(ThyBlackMan.com) As an author, entrepreneur, minister, father, teacher, freelance journalist, and an all around professional black man, this writer has seen firsthand the negative effects of racism and bigotry in Urban America. People like me are routinely labeled angry or militant when speaking out against the horror of inequality in our nation. My response is simple, as voiced by my late grandfather: “If a man won’t stand for something, he’ll fall for anything”. It is my personal belief that most police officers are law abiding, God fearing citizens.
However, there are some within the “decadent” group (in Ferguson, Missouri; and across the nation) that are a disgrace to their “badge clad” uniforms. I state that from the perspective of a civilian consultant that has instructed, counseled, and written standards of best practices for effective policing. Having completed many “ride alongs” consisting of interacting with police from many demographics, I recently returned from Ferguson, Missouri while completing video promos for my soon to be released book “There was a Struggle for the Gun!”
We have all heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. On that note, the same goes for people. In this case, black males in Urban America.
A Picture
Before we get started, I would like to stir your mind with a picture. If you have lived in the United States of America for a while, you will be able to envision the following characterization.
As you close your eyes, imagine a young black male walking down the street while you are driving. He appears to be a teenager between the ages of 16 to 18.
He is wearing a hooded sweatshirt without a zipper. The sweatshirt has a front pocket with slits on the right and left sides for quick carrying, storage, or hand placement. On that note, the young man has both of his hands inserted in both sides of the pocket as he walks.
The hood of his sweatshirt is draped over his head. You do not know him, and would not be able to tell who he was unless you were as close as the tip of the hood resting on his eyebrows.
You are able to see a black electric cord hanging from under his hood down to his front sweatshirt pocket. Going by the appearance of his hood, he seems to be wearing large headphones.
He walks predominantly looking only downwards at the sidewalk ahead of him. When you pass by him in the car, he looks up to see who you are. However, he does not speak and resumes his focus on the sidewalk ahead.
Lastly, he is wearing a nice pair of dark blue jeans. However, his jeans sag down to the middle of his derriere, giving you a glimpse of his underwear as you glance in your rear view mirror.
Questions
What are your thoughts about him? Now, imagine him being white. Did your thoughts change?
The Issue
Though you have never met him, something within you led you to think a certain way about him. The sad part is that the “something” leading you to see him differently came from a collection of perspectives leading to a stereotype.
Altogether, you feel differently about him because of what you have seen and heard. With that, let’s talk about why.
Evolution of a Stereotyped Image
Sagging
The popularity of sagging pants originated from the prison culture. Inmates would wear loose fitting pants which sagged at the rear. Inmates were not allowed to wear belts in prison for security reasons. Eventually, this default fashion statement made its way outside the prison walls to the streets of Urban America.
Once enough people started sagging, it became a fad. At first, it was hip and fun. That is; until sagging began to be recognized as a violation of school and business dress codes (as it would become regardless of its notoriety). Eventually, sagging came to be looked down upon as a sign of frustration and rebellion.
Too Much Hair
In the early 1990s, the popularity of afros and braids resurfaced after their break from the 1970s. Though a well-kept afro or braided hair pattern was once acceptable, it now violated workplace policies. With that, select schools also began to be less tolerant of those wearing hair past a specified length on males. With these rules, people began to develop their own set of thoughts toward black males with afros, braids, or dreadlocks. You might say this ushered in a new era of the proverbial “whip and lash” of the law enforcement community towards black males.
Rap Music
In rap music’s early days, it was all about being cool. However, in the late 1980s to early 1990s, groups like N.W.A. (N****s With Attitudes) and 2 Live Crew began to be a little more honest about their lifestyle.
Though the profit of parental advisory rap music came mostly from young white teenagers, America viewed it differently. Along with its negativity, they were quick to note that the rappers were black.
Hollywood
Television and movies only helped to further cement the connection between rebellious lifestyles and black males. The “Blaxploitation” era began in the 1970’s and continued through the late 1980’s. Shows such as C.O.P.S., along with “Blaxploitation” type movies portraying blacks and minorities as gang members, pimps and criminals, only served to fuel some of America’s beliefs about them as individuals.
What Used to be Cool
In summary, what started off as cool or hip became negative. On the other hand, what was now deemed negative (clothing, hairstyle, music, etc.), remained popular among young African American males.
The Result
By the time Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown became teenagers, a new perception had evolved regarding young African American males in the United States. America and its law enforcement community adopted a negative mindset with respect to their way of life. Eventually, black teenage males were branded as distrustful by some detractors for simply being themselves.
Today, Martin and Brown are examples of young African American males who paid the ultimate price and were judged as hostile even before we could hear their side of the story. On the other hand, their killers’ (a neighborhood watch representative and a Police Officer) side of the story was found credible enough by a panel of adjudicators and a grand jury, correspondingly, to be found not guilty.
The Police
Police officers in the United States must understand their role in preserving peace and public safety (to serve and protect) by upholding local, state, and federal laws. They are not a military unit and our black males are not to be viewed as terrorist or thugs.
They must be mature enough to not base their actions on their inherent feelings toward black males. They must know that rap music and Hollywood are for entertainment purposes, and not view black males as disorderly simply because of what they have seen and heard on electronic and social media.
When they encounter black males, they should approach each one individually with an unbiased mindset. Black males, just like other men in America, have goals, dreams and aspirations for success in a free society.
Conclusion
Black males comprise 6% of the U.S. population. Yet, they form 50% of the U.S. prison population. Black males are the predominant race populating prison cells in every state in the union, even including Alaska and Hawaii. Contrary to many police annotations, there is no creditable data to support the contention that black males are predisposed to violence.
I appeal to every decadent police officer throughout America to give our brothers a chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness before you aim your weapon at them. Stop, look, and listen to what they are trying to say. Reflecting on the 1923 Cecil B. DeMille classic film “The Ten Commandments”, I see many parallels with respect to the police/law enforcement community being an antagonist, playing the role of “Pharaoh”, and refusing to see black males as worthy of being free from the oppression and tyranny imposed upon them daily as a result of stereotypes, disrespect and, in many cases, blatant racism. My message to the police is this: Let your mind be free of the negativity you have accumulated as a result of what somebody else said or did. The blood of too many innocent victims of police indiscretion cry out altogether from across America and say “Please, for God’s sake, let my people go!!!”
Staff Writer; Stanley G. Buford
Feel free to connect with this brother via Twitter; Stanley G. and also facebook http://www.facebook.com/sgbuford.