Race relations, How far have we come?

[Hank77]

@Willie T

Not sure why you would find this post funny.

It's a serious problem when black children are being shot to death over toy guns and unarmed young men, as well as people who are known to be mentality ill or have other mental conditions that they need to be dealt with differently than the average person but are shot instead.

 

[Humble me Lord]

For instance, I lived in West Philadelphia, and there was a clear difference in how areas with white people were policed and that of black people. There is a even a private security force patrolling the streets of the white area. It's quite clear what is being communicated here, the white people are to be protected, the black people are not. If we change the color of the police and they still use the same tactics, it will still maintain the same racial hierarchy under the guise of a "racially sensitive" approach. Afterwards, people can fall back to colorblind frames without addressing the original racism (i.e., over-policing black people in spaces where some believe they do not belong).

I'm trying to understand your position here.
How do we do anything without being "under the guise" of a racially sensitive approach?
How do we get rid of the "racial hierarchy"?
And where do the police not belong?

 

[SummerMadness]

I'm trying to understand your position here.
How do we do anything without being "under the guise" of a racially sensitive approach?
How do we get rid of the "racial hierarchy"?
And where do the police not belong?

Did I say anything about the police not belonging?

 

[Willie T]

@Willie T

Not sure why you would find this post funny.

It's a serious problem when black children are being shot to death over toy guns and unarmed young men, as well as people who are known to be mentality ill or have other mental conditions that they need to be dealt with differently than the average person but are shot instead.

Oh, give your indignation a rest. I was laughing because someone just said the answer was to hire a bunch of black cops... and you immediately posted that it isn't working in Baltimore.

 

[Willie T]

@Willie T

Not sure why you would find this post funny.

It's a serious problem when black children are being shot to death over toy guns and unarmed young men, as well as people who are known to be mentality ill or have other mental conditions that they need to be dealt with differently than the average person but are shot instead.

Did someone tell you a 15 year-old or a mental patient couldn't shoot a cop just as dead as a thirty-year old bank robber?

 

[Humble me Lord]

Was referring to this:

(i.e., over-policing black people in spaces where some believe they do not belong).

Trying to actually understand your position, not argue with you, sir.

 

[Hank77]

I would blame the leadership at the top. Someone is failing to police the police and should be fired on the spot.

It's like @SummerMadness has said, it a systemic problem. There's an attitude that has been fostered and favored for a long, long time.
Have you ever watched this video. I know that if this happened to me, I would be furious. How about you?

 

[Hank77]

Did someone tell you a 15 year-old or a mental patient couldn't shoot a cop just as dead as a thirty-year old bank robber?

They don't need to shoot within seconds before they even try to find out that the kid has a toy, which they have done when they didn't need to.
They have shot mentally ill people who were not armed at all with anything let alone a gun. They shot and killed a person who was threatening to kill themselves with a knife, within seconds they didn't even try to help him.
And they have shot people who had not broken any law other than to run away and then planted evidence on them. And a 13 yr. old who was mentally deficient who ran and hid when he saw them. They just shot him, how would you respond if this was your innocent child?

 

[Hank77]

Was referring to this:



Trying to actually understand your position, not argue with you, sir.

See post 47.

 

[Willie T]

They don't need to shoot within seconds before they even try to find out that the kid has a toy, which they have done when they didn't need to.
They have shot mentally ill people who were not armed at all with anything let alone a gun. They shot and killed a person who was threatening to kill themselves with a knife, within seconds they didn't even try to help him.
And they have shot people who had not broken any law other than to run away and then planted evidence on them. And a 13 yr. old who was mentally deficient who ran and hid when he saw them. They just shot him, how would you respond if this was your innocent child?

Gosh, you must get around. It is amazing that you were right there at all those happenings.

 

[Ana the Ist]

They have the right not to be harassed by white cops. I'm not speaking specifically of this case but in general, where we keep hearing stories about police being called on people of color sitting in Starbucks, or sleeping in a public dorm area.
Ringo

Cops were called...but I'm starting to think you're onto something. If cops simply never responded to calls where the suspect of victim is black...all these complaints would disappear pretty quickly.

 

[Hank77]

Gosh, you must get around. It is amazing that you were right there at all those happenings.

If all you can respond with is sarcasm that makes me believe you don't know what to say. That's OK though.

 

[SummerMadness]

Was referring to this:

Trying to actually understand your position, not argue with you, sir.

Over-policing does not mean no police. I look at the article in your OP and your article is about someone speeding and complaining. The person in that story is stupid, but you asked a more general question. Police tend to treat black people like criminals when they should simply treat them like citizens, there is an attitude they carry, some of it is taught, some of it is learned from society, we need to address those broader issues if we expect our officers to do a better job. If I am standing in a Boy Scouts uniform, why are you shining a search light in my face interrogating me? You could easily step out your car and ask questions if you want to ensure the child's safety. Simple changes can go a long way.

I am pretty sure cops get annoyed by having to respond to calls like this:

In this case the police are not the problem, it's the people calling the police, but incidents like this are often part of a cycle. Luckily, some police officers can stand up to such misuse of the police by citizens.

 

[Ringo84]

Cops were called...but I'm starting to think you're onto something. If cops simply never responded to calls where the suspect of victim is black...all these complaints would disappear pretty quickly.

I addressed this in a response to Hank. I don't blame cops for responding to calls; that's their job. It's how some cops react to minorities once they're on scene. Cops like that need to be held accountable.
Ringo

 

[Ringo84]

Well, to be honest with you, here in St. Petersburg, the Whites try to help the police, and the Blacks seem to go out of their way to defy and obstruct them. We report drug dealers immediately, and the Blacks refuse to even admit there are any in their neighborhoods. I would go so far as to say they protect them.

Oh, how kind of "whites" to help "the blacks". Too bad, though, that the problem is so obviously that "the blacks" are just ungrateful and lazy.

One way we can help this issue is for white cops to stop treating minority people as condescendingly as this post comes across.
Ringo

 

[Hank77]

Over-policing does not mean no police. I look at the article in your OP and your article is about someone speeding and complaining. The person in that story is stupid, but you asked a more general question. Police tend to treat black people like criminals when they should simply treat them like citizens, there is an attitude they carry, some of it is taught, some of it is learned from society, we need to address those broader issues if we expect our officers to do a better job. If I am standing in a Boy Scouts uniform, why are you shining a search light in my face interrogating me? You could easily step out your car and ask questions if you want to ensure the child's safety. Simple changes can go a long way.

I am pretty sure cops get annoyed by having to respond to calls like this:

In this case the police are not the problem, it's the people calling the police, but incidents like this are often part of a cycle. Luckily, some police officers can stand up to such misuse of the police by citizens.

This cop was great. I can't even imagine someone complaining about these kids playing ball in this street. Why? Some people are plain mean and self-centered or are just trouble makers.

 

[4x4toy]

Gotta know when to play ''the card'' , right ?

 

[SummerMadness]

I addressed this in a response to Hank. I don't blame cops for responding to calls; that's their job. It's how some cops react to minorities once they're on scene. Cops like that need to be held accountable.
Ringo

Exactly. I remember a story awhile back where a woman called the police because a man assaulted her son. The police officer then spoke to the man, confirmed the assault occurred, then proceeded to berate the woman because somehow he found the assault justified. The officer then went on to suggest she and her son were the problem, and of course it escalates from there. We often hear statements about people needing to follow the law or police officers are just doing their jobs, but in this case the officer did not do his jobs, and then proceeded to escalate a situation by attacking the people that called him. That type of behavior is unconscionable and people like that should not be wearing the uniform.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

"If only you blacks caused less trouble. Then cops wouldn't have to get tough with you!"
Ringo

Someone has to 'blink', and it isn't going to be the cops.

 

[Radagast]

I guess the key to better race relations is refusing to hold non-whites responsible for their behavior. Do any of you want things to get better? Start demanding that police refuse to cite black drivers for speeding because slavery or something.

It sounds stupid, but that's the argument that's frequently made.