Thank you to the police officer who showed up last night to address the loud fight that broke out within a group of black kids in the middle of the road. The situation clearly needed some attention. Thank you for responding calmly to the child who was clearly agitated and upset. Yes, he was yelling and swearing at you. No, he didn't want to be put into cuffs or get into the back of your squad car. But he is a kid and you are a police officer. Thank you for being patient and responding compassionately to the other kids still standing in the street and arguing with you. Thank you for calling for back-up to help you de-escalate the situation. Thank GOD the back-up police officer did not make the situation worse. Thank you for noticing my husband and I standing in the street watching you. Thank you for not trying to tell us to put away our cameras or go back in our house. That was not going to happen. And thank you for not wasting your breath asking us why we were there. You know why we were there. So, thank you police officers, for doing your jobs the way you should do them. For responding appropriately and ensuring everyone's safety. But please understand that we were there because we did not trust you to do your job. It is not personal--we have never met you before. But too many situations with police officers and black kids have ended in violence. Too many black men, women, and children have been killed by police officers. So, we will stand in the street in our pajamas all night if that is what it takes. We will have our cameras ready. We will return your eye contact so you have no doubt we are watching. We will remind you that you are accountable to all members of this community. We will remind you that we will not stand for any member of our community to be treated with anything less than the dignity and respect that all people deserve. Until all police officers put peace above power and love before hate. We will be there. Black Lives Matter. Britney G Brinkman, Ph.D. Comments are closed.
|
AboutEMPOWERTAINMENT aims to take a critical look at media in regards to how gender and women/girls are portrayed. From popular articles, videos, and websites, to original submissions, we want to not only examine the media and its relation to gender, but help shift it. Archives
November 2017
Categories |