#NOTsoRandom fact about me: I believe #BlackLivesMatter and that there MUST to be a BROADER discussion of the combative way in which law enforcement engages diverse communities in BOTH urban AND SUBURBAN SETTINGS
THANKFULLY, no human lives were lost as a result of the pool party incident in McKinney, Texas. ANNNNND at least there's a halfway decent argument that the teens and young adults who were "invited" had the right to be there. BUT, given the current contentious climate and regrettable realities of community and law enforcement interactions, ANY of those teens and young adults could've been dead right! Unfortunately, there was one casualty: although these were teens and young adults, my heart aches for the collective innocence that was surely lost as a result.
Likely in response to the pool party incident in McKinney, Texas, the video below was played during the 8a service at Alfred Street Baptist Church this past Sunday:
#CallToAction please share this video with those who are young (and young at heart). I further encourage you to have open and honest discussions about police interactions.
After church, my spirit still stirred. For the past several days, since I heard about the pool party incident in McKinney, Texas, I’ve sifted through MANY “mainstream media” reports as well as SEVERAL liberal left-wing AND conservative right wing social media posts in a robust attempt to separate genuine fact from radicalized fiction based on ideological rhetoric. ANNNNND maybe it's the mediator in me, BUT, I can view the pool party incident in McKinney, Texas from MULTIPLE perspectives. From what I’ve gleaned, there was A LOT that wasn't done well by SEVERAL people involved in the pool party incident in McKinney, Texas (and a few things were arguably done "right"):
(1) To the extent that there were unruly and/or "uninvited" youth and young adults attempting to break into the community pool for the party, incite mob violence, and/or otherwise engage in acts of vandalism afterwards, it makes total sense to me that "concerned neighbors" would call the police. It is COMPLETELY REASONABLE to want to feel safe where you live! At the same damn time, I am STILL VERY DISAPPOINTED in the BLATANT DISREGARD for rules and authority by so many of today's teens and young adults OF ALL RACES. Anyone (especially a black or brown person) who acts in that DISHONORABLE way should be ASHAMED for stooping to a narrow-minded person’s deplorably low expectation of them! Honestly, the "cure" starts at home. While growing up, each of us should learn how to behave civilly, choose our battles wisely AND follow instructions first, so we can live to fight for justice (or just fellowship with our friends) another day.
(2) YES, I've read that the police officers were allegedly "outnumbered initially" and "unable gain control of an "out of control" scene." And NO, I have not seen a recording that showed or read a corroborated report that asserted the police officers initially attempted to interact with the teens and young adults at the scene of the pool party in a less combative way. BUT, based on the YouTube video clip I watched, I am STILL VERY UPSET with the police officer for using what appears to be excessive force to pin down a black teen girl in her swimsuit AND for cowardly brandishing his weapon at presumably unarmed youth who were allegedly trying to deescalate the situation! Based on the words I could hear and body language I observed, it just does NOT seem reasonable to me for a police officer to be threatened by that black teenage girl in a bikini (and/or her friends) at that moment. This situation reaffirms the necessity for parents to have 'the talk' about law enforcement interactions with BOTH their sons AND DAUGHTERS. [06.10.15 UPDATE: I have mixed feelings about the resignation. Honestly, I do NOT view the corporal's resignation while under investigation as justice or “a win” because he NEITHER explained NOR apologized for his behavior. While I believe his actions were unjustified, they were NOT unforgivable. Personally, I would’ve liked to see him accept responsibility for his actions and go through some kind of sensitivity training or other systemic-level/type of rehabilitation. The only thing that made my lips curl upward into a half of a smile was what the McKinney Police Chief had to say at the press conference: "Our policies, our training, and our practice do not support his actions...[The Officer] came into the call out of control and, as the video shows, was out of control during the incident.” Well stated, sir. Hope you meant it. Kudos to your Olivia Pope!]
(3) Even though I've heard conflicting reports about the verbal turned physical altercation between another Black teen girl and her adult Caucasian female neighbor, I am STILL VERY FRUSTRATED that in 2015 the Black teen girl had to prove that she belonged in the suburban neighborhood in which she lived (as opposed to Section 8 housing *angrily sighs and rolls eyes* :-/ ). Racist/Classist undertones of the adult Caucasian female neighbor's alleged statements aside, HOW DARE an adult verbally (and then physically) assault a minor? [06.10.15 UPDATE: I've read that the Black teen girl who verbally and physically fought with her neighbor is at least 18 years old (and possibly 19 or 20). Soooooo, technically she's an adult herself. HOWEVER, I STILL STAND by my earlier point that adults shouldn't verbally or physically assault minors. ANNNNND since these were adults interacting the way those two did, it merely UNDERSCORES my following points...] First of all, adults should LEAD BY EXAMPLE and USE their WORDS (NOT their BODIES) to resolve conflicts. Second of all, since “words mean things” (shout out to Crissle from The Read), EACH OF US should endeavor to USE OUR WORDS CORRECTLY and to ONLY SPEAK TRUTHFULLY (as opposed to vomiting degrading, fallacious, and accusatory statements)!!!
*sharply exhales negative energy*
ANNNNND I’ll stop there…
*calmly inhales positive energy*
…The REAL purpose of today’s post is actually NOT to rant, chastise, blame, or otherwise analyze various observations and commentary. All I really want to do is send up this truth on this Tuesday, June 9, 2015:
It behooves members of EVERY community in America to RESPECT the authority of law enforcement and become knowledgeable about your rights when interacting with the police.
HOWEVER, there is an equally important parallel imperative: EVERY individual in law enforcement who chose to protect and serve INEVITABLY DIVERSE communities MUST, at the very least, RESPECT the humanity of those with whom they interact.
*puts earbuds in and plays Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes' "Wake Up Everybody* ;-P
