What comes next, the usual pattern or real change?

A visceral reaction to America’s longest lasting and inadequately treated virus - racism & the racist ecosystem that perpetuates inequality – is on full display. I have witnessed flare ups of this seemingly incurable virus in every decade of my life.  Let me be clear, I believe that many (if not most) Americans are not racists and many police officers are not racists or potential killers.  Yet, as a nation, we tolerate those who are over and over and over again.

As Black parents, we teach our kids to avoid unnecessary contact with police or how to act if they are confronted - - to reduce the risk of unjustified arrest, injury or death.  In the workplace we endure conscious and unconscious bias.  We live with substandard service and unwarranted harassment by security guards in retail establishments and other businesses.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of hearing the faint/fake shock when these events occur and then the disdain when the impacted communities lash out in frustration. If you pour kerosene and toxic chemicals on communities (with over-policing, redlining, inadequate healthcare, discrimination in hiring and promotions, gerrymandering, voter suppression, unequal application of justice, inferior educational systems, etc.) for generations and then you periodically allow the acts of racist or simply inhumane cops to strike a match (by killing someone), you shouldn’t be surprised when it explodes or starts a fire!

Sadly, this week George Floyd joined a long list of Black and brown people murdered or treated inhumanely by police officers. My heart goes out to Mr. Floyd and his family. As I watched the video of the life being choked out of him, I saw in his face, my face, and the faces of loved ones and friends.

As a younger man I believed that racism would fade away during my lifetime like a virus eradicated with a vaccine. Now, I am less optimistic that it will change in my lifetime, but I am still hopeful that my children will live to see this change. The pessimist in me believes that this situation will likely follow the usual pattern. It goes something like this:

? Citizens capture the murder on video (if we are lucky);

? The public sees it and people become outraged;

? The media broadcasts it and more people become outraged;

? People protest and yes, some riot & loot;

? The police and/or national guard come out in force to stop the looting and destruction of property. Meanwhile their colleagues (behind “the blue wall of silence”) work with the DA to figure out why the killing was justified or something about the victim to devalue his or her life. If they can’t do that, they charge the perpetrator with the lowest level offense possible;

? Then perpetrator’s lawyer argues they can’t get a fair trial in the community where the murder occurs or with a jury that has too many people that look like the victim. So, they change the venue and the complexion of the jurors;

? 95% of the time the jury acquits the perp or convicts them of a minor offense and the killer goes home to his/her family;

? In recent years good folks like Ben Crump show up to help the family get some form of justice. The City negotiates a settlement (usually millions of taxpayer dollars) and agrees to provide “remedial” training to officers on the force to stop killing unarmed Black or brown people as a means of suspending or suppressing evidence of the racism virus; and

? And then we move on until the next killing.

The optimist in me hopes this time will be different. Diverse leaders in the Minneapolis Police Department and the MN Attorney General’s office could make a difference but the rest of the system of injustice will have a say (judges, jurors, etc.). 

But if we’re following the normal pattern, let’s just get on with it - City officials call Ben Crump and negotiate the deal, police chief get your remedial “don’t kill unarmed Blacks” training scheduled, area companies contribute toward the rebuilding of property destroyed in the riots, judge approve the change of venue and citizens keep your cellphone handy for the next killing.

So, what do we do next? I don’t know about you. but I think we should:

(1) Focus energy and resources on causes and organizations that can help dismantle elements of systemic racism and inequality; 

(2) Stop supporting people/elected officials, companies, restaurants, charities, and others that don’t value Black people and that don’t employ people that appropriately reflect the nation’s diversity from the boardroom to the executive suite to the production floor;

(3) Focus on excellence individually and collectively (in education, professional endeavors, community service, philanthropic activity, etc.);

(4) Leverage collective economic power and exercise the right to vote;

(5) Take care of personal and family health (physical and mental); and

(6) Believe in a “higher power” and make every day that “power” gives us worthwhile, as tomorrow is not promised to any of us.

I hope to work with others who want to make change and be a catalyst for increasing fairness and equity throughout our society. Now that we all see the problem, we get a chance determine what comes next!