Cut the bullshit. I mean really and truly.
Now that that is out the way… lets unpack the stuff I see going on.
What’s Going On?
Well, let’s start back in the beginning of our time here in America with slavery. Lynching was a way of demonstrating to other slaves that if you were out of line, tried to free yourself, even looked in the general directions of a white person; death would be your consequence. It was a public display for white people to satisfy their need for power and humiliation AND for black people to see what would happen if you dared to not follow the rules of white America.
This is not new. It has always been prevalent. During the civil rights movement, lynching was a constant reminder that our desires for basic civil liberties was nothing that white America wanted; in fact, they would do anything necessary to prevent it.
So, when I see news stories that black men are being found hanging from trees from suicide… I call BULLSHIT.
Trese, Why Are You So Skeptical?
Let me tell you one thing about the white nationalist, KKK, and all those other neo-nazi organizations… THEY. ARE. ORGANIZED. In my opinion, this is a calculated, organized chain of events happening to silence blacks on their quest for simple freedom and justice; the desire to matter to other people.
I don’t believe black men, who according to National Institute of Mental Health only account for 11% of suicides in this country and most of those are in men over the age of 65 (that’s still odd to me but I’ll role with it), are now suddenly hanging themselves from trees. Both the families of Robert Fuller and Malcolm Harsch,
who were found dead in Southern California by lynching (yes I am aware that I am saying lynching instead of hanging or suicide); have said that their loved ones would not have killed themselves and especially not in this manner. There is now a federal investigation that is happening into their suspicious deaths. Also, where is any video footage? They literally can see the trampoline in my backyard but they don’t have any surveillance of the area when these supposed suicides took place? Ok.
What About the Teen in Texas?
Ah, yes. Let’s talk about the case there the police department has said definitely that their investigation has determined it was suicide. Yea, no. Pardon me of my mistrust of any investigative forces at a local level right now. Again, while I’m sure that it happens, I don’t see young black men hanging themselves from trees. It’s possible, sure, not probable. I’ll leave that case along for now. It’s been reported there is video footage of this situation. I definitely don’t want, nor do I think it is legal to show the video if indeed he hung himself; I would just like the video to be reviewed by a trusted source in the black community to attest to the fact that no one else was there or close in proximity to threaten this young man to take his life.
Trese, It Sounds Like You Have Trust Issues With our System Right Now.
Ding, Ding, Ding. Damn skippy and for just cause. The systems that are in place, currently and for many decades, is the reason why “Defunding the Police” is happening. Trust me, though, this doesn’t stop with the police. While the police are definitely at the epicenter of what has been happening, the depths of cover-ups, lies, and scandals is deeply rooted in ALL of the justice system. This include medical examiners, judges, DA’s, mayors and the list goes on. This is why voting in ALL elections is important!
We need a complete overhaul of our justice system for me to even begin to believe that our cases are being reviewed and investigated fairly. We just saw a video, recently, of a Philadelphia Family Court supervisor tearing down Black Lives Matter signs and saying that he “doesn’t care about black lives”. Now what? I took it upon myself to see exactly what a Family Court Supervisor does and here’s what I found in one Job Description:
“Ensures quality service to Family Court litigants as well as the efficient and effective filing of pleadings and petitions.
Plans, assigns, reviews, and evaluates the work of staff; determines initial and on-going development needs of staff through on-the-job training or the use of outside resources.
Provides input on the development, implementation, and evaluation of Family Court programs, policies, and procedures.
Serves as an informational resource to the community, clients, and state and private agencies concerning Family Court jurisdiction and services.
Collects and compiles statistical data; prepares narrative, statistical, and unit activity reports.”
So, this guy was potentially responsible for all of this and I’m sure, because of the way the system is set up, that he saw a disproportionate amount of black families in some of these programs that HE designed and reviewed. Not only that, HE determined the level and detail of training that other employees involved in family court received?!? Nah fam, I don’t trust the system at all. AT ALL.
(To note, its reported he made $72,000/yr as a clearly known racist, while black American’s average median HOUSEHOLD income is $42,000)
Also, Black women and girls in America are still being murdered, raped and kidnapped, let’s not forget about that.
When we talk about seeing progress in America, I am often reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Brother Malcolm X:
“If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress. If you pull it all the way out that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven't even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound”
Also,
Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining. I’m smarter than that, we all are.
Love & Light,
Trese, Unapologetically