There was a time in America when Blacks could call the police and expect to receive the help they were looking for. But recent events involving several cases of Blacks being killed after calling the police make the situation very scary. When Ma’Khia Bryant was killed by the very police department she called to help her, she was killed instantly with no explanation.
We all understand that she had a knife, but the officer said, “I had to stop her from killing someone.” Really — by killing her! This makes no sense. What happened to shooting her in the leg, yelling for her to stop, or tazing her?
Isiah Brown was shot in the back 10 times while trying to flee the police. The FBI has been called in to investigate the homicide because the local sheriff’s office will not release the video of what really happened.
Blacks must now seriously consider if calling the police makes the situation worse. The slogan, “To Protect and Serve,” does not apply to Black people. Depending on where you live will determine if you are seen as a threat or in need of help.
There have been numerous videos of Blacks being assaulted or killed without hesitation for simply doing normal things. And the killings are not just happening to those who are problematic. Old, man, woman, medically in need, hurt or injured, lost, or confused — they are all seen as a threat! And they all end up with the same fate, either shot or killed.
There are endless examples of Black men being shot or killed by the police for simply being Black.
- Black man shot for asking for help because he is lost.
- Black man trying to help his mentally ill patient shot in the leg while laying flat on his back with his arms up.
- Black man killed while working as a security guard at a night club. He tried to break up a fight and was killed after the police thought he was the problem.
- Black man shot while washing his own car in his own driveway.
- Black man killed while sitting in his own apartment while eating ice cream.
- Black man killed while police serve a warrant.
- Black man killed during a normal traffic stop.
And it goes on and on and on.
But what are the alternatives to calling the police. For Black people they are few. Blacks can either arm themselves or resolve their own problems. For those with medical conditions, it might be better to call for the EMS than the police.
If you need to do a check on a loved one in a different area that you, see if there are any organizations willing to check on your loved ones. But the fact remains, Blacks can no longer expect the police to offer actual assistance when they are called.
The bottom line is Blacks are being shot and killed at an alarming rate. Until something changes with law enforcement and our overall justice system, Blacks need to consider if it is worth it to call the police under the circumstances, we are currently living in.
