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one_voice

(20,043 posts)
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 04:50 PM Apr 2015

17 Honest Thoughts From a Black Man After Watching That Walter Scott Video



By Darnell L. Moore April 07, 2015

1. On Saturday, Michael T. Slager, a white police officer from North Charleston, South Carolina, fired eight shots into the back of an unarmed black man named Walter Scott. The attack was caught on video.

2. This is a good thing, people say. But another black family may forever be haunted by the last few minutes of their loved one's life cut short by none other than the "law" that was meant to protect him.

3. On Tuesday, Slager was charged with murder.

4. This is justice, people say. But legal charges and bloated prison cells can never make up for the loss of black lives. Death is not justice. Black people alive is.

5. Since late last summer, we have marched, protested and sung under the banner #BlackLivesMatter, because some in this country still don't believe they do.

6. This is progress, people say. But after all this time — and all these songs, and all these chants — we still have failed to convince everyone that while "All Lives Matter," all lives are not disproportionately ended by police violence. Black lives are, so often that it's hard to stomach all this evidence of black people being ridiculed, beaten, choked, tasered or shot by police as it surfaces, over and over again. And every time I am forced to watch another act of police abuse, I am reminded that body cams and smart phones are no match for a justice system that seems to almost always grant police impunity.

7. Tuesday, the day this latest video of a black man being killed in broad daylight by a white police officer broadly surfaced, is the same day many in Ferguson, Missouri have been on the streets encouraging neighbors to get out and vote.

*snip*

16. Now is time for change, people say. This is a 21st-century American tragedy of epic proportions. None of this should be normal.

17. And yet, it already is.

The rest is at the link: http://mic.com/articles/114888/17-honest-thoughts-from-a-black-man-after-watching-that-walter-scott-video

The video is also at the link.


My heart is broken.....again. I weep for these families; I fear for my brothers, my nephews. No words could fully convey how fucking sick of this shit I am. What's worse, is I know it's a gazillion times worse for the black community and for that I'm sorry. I wish I could do more, help more or at least take some of the pain from you.
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17 Honest Thoughts From a Black Man After Watching That Walter Scott Video (Original Post) one_voice Apr 2015 OP
K&R johnnyreb Apr 2015 #1
Death is not justice. Black people alive is. Phentex Apr 2015 #2
That is what jumped off the page at me. brer cat Apr 2015 #3
The cops won’t change, which is why PEOPLE have to keep filming them dorkzilla Apr 2015 #7
Well spoken, Darnell. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #4
The bigoted criminals in our police departments democrank Apr 2015 #5
Those...aren't thoughts. That format doesn't work here. The author should just write an article. DesMoinesDem Apr 2015 #6
Really? A writing style critique? blackspade Apr 2015 #10
Please self delete. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #12
It's a national epidemic. Enthusiast Apr 2015 #8
K&R Scuba Apr 2015 #9
It is all so heartbreaking. blackspade Apr 2015 #11
Kick F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #13
K&R... Sadly. n/t freshwest Apr 2015 #14
Agreed BrotherIvan Apr 2015 #15

johnnyreb

(915 posts)
1. K&R
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 05:57 PM
Apr 2015

South Carolina is my state, so this white guy hurts even more than the last time. Somewhere through my shock and shame, Mr. Scott and his family and friends and my black countrymen are all very much in my thoughts and prayers.

Phentex

(16,334 posts)
2. Death is not justice. Black people alive is.
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 06:20 PM
Apr 2015

This is a truly great piece. Thank you for sharing it.

THINGS HAVE GOT TO CHANGE!!!!!

brer cat

(24,602 posts)
3. That is what jumped off the page at me.
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 06:25 PM
Apr 2015

While we all will applaud if the officer is convicted, it does not bring back a single life. That is the tragedy and the great American loss.

dorkzilla

(5,141 posts)
7. The cops won’t change, which is why PEOPLE have to keep filming them
Wed Apr 8, 2015, 06:43 PM
Apr 2015

It seems that is the only way we’ll change this; we’ll have to meet their “point and shoot” with our own version. When their prison sentences keep mounting they’ll think twice.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
15. Agreed
Thu Apr 9, 2015, 01:17 PM
Apr 2015

I am surprised he was charged with murder, but now let's see if a jury lets the cop walk. Putting the cop in jail would send a clear signal. And we need police cameras, not military weapons, everywhere. We need to police the police. And we need to teach everyone how to stream the video so cops can't confiscate it. They are out of control and because their commanders are just as corrupt, the public needs to be in charge now.

And end the war on drugs which is the justification for all of it.

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