I’ve been meaning to write about this for sometime, and what better time on the anniversary of this tagic incident. There are three sides to this story. The side of the victims. The side of the plainclothes officers. And then there is the side of the Truth. Time will tell.
As a black man, I must say that the shooting of Sean Bell is beyond the term of “bad judgement”. Here it is a young black man, that is defying the stereotype, and trying to do the right thing by marrying his fiancee and be a father to his children is suddenly cut down … hours before his wedding. And all there is out there is a lot of assumptions and allegations. Not good enough. Especially since it cost the life of someone’s son, someone’s fiance and the father of two children. Seriously, there has to be serious repercussions. Wrist slaps no longer apply. To attempt to justify this by bringing up any criminal records (if there are any) of the three victims is just as bad as blaming a rape victim for wearing tight fitting or revealling clothes. Stop it.
As a recently employed member of a federal national security agency (and I’m not saying which), I have to say to most that if you are not in it then don’t be quick to judge it. In a high tension situation there is very little room for second guessing. For the most second guessing could simply mean death. It seems as if the lessons from the Amadou Diallo case has not been learned. Thirty-one shots pumped into a man reaching for wallet. And now fifty bullets fired at three unarmed citizens from what was deemed as a possible threat. Nine or twelve bullets is one thing. Fifty is overkill. Even enemy combatants in war are afforded a better death despite the tons of bullets flying through air. I’ll go even further to say that if it took five soldiers to lob fifty rounds at three enemy combatants, then that is what, my firearms instructor, would call ineffective marksmanship. Which also translates to ineffective soldiers. Get what I am saying here?
So who’s to blame? The cops. Or the victims. Time will have to tell on this one. But the blame does not stop with cops or the victims. Surprise. There is a lot more of it to go around. It gets really “controversial” and politically incorrect beyond this point.
Firstly, the criminal elements of the black community. I know, not exactly the most shocking. The Bloods, Crips and all the other shitty groups out there that have nothing to offer but chaos and destruction have, over the years, helped fostered an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia when it comes to dealing with black males. It was laughable watching the Bloods and Crips coming together to form a protest in support of Sean Bell in 2006. Wait a minute, didn’t these clowns form a “truce” in the 90s with the Rodney King incident? Gee, I wondered what happened. And this is the irony that smacks me in my face and yet begs me to love it. It is all a big pantomime, for if the Crips and Bloods really wanted to show their support there would be no Bloods and Crips in the first place. These are the very folks that run around spreading the notion that the cops that patrol black neighborhoods are like an occupying force. Hate to break the news, but when I was visiting friends in South Jamaica I was more fearful of these so-called “freedom fighters” than the very cops that patrolled the neighborhood. Oh did I mention that some of these “freedom fighters” were actually selling destruction to the very neighborhood that they commanded respect from. Hmm, seemed more like insurgents to me. The Bloods and Crips announcing an alliance in the time of injustice on a black person is an empty gesture. The only time it really matters is if it leads to a disbandment of the gangs or gang members strapping lead weights to themselves and jumping off a cliff into the Marianas Trench. Either it would mean a good start in the right direction for the black community. Any short of those two extremes are not more than a sick appeal for the spot light.
Secondly, our so-called leaders. I remember the year this incident occurred, I saw this black guy on NY1 decrying so-called leaders such as Sharpton as mere frauds. It is good to know that I’m not the only one that’s been awake and paying attention. For the most folks like Sharpton, Barron and Jackson have spent their influence coddling dysfunctions of the black community and passing them off as political prisoners. Nelson Mandela was a political prisoner. Drug dealers and thugs that just happened to be mistreated by overzealous (and possibly racist) police officers are not. Get the definitions right. What is the worth of a black life? According to the actions of folks like Sharpton and Jackson, it is dependent on the skin color of the person that takes it. On an annual basis, many blacks lose their lives at the hands of other blacks, and its business as usual. However, if the perpetrator is white (whether it is a civilian or law enforcement), suddenly the esteemed “reverend” realizes how valuable the life of a black person is. Still unclear? Let me up the ante. Which is worst? The hundreds of bullets that are fired by many blacks that claim the lives of other blacks annually or, fifty rounds fired by five undercover officers at three black victims? The answer to that question is simple: they both are. But it seems as if our wonderful “leaders” only care about this if its “newsworthy” and adds to their numerous moments in the spotlight. How lovely. And the sad news is, many of us still hold these clowns to high esteem as they ride on the coat tails of the civil rights movement. Much like a plane flying on fuel fumes.
Thirdly, ourselves. That includes me. We’ve sat by and let the idiots run the show. We’ve paid good money to support the urban garbage that is spewed from Hollywood which only stigmatizes us further. We sit and let hip-hop idiots disgrace our community, and instead of decrying it, we accept it because we want to prove that we’re hip to our kids. Bullshit. If you know better, teach your children better or at least have them associate with those that know better. A kid wearing a “No Snitch” or snowman T-shirt isn’t developing an interest in politics. They’re supporting the very people that create this atmosphere of suspicion about black citizens especially black males. In case you don’t know, the “No Snitch” campaign was started by drug dealer. You might not buy his drugs, but you’re buying his T-shirts. Get what I’m saying? Same applies to those Snowman T-shirts. Get a clue folks. This is no longer “cute”. The thug swagger, according to Summner Redstone, that is marktetable is no longer “cute”. The Yo Momma jokes are no longer “cute”. And those damned red, black and yellow bandannas are no longer “cute”. We know better. Wake up. Wake the hell up. Please. Damn it. What will it take?
Standing and screaming about “no justice, no peace” is great, but without appropriate action it is EMPTY. In short, it is time to clean house. Anything less will result in more Bells, Diallos and Kings. And that would be the real tragedy.
