Why Us

As a people, as a race, why are we expected to live this life without fighting back? No other race on this planet can protect his family or ourselves without first being the brunt of everyone else’s madness. If we’re pushed and shoved, and even hit or shot, fighting back is not an option, and if we do, there are dire consequences.

Every day around the country, black men are shot down like dogs. To have no voice or no one to hear, let alone listen, blacks are expected to back down and back away. Even when those steps are attempted, white officers find ways to escalate a situation to bring harm and, many times, death under the guise of fearing for their lives, and it’s often the mere presence of a black man who quietly intimidates. Having been a policeman for twenty years, never have I seen such blatant disregard for human life. These so-called bad cops disregard the law, put on a badge, and strap on their guns to victimize someone of color. This behavior is never frowned upon because officers are not taught to deescalate but would rather antagonize to force a confrontation that only they can win.

In truth, Blacks are the sacrificial lambs expected to turn a cheek and soak up abuse no matter the circumstances. Simultaneously, the public often sees white offenders wielding weapons, and every attempt is made not to shoot or seriously harm this white offender. You see, there is time to make a humane decision by exercising other talk-down techniques instead of shooting a black person sixteen times or choking a black person to death. When bringing death is the call for the day, nothing short will occur.

Why us? The answer is, usually, why not you! Are the hatred and bias deeply rooted? I would say yes! What is the psychology behind so many senseless shootings? There is none other than wanting to dominate and control. One could venture to guess that the divide between blacks and whites will prevail, and as a black man, I hope my training and tact will prevent the worse outcome.