While African-Americans must be careful not to so much as reach for identification upon an officer’s command for fear of being shot, some in society are a bit more fortunate: namely, white people.
A brief observation of how police act regarding white and black people in similar situations quickly lays bare the sorry state of the institution of law enforcement.
For instance, when someone calls 911 to report that a 12-year old African-American child has a handgun, even if the caller notes that he is a child, and the gun is likely fake, that child is shot almost on-sight by the (white) responding officer. Conversely, when a white child wearing a ski mask and carrying both a toy handgun and toy assault rifle meets a white cop, however, not a single shot is fired. The situation leads to a heartwarming conversation between the two that has a heavy subtext of “Imagine if you weren’t white.”
Two white men can remove a BB gun from a Walmart shelf, load it, run around firing it wildly, and threaten to shoot up the place, and be fairly confident they will be arrested without incident. On the flip side, a black man is unable to so much as pick a BB gun up off the shelf and carry it around peacefully without finding himself the unfortunate recipient of “justice bullets” from the local police.
Basically, just being black in America is dangerous.
Between 2003-2009, there were 3.66 arrest-related deaths by homicide among African-Americans. As for whites, just one — less than one, really. In other words, if you’re black, you’re more than 3x more likely to face death-by-cop than if you are white. It’s almost like black lives simply don’t matter, to some.
Some people are “privileged” enough to possess skin color that passes law enforcement’s racial litmus test. Take Idaho’s Andrea Espinosa, for example. After allegedly attacking — not “making jerky movements” or “seeming threatening,” as is oft-said about African-American “suspects” — a police officer, the 25-year-old woman was all smiles in her mugshot photo.
Counter-Current News notes that Espinosa, unlike many black victims of police brutality, actually acted in a threatening manner:
The local news source, The Idaho Statesman said that the officer was flagged down at approximately 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, Decemeber 27th. The man who grabbed the officer’s attention said that he stopped his car for the woman and she jumped into his car and ordered him to drive.
Instead of driving, he jumped out of the car. The woman never threatened the man, nor brandished a weapon, so it is unclear what her intentions were. She may have been trying to get away from someone, or she may have been cold, or on drugs. It’s difficult to say, but the man assumed the worst and ran for help from a police officer.
Espinosa was in the driver’s seat, but had not driven anywhere when the officer approached her and grabbed her violently. Espinosa responded with a punch to the officer’s face, followed by a knee to his groin.
Espinosa was booked into the Ada County Jail, where she was all smiles.
For some, attacking a cop would be an almost certain death sentence. But Espinosa, who was charged with misdemeanor resisting, obstructing, and felonious assault or battery on a police officer, is alive and well — and actually had the chance to crack a smile.
H/T: Counter Current News | Image via Ada County Sheriff’s Office
I don’t believe that the government isn’t doing more to stop this. I would like to know is it something they teach at the academy or is this just people being idiots? Maybe both?
“Profiling in skin color” is a learned behavior. From movies to the street corner, if the cowboy has a white hat on and white skin tone… by golly he/she had to be good. The reverse it true for black, but they all have to be bad simply because like the darkness of night people are always bad if their skin color happen to be black. As far as this article is concerned, it provides nothing new, again simple because profiling in skin color goes so far back in history that it roots are truly over looked. If one is searching for an understanding of profiling of this type and why it is so ingrained in our culture, then one have to admit that the first slaves set it into motion what people of color have to endure these days with profiling in skin color. Over the years in this country, one just had to fight to just be called human. And continued from slave days just to be ranked higher than a horse on the animal scale. Once people of color rose higher than a horse, today we are classified as monsters and so black we appear to be green in color. Where one or two do bad things, the whole lot are branded the same. Those of the white color hue can go out and do mass murder of children, and as quick as the blink of eyes, the murders are just an aberration of their color hue. Time and time again, excuses are made for the white color hue, and the black color hue is continued to be painted as monsters of the worst kind. Can go on and on, but, will leave with one question that stays on this one’s mind… when is this nation that is continuing this profiling of skin color going to realize that this nation can’t survive as long it continue to be broken up in pieces by profiling in skin color?.
we all profile, you,me , and everyone. it is a form of self preservation. as a black man walking down the street and four men are walking towards you, do you feel more threatened by black or white men? if you listen to the news and you live in Chicago i believe you are heading for the other side of the street. if you dont you are a damn fool! Does that make you a racist or an intelligent decision maker???
lucky she was not a Brother. DOA
nothing pretty about this skank eww
I know, that’s so annoying. The single most important statistic that he based the article on and he can’t even complete the statement?
And I am really tired of the little bio’s of these writers where they have to try and show you how cool, clever and witty they are. I don’t care. I’d rather read an interesting and accurate story.
So skip the bio. You managed to skip the six other clickable links in his story. The info is there if you wanted it. I am a 58 year old American who happens to be black. So I have watched this tide go in and out for 45 yrs now. So yeah that happened.
So you guys didn’t click the link. It was kind of obvious to me that the aforementioned statistic led to a source. I will however grant you that the numbers are a bit fuzzy. Gee you’d think law enforcement agencies would keep better track of such things. Oops…
Are you a Black-Hispanic or pale enough to drive by the cops. If you’re not driving some pimped out ride. Also it’s friggin Idaho! With the exception of the nose and cheekbones she’s white enough.