(TakePart) The unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray—who died of a severed spine while in police custody—seemed to have caught elected officials, the public, and the media off guard. And those who are far removed from the problems, the challenges, and the indignities facing poor and disenfranchised communities in that city shake their heads in disbelief and wonder why this is all happening.
Surely, the distant observer or armchair pundit has questions. Why are they protesting? Why are they destroying their own neighborhoods? Why did they loot the CVS? Why didn’t the suspect simply comply with the police and avoid causing his own death?
These questions reflect the very real disconnect between the haves and the have nots in the land of the free, and the gaping chasm on matters of race. It’s impossible to comprehend what’s happening here and now—or know the issues we have yet to face—without having an intimate awareness of black America’s history.
Showing posts with label L.A. riots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label L.A. riots. Show all posts
May 11, 2015
Calling people 'thugs' solves nothing
(CNN) In light of the current unrest in Baltimore, riot shaming seems to be the new fad.
Everybody’s doing it, and while it is easy, it helps us change the subject and ignore the harder issues facing African-Americans.
What is unfolding in that city, of course, and is receiving national attention, is the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, 25, who died of a broken spine while in police custody.
The circumstances around the man’s killing and public outrage in the black community have led to peaceful protests.
And unfortunately, though understandably, things have boiled over, with riots and looting by some. Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) has declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard, and Baltimore schools are closed.
And people have lined up to condemn the riots, the looting, and the violence. For example, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was in front of the cameras Monday night referring to the rioters as “thugs.”
Everybody’s doing it, and while it is easy, it helps us change the subject and ignore the harder issues facing African-Americans.
What is unfolding in that city, of course, and is receiving national attention, is the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, 25, who died of a broken spine while in police custody.
The circumstances around the man’s killing and public outrage in the black community have led to peaceful protests.
And unfortunately, though understandably, things have boiled over, with riots and looting by some. Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) has declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard, and Baltimore schools are closed.
And people have lined up to condemn the riots, the looting, and the violence. For example, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was in front of the cameras Monday night referring to the rioters as “thugs.”
April 27, 2012
20th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots
I have back-to-back articles this week on the 20th anniversary of the L.A. Riots, which resulted from the verdict in the Rodney King beating case. You can go to theGrio for an analysis on the past two decades of race relations in the U.S., and to the Albany Times Union for a piece on I wrote for the Progressive on racial profiling and police brutality.
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