In the last weeks, there were news stories about 6 White police officers torturing 2 Black men in Mississippi, covering it up, being caught and pleading guilty to charges in court. It was a field day for the news outlets for clicks with words and topics like race, torture, cover up etc. The story was quickly eclipsed by other national news. I feel stories like these are a chance to have conversations about race and prejudice in the United State, but our news outlets do not focus their stories like that. In this case, the perpetrators were pleading guilty so justice served. The End. But that shouldn’t be all of the story. Where did it start and how can we prevent it from happening again?
Where did it start is as complicated as race is to the United States and as long as human history. However, where did THIS incident start. Most would say it started when the racist police officers decided the Black men were guilty with no proof. However, that is not where it started. CNN’s article, “Tasers, taunts, torment: How 6 White officers subjected 2 Black men to hours of grueling violence, and then tried to cover it up“, has one line that mentions where it started. The article states, “McAlpin’s White neighbor had told him several Black men were staying at a White woman’s home there and reported seeing suspicious behavior.” What suspicious behavior? What behavior or actions put these two men on the radar of the police? Why was it suspicious? There is no additional information or deep diving into the beginning of this incident.
I can guess at the suspicious behavior. It was two Black men going about their everyday business in a primarily White neighborhood. There was nothing suspicious. It was different. We are taught to look out for things that are different and call them suspicious, “See something, say something” from the events of 9/11 or Stranger Danger from the 80’s and 90’s. These types of programs help anyone except to convince us to be scared of different. In fact, studies have shown Stranger Danger doesn’t keep kids safer. It only teaches them to be scared of different.
In this case, a neighbor saw men going in and out of an adjacent house they didn’t own. They probably noticed this multiple times. The neighbors probably gossiped about it. They probably collectively decided that this is different, not right and I am scared. And then finally brought it to the police officer who lived in the neighborhood an the events followed.. Why did no one go and talk to the owner of the house? Why did no one casually say “Hi” to the men and engage them in conversation? That’s easy, they were scared. The neighbors jumped to conclusions based on their indoctrination. In this case, Black men don’t belong here. Black men are drug dealers and criminals. Black men are bad. However, if we don’t talk about how our indoctrination and unconscious biases, then it doesn’t change.
I understand where the neighbors were coming from. As a white woman raised in the 80’s and 90’s, I was indoctrinated through media, society and the white suburb I lived in to fear Black men. I was taught in women defense classes and reading articles to cross the street when a single man is walking towards me especially at night. It was never explicitly said but was implied this was for men of color. My parents are lovely people but have their own prejudices and subconsciously via word and action passed those onto me. That is unconscious bias and we are ALL guilty of it. My stomach still clenches at the site of a big, solitary Black man in an unexpected location walking towards me. At least now, I recognize it and can address it. And I know that what I was taught isn’t correct. I can give a friendly hello instead of a slight by crossing the street. However, if your unconscious biases are not pointed out to you, and you don’t have an opportunity to reflect inward, nothing changes.
As millions are engrossed in the juicy details, there is no discussion of the biases and assumptions that led the neighbors to report these Black men. There is no discussion of how everyday activities are perceived as suspicious. We all need to examine are biases but first we have to be aware of them. This type of story could give us a chance but no one did. The perpetrators pleaded guilty. Justice served. THE END. Unfortunately, that is not THE END as the prejudices still exist and normal activities look “suspicious” because we aren’t talking about it.
NOTE: I am a busy working mother. I did not read everything on this incident, and I limit my social media time. It is possible this is being discussed outside my sphere of influence.
An Awakening Consciousness 