Don't downplay racism with police brutality

One of my Facebook friends posted a question that had been in the back of my mind. He asked if George Floyd's death could have been simply from police brutality and not racism. It is true that Derik Chauvin had 18 prior complaints about his aggressive behavior. What is not known is how many of those victims were people of color. Two of the officers who stood by and allowed his actions were men of color, as one was black and the other of Asian descent. This morning Americans were made aware of a 75 year old white male, who was knocked down by police and left bleeding on the sidewalk. This indicates insensitivity for a human life, and an older American. What it does not do, however, is erase the situations where race is a factor. Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

It is true that not every case of a white killing a black is related to racism. This is also true when it comes to law enforcement. The history of racism in this nation for the past 400 years makes it difficult for African Americans to see it any other way. Africans died on the way to this nation because of inhuman treatment. They were chained together, naked and humiliated as if they were not human. They were forced into slavery and treated brutally by slave masters, overseers, and the patter rollers who patrolled the grounds at night.

There is a picture that has hundreds of names of African Americans who have been murdered, because of racism. Seeing this list should put things in perspective. In America we are not seeing Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, Arabic, or any other group of people being attacked and killed as much as black citizens are. Police brutality is real, but so is the fact that a witness said that Travis McMichael used a racial slur as Ahmaud Aubrey lay dying. This indicates a hatred that runs deep and reminds me of a phrase I heard growing up. I was told that some racist white people have said: "The only good ni$$$r is a dead ni$$$r."

I have to wonder if this is what was going through the mind of McMichael and his father. Did they believe they believe they were doing the white race a favor by getting rid of one more black man? This phrase has also been used in movies regarding Native Americans where instead of the N word the term "Indians" is utilized. This may be difficult for many to believe but it is very real and has been for some time. On CNN this morning a police officer who arrived just after Ahmaud Aubrey died was shown giving testimony on the witness stand. They bleeped out what he stated that Travis McMichael said but a CNN reporter indicated that it was F**k you N****r.

There are hundreds of names in the above photo. They are of African Americans who were allegedly murdered because of racism. I say allegedly because I cannot validate each situation. Just the mere fact that so many blacks have died at the hands of police or others is a testimony to the troubles in our nation. Because of what Travis McMichael said, along with what I have been told all of my life, I have to wonder how many others said the same thing as they removed a black life from this world. A lot of people are saying right now that all lives matter and that is true. You don't see, however, pictures and names of non blacks in such record number who have been killed. Native Americans have all but been wiped from the face of the earth, but they have not come forward with any visual statistics.

Police brutality is very real, but so is bias based on race. History tells the stories of how Africans in America and their descendants have been mistreated in this nation. I think of all the tribes of Native Americans who once lived on this land, and how now only a few remain. Most of those have been reduced to living on reservations where conditions are harsh. It makes me wonder if this was the goal in the minds of some Americans for black people. Did they want to wipe us out, and place us in a specified section of the nation to live? It brings to mind the story of the Egyptian Pharaoh who tried everything to rid his country of the Israelite's, even to having all the newborn boy babies killed.

I think of Adolph Hitler who attempted to exterminate the Jews, and both these situations show that there has always been intolerance to those who are different. In America in 2020, however, it is not the Jewish people or another group who is dealing with the most problems. It happens to be African Americans and it comes at the hands of Caucasians. This is why racism should not be ignored. When it is simply a rogue cop, then it should be called out at such, but when bigotry is evident we should not sweep it under the rug. Don't automatically assume that a black man is a threat. If they are not bothering you, please let the breathe.

Let them live. I am weary of being concerned for my husband, sons, brother, brother in law and grandsons just because they are African American. Search your hearts America and ask yourself honestly if you would want someone to treat the men in your family this way. Honor the golden rule to treat others as you would have them treat you. Don't downplay racism by calling it police brutality and likewise black folk, don't label everything a bigotry when it could be just a bad person acting in an inappropriate manner. We all have to do this together because it's right and also America is supposed to be the melting pot.