative perceptions about them simply because of the colour of their skin.

But my sense of apathy regarding reparations for slavery is largely due to the fact I don’t see this ever happening. And I think it’s about time we stop expecting it and pinning our future success and progression on it. As was pointed out to me many times during my debate, the Jews and the Japanese have received reparations so why not black people. Once again, I’m not opposed to reparations, but unlike many black people out there, I don’t see how reparations will be the magic cure-all for the black race and will somehow mend all of the social and economic issues that currently affect our community. The difference with Jewish and Japanese recipients of reparations was the fact they didn’t depend upon those reparations. They built up successful communities and businesses and most importantly…….supported each other. As was pointed out to me yet again during my debate, black people have repeatedly had the cards stacked against us and black businesses have never been given a fair chance by the banks especially.  This might be true, but there was a time when Jewish and Japanese businessmen weren’t given the time of day by banks as well. What did they do, they turned to each other. They had a support network within their community to provide loans and financing and most importantly……clients and customers. I wish I could say the black community has this as well but I’m sure we all know – even if we won’t admit it – that we don’t support each other.

So, I have a few questions regarding these reparations. Will it be in the form of checks to every black person who is a descendant of a slave? Or will the funds be put into an account to be administered by an individual, group or some newly formed government department? If it’s the former, then I see some problems. Maybe I’m a cynic – as I’ve been accused of being on many occasions, but I’ll tell you exactly what I think will happen. People will get their checks and there will be a rash of black folk buying nice houses, cars, big 60” plasma televisions and so on………and so forth…..This might have a positive effect on the economy but what long term positive effects does this have on our community? How does this positively affect the lackluster state of black education?

A couple of years ago my eldest daughter attended a science camp in the summer. It wasn’t cheap and it was a belated birthday present from her Aunt. I was all for it because I’m a strong believer in the fact future job opportunities will be in fields dominated by math and science. If we’re going to push our children towards university and they’re going to incur a huge school loan, they might as well graduate with a degree that will benefit them. Anyhow, this camp was held at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto. There were a couple of hundred students in several different classes.  As expected the vast majority of the attendees were white. There was also a significant representation of Chinese and Indian students. However, you could count the amount of black students on your two hands. Now, if you ask black parents why they wouldn’t send their kids to a camp that will benefit them and hopefully spark an interest in math and sciences you will get two answers. One is interest, the other is finance.  Let’s deal with the first one – Interest. A lot of black kids simply aren’t interested in math or science. They are interested in basketball, hanging out, whatever…….! Do we always need to stay within our well defined box? Can’t we venture beyond the boundaries of what is considered ‘black’ and discover new things? Here’s a little secret….you can’t lose your blackness.

The second excuse is finance. The camp is too expensive. Interesting! I live in the suburbs east of Toronto. What I’ve noticed is that when I pass a late model luxury car in my area – 9 times out of 10 – it’s driven by a black person. And in many of the subdivisions with the largest houses, black people are well represented. This would be a good thing if it were indicative of the fact the economic situation of black people was improving and the black middle and upper middle class was growing by leaps and bounds. But, if you look at census data for my area, the household income for black people is not any higher than it is in other areas. Basically what I’m getting at is we have our priorities. If we really wanted to invest our money in our kid’s education and send them to science camp or a good school or get a good tutor for them we could. But we have our priorities. For many of us that means driving a nice ride and living in a nice crib……you know………the illusions of success!

My next question is who would pay these reparations? I know European nations that took part in the transatlantic slave trade would be held to account, but what about all of the African conspirators who willingly sold out their enemies to the Europeans for riches? Would they need to pay reparations also? Wouldn’t that be the logical expectation? Let’s face it; the slave trade wouldn’t have been as successful as it was if it weren’t for Africans selling out each other.  Also, would we be advocating for reparations for the millions of people who are modern day slaves in countries like Sudan and Mauritania, who are being enslaved by their fellow countrymen?

Obviously my point of view was not a popular one and for my trouble, I was once again called an ‘Uncle Tom’. This is the second time in the last three months I’ve been called that. Isn’t it interesting that being black means you have to conform to a certain way of thinking and how dare you attempt to think outside your little, well defined parameters! If Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson aren’t your personal heroes then you’re somehow a traitor to your race. Well, I’m black. And I can’t stand Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton! I think the fact they still have some relevance in the black community is indicative of the backwards thinking and victimization race card we like to play at every opportunity.

Reparations may end up being a double-edged sword. If reparations were paid out the obvious expectation would be that things would improve for the black community. What if they don’t? What if after the money has come and gone, we’re right back where we started? Then what? Who do we then blame at that point?