Insights RE: Police Brutality and Racism

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was brutally murdered by Minneapolis police officers. Video of the senseless killing quickly went viral and sparked protests around the world.

Below are the thoughtful perspectives of two of my friends, Fatoumata Soumare and Tália Rangel, who have also curated a great list of resources for anyone striving to better understand the issues of racism and police brutality and eager to take meaningful action.  

(You also can check out some of my previous posts on criminal justice and racism: Locking Up Our Own,  Racism in Prisons, Interview with Racial Justice Activist and Author Rinku Sen, and Volunteering at San Quentin).

Thank you, Fatoumata (left) and Tália (right)!

INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES from Fatoumata and Tália

Police brutality is an issue with a long history and tremendous weight. Having conversations and spreading awareness is important, but it is equally important to be respectful and sensitive to the experiences of others, particularly the affected communities.

Social Media’s Role in The Battle Against Police Brutality: Social media has played a huge role in the amount of national attention that George Floyd’s death has received, with the video of him being detained and ultimately killed going viral. While this media attention sparked the outrage that likely pushed the firing of the involved officers, there is more work to be done and it's important to do it in a mindful way. 

What does sharing videos of police brutality accomplish? What are some potential positive and negative effects? Sharing videos of police brutality spreads awareness. It shows the severity of the issue and the reality of the individuals who face these situations, many of which lose their lives. However, graphic videos that depict violence against black people can cause severe emotional distress and be traumatizing.

Who needs to see these videos? Who doesn’t? Sharing these videos spreads awareness. Educating individuals who do not realize the severity of an issue is the first step in making change. They also aid in the legal prosecution of parties involved in these cases. 

Though George Floyd’s family has expressed gratitude for the widespread sharing of this video, this isn't always the case. Many families of victims may not wish to see violent and traumatizing videos of their loved ones being shared. For example, Ahmaud Arbery’s mother specifically requested to not have the video of his murder shared. Please be mindful of the wishes and requests of the victim’s family. For survivors and witnesses of police brutality, watching these violent videos can be triggering. 

Ask yourself: Are you standing up to racism in all of its forms? Police brutality is simply one aspect of the interconnected system of racism. Spreading awareness of police brutality, while important, does not address all aspects of racism. 

TAKING ACTION AND ADDRESSING ALL FORMS OF RACISM

Seek to educate yourself: Learning about the history of racism, the modern day impacts it has, and all the forms in which it presents itself is the first step in taking action. We’ve attached an image that lists some examples of both overt and covert racism/white supremacy and highly encourage you to research them. 

Normalize these conversations: Addressing issues like these when it happens is very important, but there are also many Eric Gardners, Travyon Martins, Tamir Rices, etc whose stories are not told. If you can engage your parents in these discussions. Ask meaningful questions. The answers to these questions shouldn't be a simple yes or no. It should make you and the people around question the systems in this country. Why do stories like George Floyd continue to be the norm? Why does it take the death of black people to talk about black lives? 

Address Covert Racism: Call out racist behavior on an intrapersonal level. It is easy to point out a person using a racial slur or wearing blackface, but there are smaller forms of racism that are often overlooked or deemed socially acceptable. Things like jokes about race cannot be equivalent to police brutality, but ignoring racism on a small scale in the form of microaggressions allows the escalation to more overt forms of racism.

Ignoring both racism on a small scale, such as microaggressions, and racism on a large scale, such as systemic discremination, is just as dangerous as ignoring violent instances of racism. While spreading awareness around George Floyd is important, it is important to realize and recognize the ways in which you and the others around you are complicite in ignoring racial issues.

ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES

"8 LESSONS ABOUT RACISM THAT WERE HELPFUL TO ME AS A WHITE PERSON" by @jenerous on instagram.

1. “There isn't a quick fix to this massive systemic problem. This is about a lifetime of hard convos with others and ourselves.
2. Action items like "read books by black authors" may sound too long-term or intellectual, but that is the point. Read books by black authors. 
3. If you have white or white-passing privilege, your job is to use it– that means giving up your money/time/power to create safer spaces and opportunities for others. 
4. Doing this work doesn't erase the fact that you still benefit from these systems. When you start to think you're "one of the good ones," check yourself.
5. Use your privilege to have conversations and hold your racist relatives accountable. Talk about race at the dinner table. 
6. There is a long history of white women's racism within feminism. Study it and do not continue it. 
7. It may take a while to comprehend your role in racist systems, but keep in mind that people are dying while they wait for you. 
8. Don't call the f*cking cops.

"IT IS NOT YOUR CHOICE TO DETERMINE HOW AN OPPRESSED GROUP PROTESTS." - by @thisisyolandarenteria on Instagram (If reading this makes you uncomfortable, check your privilege.)

• It is not your choice to determine how an oppressed group protests. 
• Yes, riots feel uncomfortable because they are uncomfortable. Racism is also uncomfortable.
• When as a white person you say "violence is not the answer," you are saying "peaceful protests and negotiation are the answer." You are denying the fact that marginalized groups often aren't heard. 
• When you say "BIPOC use this as an excuse to get liquor and televisions," it takes the spotlight off the real issue and further reinforces stereotypes around minorities. 
• Implying that there are other ways minimizes the frustrations and provides no answers, or solutions. It just points, with privilege, to do things a different way that doesn't disturb your comfort. 
• People seem to forget that George Floyd died because people were trying to follow the law and negotiate peacefully. 
• Riots are not the problem. Riots are a symptom of the problem. 
• If it is difficult for you to understand why people resort to violence, it probably means your privilege has protected you from being put in a situation where you feel you have no other choice. 
• Violent protests have consequences. People will die, people will go to jail, people will lose everything they have. How far does someone have to be pushed to risk it all? Sit with that. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/LINKS

• https://blacklivesmatter.carrd.co/ - Includes various educational resources, ways to take action, and updates on relevant events pertaining to the issue of police brutality. 

• 20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now - Article by Michelle Kim

• "Algorithms of Oppression" - Book club and study group by Mandy Harris Williams 

• Black and Asian-American Feminist Solidarities: A Reading List

• Amy Cooper Knew Exactly What She Was Doing - Article by Zeba Blay 

• "Things to Do Instead of Calling the Cops" + Part 2 by @tapioca_starch on Instagram.

• 13th - documentary on Netflix directed by Ava DuVernay. Explains how systemic racism manifests itself in the law and the prison system through the criminalization of black people. 

• White Fragility - book by Robin DiAngelo. Looks at why race is a difficult topic for white people to discuss and how to identify and address these causes to promote conversations and action.

• Me and My White Supremacy - book by Layla F. Saad. Invites self-reflection on white privilege and internalized white supremacy. 

• Women, Race, and Class - book by Angela Davis. Focuses on the intersectionality of the women's rights movements with issues of race and class. 

• Cornel West Says 'Neo-Fascist Gangster' Trump and Neoliberal Democrats Expose America as 'Failed Social Experiment'

DONATE: 10 ORGANIZATIONS TO CONSIDER

1. National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The mission of the NAACP is to “secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.” Here is the link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naacp-1
2. Black Lives Matter movement (BLM). The mission of the Black Lives Matter is “to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. Link for donations: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
3. National Police Accountability Project (NPAP). The mission of the NPAP is “protect the human and civil rights of individuals in their encounters with law enforcement.” Here is the link for donations: https://www.nlg-npap.org/donate/
4. George Floyd Memorial Fund (started by his brother) 
5. Minnesota Freedom Fund
6. Fundraiser for Ahmaud Arbery 
7. National Bail Out Fund - Free Black Mamas
8. Black Visions Collective
9. Reclaim the Block
10. Campaign Zero