Jonathan A. Ferrel, Florida A&M, Charlotte, NC, Randall Kerrick, Racial Profiling, Police Shooting

FERREL MURDER EXAMPLE OF “OPEN SEASON” ON BLACK MEN
By Mildred Robertson

I remember among my first lessons in kindergarten was that, when you were in trouble, there were a couple of strangers you could count on to help you…firefighters, and policemen. They were there to protect and serve you – right?

Well back in 1957, going to a predominately white school, that was a pretty accurate description for most of my classmates. Unfortunately, that is not a lesson Black children can take to heart.

It was a fatal mistake for Jonathan A. Ferrel, a former football player for Florida A&M, to assume that police had arrived to rescue him following his automobile accident on September 14, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ferrel had climbed from his wrecked vehicle in northeast Charlotte, and walked to the nearest house seeking help. It was around 2:00 a.m. in the morning, and the lone woman who answered the door called the police. That was a reasonable action for her to take. I understand her reaction. It is the reaction of the police that must be called into question.

Ferrel, probably assuming that he would finally get the help he needed, ran toward the police. The police did not see a citizen in distress – they saw a Black man, a criminal, a suspect, running toward them.

There was no benefit of the doubt for Ferrel.

He was running toward them, so he had to be some kind of threat, right? So, it was okay to use lethal force, right? And so, another Black man, whose only crime appeared to be living while Black, had his life snatched from him by racism and ignorance.

Perhaps the Charlotte police learned something from the Trayvon Martin case. They quickly reversed their position that the shooting was appropriate and lawful, and concluded that 27 year-old police officer Randall Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon. They charged him with voluntary manslaughter and released him on $50,000 bail. It still remains to be seen, however, if Ferrel and his family will get justice in the end.

We recently celebrated the 50th year of the March on Washington and MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and we witnessed a man of Black ancestry win the highest office in the land. Yet, Black people across America are seldom judged by the content of their character, at least not at first glance.

This story and others like it are far too common. It is time that we stop lamenting the demonization of the Black man in America and do something about it. It will not be an easy task, because the news media and pop culture have created a caricature of what it means to be black that is accepted by most of America.

It is apparent that the states cannot meaningfully address this issue. It is a national issue, and a national response is required. Just as Lyndon B. Johnson found that federal action was required to ensure justice for the nation’s Black citizens back in the 60’s, it is time for the federal government to step up and address the issue of racial profiling that has resulted in the murder of numerous unarmed Black men under the guise of self-defense.

How many innocent Black men must die a violent death before someone says—ENOUGH! It is time the federal government declares an end to the open season on Black men.

Joe Scarborough Doesn’t Understand Dynamics of “Stop and Frisk”

By Mildred Robertson

I started Tuesday morning as I usually do, watching “Morning Joe.” Some days I can take it – some I can’t. This was one of the mornings when Joe’s pontifications rubbed me—more than usual—the wrong way. The panel discussed New York City’s stop and frisk law.

As has been occurring since the Trayvon Martin tragedy and ill-conceived verdict, a bunch of white men discussed what it must be like to be young, black, and well – existing. They rolled out the stop and frisk numbers, indicating that only 1 in 10 of the profiled individuals stopped actually even got a citation, let alone charged for a serious offense.

Joe pointed out that if similar stops were made in upper Manhattan, the numbers of those found actually committing a crime would probably not be that different. So, why, might you ask, am I particularly irritated with Joe Scarborough for this morning’s coverage.

It is because, apparently, he does not listen.

After hearing numerous African Americans, many his peers, explain to him how Black mothers and fathers must counsel their children to interpret any encounter with police as possibly a life threatening one, he still doesn’t get it.

The discussion turned to the fact that it is not the stop and frisk law that is so distasteful to African Americans. In fact, many who live in crime-infested neighborhoods appreciate aggressive policing. They just want that aggressive policing to be impartial, just and universal.

Joe goes on to say that aggressive policing wouldn’t work in upper Manhattan. Were he to be stopped and frisked on numerous occasions, he pontificated; he would demand the officer’s name and badge number. He’s a lawyer, you know. He knows his rights!

Again, Joe doesn’t listen.

Those words might work coming from his mouth, or the mouth of someone who looks like him. For my son, that might mean a beating, and perhaps a trip to the morgue. That’s the part he doesn’t get. That is the point of the outrage.

But not just outrage—pain.

It pains me that my 20-something year old son, running for a bus in Escondido, California, strapped with his college backpack was profiled by a police officer. I was pained that he suffered the inconvenience of being stopped. That he endured the insult of being called boy. That he suffered the humiliation of being asked why he was in the neighborhood – the neighborhood he lived in. That he had to PROVE that he lived there.

It was irrelevant that he was on his way to work. That he was running to catch the only bus that would get him to work on time. That he had his backpack because he was not going to be able to come home before heading off to school. The officer just saw a black man running in a white neighborhood early in the morning. To the police officer, it was obvious. He must be carrying stolen goods.

And Lord help, when my son told me the story, he said he told the police officer he was running to catch the bus so he could get to work on time, and because he was stopped, that might not happen. As a mother, my heart jumped in my chest. I told him to never do that again. I reminded him of Rodney King. By the luck of the draw, he didn’t get a “Rodney King” cop and he made his bus and made it to work on time.

My son told me he was sorry that his actions had upset me, but that he was a man, and that he demanded to be treated like one. I was proud—but terrified.

I remain terrified. Because I know who my son is, I fear his encounters with the establishment. Although my heart goes out to her, I don’t want to be like Trayvon Martin’s mother.

That’s what Joe Scarborough doesn’t get. My son was not raised in the hood. He is not a gang banger. He doesn’t carry weapons. He doesn’t sell drugs. But profiling can see none of that.

All it can see is that he is Black. That makes him suspect. That means he does not have the luxury of looking a police officer in the eye and saying "I need your name and badge number" without fear of repercussion. That means his rights, are not like your rights, Joe.

And therein lies the problem.

MSNBC Accusation Causes Call to Boycott Koch Products

Are They Funding Zimmerman Defense?

By Mildred Robertson

There is information circulating which indicates the Koch brothers have financed George Zimmerman’s lawyers and legal fees, an allegation they vehemently deny. What they do not deny, however, is that they are among the architects of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which pushes conservative policy-making across the nation, including gun laws like “Stand Your Ground,” attacks on women’s rights, and assaults on voting rights.

It appears allegations about the connection between the Koch brothers and their possible involvement in the Zimmerman defense were first made on MSNBC. Now there is a push for people to boycott Koch products based on those allegations. People who oppose this injustice, are being asked to ban together with other like-minded people and boycott these Koch products:

·         Angel Soft Toilet Paper

·         Brawny Paper Towels

·         Dixie Plates, Bowls, Napkins and Cups

·         Mardi Gras Napkins and Paper Towels

·         Quilted Northern Toilet Paper

·         Soft & Gentle Toilet paper

·         Sparkle napkins, Paper Towels

·         Vanity Fair Napkins

While I do not know what the truth is at it relates to the Koch brothers financing of George Zimmerman’s legal fees, it appears to me that progressive individuals who believe in justice, equality and fair play should have already been boycotting Koch products.

I appreciate the hoopla, because it has helped me become aware of what those products are, so I can ensure that none of them turn up in my pantry.

Obviously, MSNBC hit a nerve, because the internet is full of messages with the Koch brothers crying foul. That means that this concrete example of why it matters how the Koch brothers use their money may make some people less inclined to give it to them.

Post Racial, Trayvon, Emmett Till, Rightwing View

What a Post-Racial Society Looks Like: Seeing Right from the Wrong Angle

By Mildred Robertson

There are just lots of things that are more difficult to do when you are Black in America. 

When we elected President Obama in 2008, pundits across the country declared America a “Post-Racial” society. Had not just a majority of Americans put on their color blinders and cast their vote for the son of an African? They hailed it as a new era in American politics and a precursor to a more just and equal society.

But America is not that easily explained.

While a majority of Americans were able to embrace the first “Black” president of the United States, little was made of the fact that he is just as white as he is black. That fact alone negates the theory that America has become colorblind. In America, it only takes one drop of black blood to make you Black.   Although he handily won the seat, millions of Americans still view President Obama as a usurper who has no right to the most powerful position in the world.

There are just lots of things that are more difficult to do when you are Black in America. 

Whether your name is Emmit or Trayvon, it just doesn’t pay to be young, Black and male in America. The simple act of admiring a beautiful woman, or walking to the corner store for skittles and tea could very well be a death sentence.

You might not want to jog to the bus stop while wearing a backpack and a hoodie either, particularly if you are running through a predominantly white neighborhood.

And then there is the issue of driving while black. You just can’t be a black male and expect to drive your Jaguar though a suburban neighborhood without getting stopped. Oh, forget the Jaguar.  Just driving through a suburban neighborhood can get you pulled over.

You can’t be Black, have kids, and be anything other than a “baby momma.” Ask Michelle Obama.

You can’t be a Black uniformed five-star General in an airport and not be mistaken for a baggage handler. Ask Collin Powell.

You can’t be a politician that shows anger when right-wing political operatives tell all kinds of outrageous lies about you and still expect to get elected. Ask President Obama.

There is nothing post-racial about America.

To be Black in America is to be different – to be judged more harshly—to be scary, angry, lazy, promiscuous, menial. The image has been seared on white America’s consciousness.

 That is what the six jurors saw when they elected to set George Zimmerman free. Of course, he was terrified of this 15-year-old child. So scared that he got out of his car, stalked Trayvon in the night, and shot him dead. That doesn’t make sense, the way I see it.

But those jurors did not see what I saw—what Black Americans saw. They did not view this case the same as many Americans who truly transcend the major prejudices that plague our society. They just saw right from the wrong angle.

It is the view they see of us—all of us.

Trayvon Martin, Black Male, George Zimmerman

Trayvon Martin Found Guilty of Being Black

By Mildred Robertson
 

I have been amazed to watch the trial of George Zimmerman in the murder of Travon Martin in Sanford Florida. It occurred to me this morning as I watched clips from the trial, that it is ludicrous that anyone would think that there is any way to justify the actions of George Zimmerman on that tragic evening. Who was on top, who threw the first punch – all irrelevant points.

The only misconduct that occurred was born in George Zimmerman’s mind as he profiled a young black man and determined him to be “suspect” based on nothing other than the fact that he existed, and had the audacity to exist in Zimmerman’s space. The only crime that occurred was that George Zimmerman stalked and then killed a kid who simply took a walk to pick up some skittles and a soda. The only thing Trayvon Martin could have done to avoid this tragedy is not to exist in the time and space that put him in Zimmerman’s path.

It takes me back to a dramatic scene in the movie “A Time to Kill” when the defense attorney asked the jurors to close their eyes while he graphically described the rape of a little black girl on her way home from the grocery store. After recounting the horrific acts committed against the child, he told the jurors, their eyes still closed, “Now, imagine she is white.” The moment was stunning as the jurors’ eyes popped open, and you could see that they understood.

That powerful moment is one that needs to be re-lived in this real life tragedy. “Now imagine if Travon was white.” Had he been white, it is doubtful that Zimmerman would have even noticed him.

But he did notice him. He did feel threatened by him, despite the fact that there were no grounds for his distrust. He then stalked and killed him, because this one was not going to get away. It was a series of actions set in motion by George Zimmerman’s verdict that a young man like Travon had no right to be in his neighborhood.

It is clear to me that many people get it. To be a black male in America is to be automatically a threat for people like George Zimmerman. There was nothing Travon could have done to change the situation.

Once Zimmerman determined that Trayvon did not belong; that he was not entitled to the freedom to walk through the neighborhood of an acquaintance, that covering his head from the rain with a hoody was intimidating, that having an unfamiliar face made him suspect; the scene was set for tragedy – a tragedy born in Zimmerman’s mind that resulted in the death of an innocent young man.

And he was innocent, despite what the defense would have us to believe.

The defense would like us to believe that Trayvon was dangerous. He liked to fight. He smoked dope. Zimmerman was right in viewing him as dangerous.

Whether they are true or not, these allegations are irrelevant. Even if Trayvon had a fight daily, and took a hit from a joint every day, it would not justify a death sentence. And that is what Zimmerman gave him. He served as the judge, jury and executioner of a young man who had done no wrong, and seemed to have no intent to do so. 

If there is any justice in our system of law, George Zimmerman must pay for this crime. Failure to do so will fortify the racist assumption that the mere existence of a black man makes him suspect and subject to capital punishment at the hands of a vigilante.    

Legislature Stymies Obama Agenda

By: Mildred Robertson

 Arguably the most powerful man in the world, President Barack Obama still seems to have trouble keeping his House in order—and his Senate too.  Much like spoiled children, legislators carry on their antics late into the night, stopping only for snacks and bathroom breaks. The posturing of Sen. Rand Paul and other legislators doggedly working to thwart the President and his agenda, only offer a disservice to the American public whom they claim to represent.

We have faced self-imposed crisis, one after the other, for no other reason than to keep this president from implementing his agenda. Any victory for President Obama seems unacceptable to partisan politicians who have lost sight of the real reason they are in Washington D.C.

Whether I voted for them or not, they are SUPPOSED to represent me and the majority of other Americans who decided that Barack Obama’s plan for America is the best choice.

It appears that many of our legislators, although they refer to themselves as “The Tea Party” have forgotten the foundation of our Democracy. The American Revolution was not about taxation. It was about taxation without representation. Because of their single-minded opposition to the president, our government has stalled and no one is being represented.

I have watched the pundits on various news broadcasts who insist that the President “DO” something. What is it that they would have him do?

He has offered compromise. He has introduced proposals almost identical to those the opposing legislators introduced themselves. He has sent out surrogates to schmooze and negotiate. He has used his bully pulpit to appeal to the American public. But the opposition is so entrenched in the idea that the President should win no victory that they resist all such overtures.

Now, while they are doggedly fighting to ensure he doesn’t win, he seems to win anyway. He won the Detroit bailout, he won the Stimulus battle, he won the election, and he won healthcare reform. While slipping in the polls from time-to-time, he continues to win the hearts and minds of the American people. He has even won a shaky economic recovery. All of these victories came hard fought, and without any meaningful support from across the aisle.

The pundits are right. Something HAS to be done. But it is not up to the President to do it. It is up to us. We sent them to Washington D.C., and we need to bring them home!

NC Legislation Creates a Path to Opportunity for Ex-Felons

By Mildred Robertson

Do you want a convicted bank robber working as a teller in your bank – probably not. But you might want to give a chance to 25-year-old who served time for DUI, or possession of an illegal substance. With NC House Bill 208, that 25-year-old may stand a chance, because the measure would eliminate the check-off box on employment applications asking whether the applicant has a felony conviction on his or her record.

That check-off box has created an underclass of men and women who never get another chance to be productive citizens. Though these ex-felons may have paid their debt to society, they are summarily eliminated from most job interviews because of their record. In an already competitive job market, they don’t stand a chance.

So what do we as a society expect them to do?  If an ex-felon cannot work, and cannot get housing, what options are left for his or her survival?

I recall when I lived in New Orleans that a group of amazing street performers passed the hat to bystanders, asking them to “give a little to my house, so we don’t have to come into your house.” After a little uneasy laughter, the hat filled to overflowing. Their talent was undeniable. But so was their underlying message. With a little hustle and ingenuity, these young men had figured out a way to survive. But their street-wise philosophy made it clear that in the final analysis, survival was the goal.

And it is the goal of us all.

These people have already paid their debt to society. Many people are lured into the streets at an early age, seeing only the money that life can give them—money they think they cannot achieve anywhere else. By the time they learn the downside of this decision, they have acquired the new “scarlet letter,” the “F” that will close almost all doors to opportunity.

House Bill 208 would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about whether they are convicted felons. Basically, the measure eliminates the check-off box on employment applications about felony convictions.  Employers would only be able to ask such questions after they have made a conditional job offer to the applicant, or if the person is seeking a job where his or her felony might put the employer or the public at risk. Another bill, Senate Bill 91, would prohibit employers from asking applicants about expunged criminal records. Senate Bill 33 would require state licensing boards to review the circumstances under which they deny professional licenses.

All of this legislation is a move in the right direction. I applaud the North Carolina legislature for taking up this matter. This proposed legislation acknowledges that just because a person made a serious mistake, he or she should not be forever shunned. It also acknowledges that a pathway to good citizenship must exist in order for someone to take the path. Ultimately, our goal is to rehabilitate and allow people the dignity of making their own way. Call your representative and express your support for a pathway to opportunity for these individuals seeking to be productive members of our society.