I think its important to dig a little deeper into the recent spate of African-American deaths by policing and question critically why they happened. The way we often frame the conversation, it sounds like we believe that white people (particularly cops) dont care about killing black people, or even want them dead. From every experience Ive had living in this country and its largest city with a majority African-American population, this explanation seems foolish. I just dont buy that thats how the majority of white people feel. But yet, according to polls, a majority of white Americans didnt find fault in the Ferguson cops actions, even in light of an extremely troubling set of circumstances. So what gives? Where does this disconnect come from? And why does this keep happening? Despite our reticence to talk about it, I believe the answer is apparent. Fear. Just as much as I have experienced white peoples generally positive or neutral intentions towards African Americans, my experience has also taught me that white people have an irrational and prejudicial fear of their black counterparts. And fear is a hell of a drug. Psychotropic at times. Because how else does one explain Darren Wilsons ridiculous claims that Michael Brown became progressively stronger even as Wilson pumped Brown full of lead? Or that Daniel Pantaleo worried about releasing Eric Garner from his chokehold, even as he gasped for air? Quite frankly, one cannot. These are the actions of people who were genuinely afraid. And thats an extremely troubling fact. So where do we go from here? To be honest, I dont entirely know. White fright isnt something that will just go away. Its handed down from generation to generation, reinforced by negative media stereotyping, and made even worse by the still semi-segregated nature of our society. But in light of all this, what I do know is that institutionalized fear of African Americans is something that we as a society need to acknowledge, discuss, and attack with much more vigor. If white people really do care about black lives, then it is incumbent upon us to wake up and examine what it is that weve been taught and what it is that we will teach our children. As the last few months have made manifest, the cost of fear as usual is black lives. And, especially because those arent our lives to gamble, thats not a price we can be willing to pay. #Whitefright #Blacklivesmatter #Fearasusual
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:25:58 +0000
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