The fair-minded among society can agree that Blacks and other minorities are very passive, taking all kinds of abuse and methods of injustice from the system. From paying higher mortgages to being denied one altogether, minorities have to endure the absolute worst of living conditions, and they simply clamp their teeth and get through it--never reacting to the blatant class bias. Nevertheless, while Baltimore burns, those of that community say the self-righteous sit in the safety of their dwelling places and pass judgment.
It is argued that despite their passivity, when blacks do react to an act of human cruelty that crosses the line (such as police murder), they are characterized as "thugs" and "criminals". Some government officials denounce this characterization, claiming that it summons response from the global community, accusing the United States of allowing methods of brutality against its citizens as a means of control, living this hypocrisy while preaching human rights to the world at large.
History is the best teacher and clarifier of facts in these instances. It dismisses the notion that blacks are thugs and criminals. Blacks in Baltimore are no more thuggish or criminal than Timothy McVey or the Green River killer or James Holmes, who opened fire indiscriminately a movie theater, which is the epitome of thuggishness, but was he called a thug? No. Some argue that blacks are called thugs as a substitute for the "N" word, and not because of certain acts.
Fritz V. asked if there is a difference between how the blacks in Baltimore and how white criminals are treated? He said the answer is 'yes'. Fritz cited that James Holmes killed 12 people and wounded 70 others, without provocation, as they watched a movie. He is being treated delicately as a "disturbed" person with mental issues. He argued that the death penalty is not being discussed as vehemently it was for those who bombed the Boston Marathon. Fritz proclaimed that none of these acts are tolerable, however, he maintains that some crimes are treated better based on who commits them.
Baltimore has not been in the news for any misconduct among its black citizens. The police have conducted its usual routine of brutality against minorities without resistance. The last major riot in Baltimore happened in 1968 after Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. It has been 47 years since Baltimore felt the wrath of its citizens. Only this time, critics say, the city could have avoided this meltdown with a different response to Freddie Gray's death. "No one addresses the false arrests, the police beatings, and over-policing of black communities. But they expect people to accept being treated like animals. You can pour only so much water into a glass before it overflows. What we're seeing across the nation is an overflow," said one observer. It is only when Freddie Gray died in police custody that young people rose up to resist a potential future of this type for themselves.
Gray's death happened only days after Walter Scott was murdered by a police officer who attempted to set up a false crime scene against Scott, as a cover. Wounds were still open from this incident when Gray suddenly died of spinal cord injuries. Naturally, and with good reason, several Baltimore police are now suspects in Gray's murder. Critics say when you put it all in context, "these young people in Baltimore are saying they don't want to be murdered by the police, people who say they're there to keep order, but who are really there to hunt."
Many have commented on the fact that these are all children causing the chaos in Baltimore. And they want to know and understand why their parents have not stepped up to take control of the situation. Sources say that many parents have no idea where their children are. The parent that was filmed disciplining her son just "happened" upon him. Parents have said they cannot insert themselves in the middle of this smoke and anger. Because the confusion is so chaotic and unpredictable, it is not wise to get too close to it. Critics say it's unfair to say parents should do more when you are on the outside looking in. They challenge those sitting in the peace and calm of their 'upper' east and west side homes to come and camp out in the midst of this in their neighborhood and then make those self-righteous assumptions.
There is no lack of response to what happened in Baltimore as a result of Freddie Gray's death while in police custody. Every news outlet presented a different angle of events happening in the troubled city. All of them, however, are being criticized for showing bias for police who are injured in the skirmish; and saying little when police murder the people they take into custody.
According to a Harvard professor, blacks are unfairly characterized as thugs and called unruly; when in fact, the system has managed them (blacks) very effectively---at least until blatant murder of young black men began and was accepted as a remedy. He went on to say:
"Blacks say nothing as new prisons are being built to house them. They say nothing when fake child-support laws are drafted as another means of locking them up. When they have to live jobless, they live homeless. They are forced to watch their children lay lifeless in a pool of blood from a police bullet. They are systematically victimized and terrorized...and they say nothing. But when they do rise up to let their misery be known, they are suddenly lawless thugs. These kids are hurt, angry, and afraid. They are hurt because they're watching the slaughter of their peers. They are angry because they witness and live the injustice everyday and no one does anything about it. They are afraid because they believe their life will end before they reach 25. So don't judge these kids or snub your nose at the community of human beings who are hunted like animals and expected to just wait their turn to die while in police custody."
One observer said, "The Universe will handle and correct ALL injustices. We think Katrina was something; we thought Sandy was bad; just wait and see what's coming. I believe those responsible for creating this type of society will be so chased by nature that they will beg for relief."
Copyright © 2015 by Peggy Hatchet James
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