Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
African American
Related: About this forumOn Staying Alive Despite Being Black
On Staying Alive Despite Being Black
LeRon Barton on The Talk, and the sobering idea that murdering a black man is almost legal.
On April 7, 2015 the world witnessed the murder of Walter Scott by police officer Michael T. Slager. In the video, Slager is shown shooting Scott eight times in the back. He was unarmed, several feet away, and not presenting any threat of any kind. When it was over, I turned my head and thought to myself, Another black man dead, another trending topic, just another day living in America. We are wild game out here and the main goal is to stay alive.
Being a black man in America is to know a couple of things: America does not and has not ever cared about you in no shape or form unless you are dribbling a ball or making a music video. You are feared and you are despised. Every day I am reminded of this. From the glances of disgust, the clutching of purses, and being followed throughout department stores, Im never allowed to forget what I am.
Malcolm X once said, I live like a man who is dead already. I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything. Thats how I think right now in todays time. I have lived a good life. I joke with my girlfriend that my chances of survival have increased by 10% because I dont drive, so I dont have to worry about a cop pulling me over. What I do worry about however are the younger black boys. The ones that have yet to fulfill their promise. The ones that dont know quite who they are or what they want to do. The fact these boys are seen as a threat worries me, because we know what happens then. They could be killed before they have even begin to live.
If youre not black, I cannot describe to you what it is like to walk around like you have a bulls-eye on your back. The closet thing I can tell you is that you are living your life knowing that at any moment your number can be called. Thats it, times up. A cop sees you as an enemy, youre dead, and he wont even be charged unless someone is taping it. Being black means that killing you isnt really a crime.
See more at: http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/brand-on-staying-alive-despite-being-black/#sthash.dEiEvrtM.dpuf
LeRon Barton on The Talk, and the sobering idea that murdering a black man is almost legal.
On April 7, 2015 the world witnessed the murder of Walter Scott by police officer Michael T. Slager. In the video, Slager is shown shooting Scott eight times in the back. He was unarmed, several feet away, and not presenting any threat of any kind. When it was over, I turned my head and thought to myself, Another black man dead, another trending topic, just another day living in America. We are wild game out here and the main goal is to stay alive.
Being a black man in America is to know a couple of things: America does not and has not ever cared about you in no shape or form unless you are dribbling a ball or making a music video. You are feared and you are despised. Every day I am reminded of this. From the glances of disgust, the clutching of purses, and being followed throughout department stores, Im never allowed to forget what I am.
Malcolm X once said, I live like a man who is dead already. I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything. Thats how I think right now in todays time. I have lived a good life. I joke with my girlfriend that my chances of survival have increased by 10% because I dont drive, so I dont have to worry about a cop pulling me over. What I do worry about however are the younger black boys. The ones that have yet to fulfill their promise. The ones that dont know quite who they are or what they want to do. The fact these boys are seen as a threat worries me, because we know what happens then. They could be killed before they have even begin to live.
If youre not black, I cannot describe to you what it is like to walk around like you have a bulls-eye on your back. The closet thing I can tell you is that you are living your life knowing that at any moment your number can be called. Thats it, times up. A cop sees you as an enemy, youre dead, and he wont even be charged unless someone is taping it. Being black means that killing you isnt really a crime.
See more at: http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/brand-on-staying-alive-despite-being-black/#sthash.dEiEvrtM.dpuf
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 875 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (10)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
On Staying Alive Despite Being Black (Original Post)
MrScorpio
Apr 2015
OP
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)1. On one Black forum
I post on, there was a poster who said that being a Black man feels like being a tiger on the loose in the middle of a city. I think that person had a point. You get stared at and/or followed whether it's in stores or on the streets, and like this article says--people fear you.
JustAnotherGen
(31,688 posts)2. I wouldn't
You get stared at and/or followed whether it's in stores or on the streets, and like this article says--people fear you.