Police Brutality — Systemic Racism, and the Uniformed KKK

“Although slavery may have been abolished, the crippling poison of racism still persists, and the struggle still continues.”

— Harry Belafonte, 2010 rally in Washington, D.C.

Racism. This cringeworthy word evokes hair-raising, spine-chilling responses within the black race, along with its negative connotations of cruelty and inequality.

So, what exactly is racism? Here is a clear-cut definition:

It is “the practice of discriminating against people based on their race or ethnic background.”

Speak this word to any black person, and many disturbing images and traumatizing memories will begin to surface like,

• Brutal beatings
• Lynchings
• Home invasions
• Church bombings
• Segregated busing
• Bathroom access
• Rigid curfews
• Public schools
• Housing
• Swimming pools
• Bathrooms

Black people were subjected to the sudden destruction of their properties, and the denial of convenient services that the white race was privileged to have.

For example, if a black person requested service, they were instructed to travel several miles out of the way to a black-owned establishment.

Or, asked to do ridiculous things like pay their bus fare, get off the bus, walk around to the back door to get on the bus, and sit in the colored section, if seats were available. If all the “colored only” seats were occupied, they had to stand for the entirety of their bus trip.

Enslaved black people were controlled by abusive tyrants who viewed them as an economic commodity. They were placed on display to be sized up for the highest bidder, and forced to endure the devastation of being uprooted and separated from their families.

They were harassed, verbally abused, humiliated, and made to feel subhuman. Slaves were beaten unmercifully for non-compliance.

Their self-respect and dignity were diminished. The dehumanization of the black race was in full force, and being treated equally was merely a pipe dream.

Where’s The Justice?

The country’s patriotic phrase, the Pledge of Allegiance, represents a unified country that provides equality for every citizen:

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The phrase, “with liberty and justice for all,” has contradicted the discriminatory experiences of black people.

Even following the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, enslaved people still faced some form of prejudice and discrimination.

And, although the 13th Amendment abolished the institution of slavery, the unrelenting, centuries-old transgression of racism is still prevalent and ingrained in the depraved hearts of white supremacists.

Fast-forward centuries later to 2023.

What we’re seeing now is not just a continuation of racism, but also an intensification of the problem, especially from law enforcement.

The public safety they vowed to provide is imperative for our own protection. However, the unethical, and corrupt methods they enforce are referred to as police brutality.

“Police brutality is the use of any force exceeding that reasonably necessary to accomplish a lawful police purpose.”

This action is a deviant form of violence and racially-based maltreatment committed by traffic officers. It has proven to be an inconsequential form of law and order that usually leads to senseless tragedies.

Why would they commit these acts after promising, under oath, to protect and to serve?”

Presumably, these officers have violent tendencies, unresolved anger, and ingrained hatred.

Joining police academies and integrating into judicial systems makes it easy for them to carry out their premeditated or impulsive racial injustice against black people.

For example, during routine traffic stops, brutality is often carried out by tyrannical police officers who fail to think before reacting.

The defenseless murder victims’ lives are jeopardized if they pose a perceived threat to the traffic officer. The officer then responds violently, using excessive force—even when unprovoked.

They overreact, ignore proper protocol, and fail to de-escalate the problem.

Why does this happen?

Because racists enjoy targeting and tormenting the objects of their fury—the inferior race.

So, just one brief encounter with them can fuel their hatred, and transform an ordinary routine traffic stop into a pretextual traffic stop.

What’s the difference between these two types of traffic stops?

“The routine traffic stop procedure includes witnessing the violation, preparation for stop, parking the patrol vehicle, approaching the stopped vehicle, position at the violator’s vehicle, writing the citation or performing a records check, and what to do if the violator gets out.“

“A pretextual traffic stop occurs when a police officer stops a vehicle in order to conduct a speculative criminal investigation unrelated to the motorist’s driving, and not for the purpose of enforcing the traffic code.

The Cancer of Hatred

Crimes are more prevalent, and violence has spanned the globe. The bulk of “breaking news” stories anchored from news desks often report vicious acts of police brutality.

So, what drives the racially motivated to commit these cruel, senseless acts of violence and false imprisonment against innocent victims?

And, what is it that fuels their intense rage?

It’s hate.

“Hate is to dislike someone or something very much,” according to an online dictionary source, www.dictionary.cambridge.org.”

What negative effect does hate have on our society?

It destroys like a tornado—leaving behind a path of destruction and traumatized victims. Just like a venomous insect bite, it leaves a lasting sting.

Racism metastasizes like cancer cells— spreading from person to person — generation to generation—and culture to culture.

The Existence of Racism

But what if racism never existed in the first place?

Then the savagely beaten victims of police brutality, like Rodney King, Alton Sterling, and George Floyd (to name a few), wouldn’t have happened.

But because it does exist, it shattered what could’ve been a country known for its impartiality toward its citizens. A nation not merely united by states , but by people with contrasting pigmentation that bleed the same color of red blood.

Will this nation ever emerge from the irreparable damage that brought about racial disparities?

Or have we submerged too deep into a bottomless well of disunity?

Can the racism pandemic be totally eradicated?

Who knows. Anything is possible.

But the possibility of that happening depends upon a willingness to make a change.

What kind of change?

A change of heart.

When the hate-filled heart learns to accept others for being different, and removes the discriminatory scales from their eyes. Then and only then will they see a person’s humanity, be moved to compassion, and accept them for who they are.

Until then, the problem will worsen and continue to be a sore spot in the souls of marginalized victims who have endured inhumane abuse and extreme psychological torture.

To further drive my viewpoint home about the link between police brutality and racism, I wrote this poem, which expresses my personal sentiment on this subject. Each sentence starts with the bolded word “you”, not only for emphasis, but also to represent the enslaved speaking to the enslaver.

Free Verse Poem
You rejected the uniqueness of my skin pigmentation
You stripped my authenticity by oppressing my voice
You beat and bound me with leather whips and chains
You altered my identity and robbed me of my dignity
You obstructed my freedom and ignored all my pleas
You averted humanness but embraced unjust cruelty

It’s time for a change. Let’s strive for it!

**Note: The content of this story is a sensitive subject that may offend some readers. Please don't hesitate to leave your honest feedback. Having an open dialogue is a healthy way to address these issues. It may be interesting to gain varying perspectives.

Loading...