by
Dominique DiPrima
Twenty years ago the beating of Rodney King brought decades of anger and frustration to a boiling point and exploded in the streets of Los Angeles and urban centers across the nation. I was in San Francisco at the time and we poured into the downtown area, some chanting, some busting windows, even destroying police cars. Later we rallied at Glide Church fired up and ready to take action.
Everyone protesting back in 1992 knew it was not the one incident that unleashed the rage and chaos. It was the constant experience of driving, walking, going to school or just living while Black or Brown. It was the double standard. Almost every person of color (and many of consciousness regardless of color) knew that had Rodney King been white, regardless of his record, demeanor, or alleged intoxication he would not have been beaten so savagely by Los Angeles police officers – might not have been beaten at all.
Fast forward twenty years. Sure, much has changed. This is not your father’s LAPD, and although we have a long way to go, the ghost of Darryl Gates has gone…well…wherever it was supposed to go. Poetically enough, last month the LAPD found Officer Patrick Smith guilty of racial profiling. The first time ever in LAPD history that such a ruling has been made! And while his punishment, if any, remains to be seen, it is certainly a landmark.
Still, when Trayvon Martin was killed, we hit the streets en masse, once again…in 2012. True, the protests are peaceful, and the triggerman is not an officer. But once again most of us just knew in our guts that if Trayvon had not been Black, he would be alive today. We knew that he was another tragic example in a long line of fatal cases of simply walking, talking, or living while Black. Most of us felt that if the shooter George Zimmerman had been Black, if the tables were turned, he would have arrested and remained in jail. It was the double standard again.
But people’s eyes are opening. This time the protestors are from every ethnicity, culture, class and gender. This time the perspective, although it still has a so-called racial divide is more sharply defined by consciousness. This time the mainstream press has to cover the case in a different way, constantly challenged by the social media, and the “people’s spin.”
This is not post-racial America, but it is a new day. Some feel that with the cases of Kendrec McDade the teenager killed by Pasadena police; Anthony Dunn, the postal worker mowed down by an unlicensed driver; and stories like the Oklahoma shooting spree it is “open season” on Black people in America. Perhaps not. Maybe we are just hearing more about these cases, because they are finally being seen as unacceptable by enough people! We know attacks on Black people, whether through profiling or straight hate crimes are not new…Maybe the outcry is. And, sad as it may seem, that does represent progress. If we are not beyond race, not beyond profiling perhaps we can at least move beyond the double standard.
April 23, 2012 at 11:05 pm
My heart & soul are heavy for the family and friends of not only Trayvon but for ANYONE and EVERYONE who has lost a loved one to senseless violence. I am a surviving single mother of a 22 yr old son was was shot @ point blank range, one shot to the head, who was never in a gang but murdered by 4 guys in a gang due to the jealously of one of them back in HIGH SCHOOL!!!!
“STOPPPPPPP!!!!” please. It is bad enough we have fought the fight all of these years against those other haters but do we really need to keep fighting each other? NO!!!! Why can’t we prove that we are the strongest out there and lift each other up to the highest heights? Look at us…we have the highest position in the country filled by one of our own. He and his wife constantly and consistently execute the utmost class and dignity at all times. We need to watch, listen, learn and imitate their behavior.
One of the most prolific things I have ever heard came for a line in the STOP THE VIOLENCE rap back in the 80’s by Kool Moe D: I never ever ran from the KLU KLUX KLAN and I shouldn’t have to run from a BLACK MAN…cuz that’s Self Destruction. Yes, if we do not get it together immediately, that is exactly what will happen to our race.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
April 26, 2012 at 5:37 am
Hi Domnique and to Miss Sondra . Yes your right to a certain exstent, yes we need to do a better job sticking together, but remember children learn by example the idea of do as I say not as I do doesn’t work. I lived out here since the 80’s before that I use to visit off and on in the 70’s . I’ve lost two young family members ages 6 and 9 and lots of friends also who’s died or their lives change for the worst. It’s by the Grace of God I didn’t get caught up, thanks to my up bringing by Parents who were activist in the 60’s. One in the last three weeks on Washington Watch Roland interviewed Harry Bellifonte. They talked about where things went wrong. That after the movement we became pre-occupied with living in the Suburbs and earning a living and having nice things we forgot how and what it took to get there and forgot the concept of each one teach one. We thoutht we made it .So the intercity was flooded with Guns and Dope and Compahy mergers and mass layoffs especially of Black Men , remember the to for one rule during the years of Affermtive Action.Men sometimes force to leave their home and families in a lot of the cases. Racial Profiling and Harrasment. The loss of Black Businesse’s. and othe businesse’s from the intercity breeding depression, anger and frustrations and Urban flight. Then came th Rodney King and Latasha Harlins and the Rampart and the ones that didn’t get filmed. So now we have several Police shootings of unarmed men and women Oscar Grant, Trevon Martin high unemployment in the Black community more than before a large homeless population and Politicians and Mass Media and a segment of our nation that think all is well and Justified. What do you think is going to happen.?
April 26, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Good morning Dominique and Ron:
I agree with all that you have reminded us of. I was born and raised here in the OC but my stomping grounds were from San Diego to LA to Santa Barbara. I have been through, seen and experienced all the aforementioned. It is a sad deal we have gotten but there is NOTHING standing our way but ourselves to make our lives better. I am a very involved parent and kept my sons involved in sports, Church, community services and have stood by them every step of the way in everything they do from all of that to my older son making my home into his studio for recording. If it is good, exciting, legal and something they want to try….I AM THERE!!! I taught them how to throw a football…kick a field goal….hold a bat…shoot from the line…the stance in getting ready to run a track race….on the Board of Directors in any little league…team mom…coach….WHATEVER it takes. I dont knock their dads for not being there. I just know they will have to answer for that when they meet their Maker. Not for me to judge. I cant hold on to that, I have young men to raise to be better men than the ones who donated to their creation. My sons are humble, great spirited, helping, giving, caring, warm-hearted, generous young men and I take them back to the old school ways of being “GENTLEMEN”. They are and I am proud of them. I hear great things about them from other parents which let me know I put them on the right path of life. I have taught them that whatever you do….teach a friend or two…then they will pass it along to others as well. With this mentatilty I am praying we can get back to just being nice to each other. Speak and say “hi” or compliment someone. It doesnt hurt, take much time, or cost you anything to be nice to someone…ANYONE!!! Remember to teach our kids to hug, it feels good and is a great form of love & tension release. One of the most prolific things we live by is to always…always always say I LOVE YOU before parting ways…you never know if that is the last thing someone ever hears from you. It has held true in the case of my mother the night before she passed and my son the last time I spoke to him before he was murdered little over 5 yrs ago. It’s the simple things in life that can & does make a difference. We need to stop thriving on all the negative things and focus on the positive. Definatley dont close our eyes to what is going on around us but dont live just by the bad things. 🙂