The police officer that murdered Oscar Grant was not unlike George Zimmerman. The community had to know when he was charged with First Degree Murder it was manipulation of the truth. The officer never committed First Degree Murder. Second Degree Murder, but, not first. There was no forethought to the death of Oscar Grant. It was at the very best opportunistic and that is according to video footage.
But, the community was manipulated to prevent riots. I cannot believe that officer got away with serving 11 months. The deaths of Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin have a lot in common. They were both police shootings in many ways; one an officer and one a vigilante, police officer wannabee. Both unjustified and both predatory. Both shooters tried and convicted their victims. Make no doubt about it both were victims. That is not always stated 'in those words.' Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin were the VICTIMS of a gun culture that discriminates against it's prey.
There is a lot of fear in the USA and it manifests in victimization of Black American Men. There has to be fear of something in order for fear to exist.
I remember, as a mother, wanting to put my young men in a bubble at times. Young people can do such stupid things sometimes and it seems no matter how a parent tries to protect them it happens anyway. Racism was never an issue with my sons. I don't remember ever talking about hatred of others. I guess that might be kind of strange, but, we never had those conversations. As a matter of fact my oldest son went to a private school where there were many young Black Men and not all were Americans. Any my youngest son attended a high school with high diversity throughout the classroom experience. Racism just wasn't in our language. In order for it to be in language it has to be in thoughts.
I some ways, as a parent, I had it easy. My sons were Caucasian. They still did silly things, but, it never amounted to false accusations and a threat of death in their lives. What kind of bubble as a society do we have to build for young Black American Men or Black American Men in general these days? We need some rules for the road to navigate this hell we as a society have created for our minorities. We better come up with some good ones, spread it through our society like wildfire and make sure our social contract with Black American Men is solidly enforced at every turn. This is deadly stuff we have created and we need to stop it with full force right now.
But, the community was manipulated to prevent riots. I cannot believe that officer got away with serving 11 months. The deaths of Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin have a lot in common. They were both police shootings in many ways; one an officer and one a vigilante, police officer wannabee. Both unjustified and both predatory. Both shooters tried and convicted their victims. Make no doubt about it both were victims. That is not always stated 'in those words.' Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin were the VICTIMS of a gun culture that discriminates against it's prey.
There is a lot of fear in the USA and it manifests in victimization of Black American Men. There has to be fear of something in order for fear to exist.
I remember, as a mother, wanting to put my young men in a bubble at times. Young people can do such stupid things sometimes and it seems no matter how a parent tries to protect them it happens anyway. Racism was never an issue with my sons. I don't remember ever talking about hatred of others. I guess that might be kind of strange, but, we never had those conversations. As a matter of fact my oldest son went to a private school where there were many young Black Men and not all were Americans. Any my youngest son attended a high school with high diversity throughout the classroom experience. Racism just wasn't in our language. In order for it to be in language it has to be in thoughts.
I some ways, as a parent, I had it easy. My sons were Caucasian. They still did silly things, but, it never amounted to false accusations and a threat of death in their lives. What kind of bubble as a society do we have to build for young Black American Men or Black American Men in general these days? We need some rules for the road to navigate this hell we as a society have created for our minorities. We better come up with some good ones, spread it through our society like wildfire and make sure our social contract with Black American Men is solidly enforced at every turn. This is deadly stuff we have created and we need to stop it with full force right now.
