Introduction
History books, scholarly articles, press briefs, and our education system remind us that American society is civilized. Our society is considered to have reached a stage of cultural and social development that is highly advanced, and Americans are not judged according to their race or gender. We are beguiled into believing that we are the best example of a civilized society that other nations, especially Africans, can imitate. While many believe that our societal and structural organization conforms to racial equality and non-discrimination, we are wrong since global media houses are flurried with news of racial killings and police brutality.
Our ‘Racially’ Incited Law Enforcement System
Our founding fathers dreamed that our law enforcement system upholds constitutionalism and belief in the bill of rights. While Thomas Jefferson inspired our American Bill of Rights, James Madison drafted the Bill of Rights that formed our constitution’s first ten amendments in 1791.[1] Among other provisions of the Bill of Rights include equality and non-discrimination rights. Our law enforcement system has a long history of metamorphosing from community-funded and volunteer work to state-funded work based on qualification. During the epoch of colonialism, the law enforcement role was carried out by volunteers funded by the local community. [2] With more than 18 000 state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, more than 420 000 police officers have been given the mantle of protecting all Americans regardless of their political affiliation and race. Unfortunately, our police officers have been on the frontline in violating the inalienable right to non-discrimination and the right to life.
George Floyd
The name ‘George Floyd’ rings the horrific man’s end day outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to his arrest footage, we could see Derek Chauvin, a white police officer kneeling on George’s neck while pinned on the floor. According to the police bodycam’s transcripts, the officers restrained him despite his twenty times pleas of not breathing. Mr. Floyd’s death was influenced by happenings that took place within thirty minutes. We must understand the issues circumventing the ‘murder’ of George. Mr. Floyd was suspected of having used a fake $20 to purchase a pack of cigarettes from a grocery store, Cups Foods. The store employee believed that the note used by George was counterfeit; thus, they reported the matter to the police. His eventual arrest led to his death. Floyd’s death raised unrest among the Americans who believed in inequality.
As Americans, we have never been united before as after the alleged murder of Floyd. We took on to the streets with no promise of making a compromise, if not an end to systemic racism. While people protested against the killing of George Floyd, the boycott was incited by several other killings, including the killing of a black woman, Breonna Taylor, in Kentucky. We showed the spirit of solidarity even more, when the National Basket Association, N.B.A., boycotted Pro Sports. The missed sports include the Major League, Major Soccer, and W.N.B.A.[3] While our solidary was strong enough to call to an end the police apteral police brutalism on the African America, there had been reported cases of racially inspired shooting among the police officers.
Solving the racially inspired police brutality may not be a walk in the park. Over time, different social movements have picketed, and peaceful demonstrations call racial killings in our law enforcement system. Unfortunately, the strategy has not borne us fruits. Perhaps, we should look into the root cause of the killings. The number of African-Americans killed is sufficient for our forensic experts to analyze and give us possible reasons for the killings. Our law enforcement system may adopt the forensic results and use them to stop ethnic profiling, disproportionality, and institutional racism, which can be driven by structural factors that are independent of ethnic profiling.[4] While racism is prevalent in our law enforcement system, some whites in our country have furthered the iniquity.
Our ‘racially’ incited citizens
Ironically, we blame the law enforcement system for racial killings while racism is prevalent among ordinary Americans. Racism is something we learn from our parents when we are young and results from specific social groups that strive to maintain their privileged position in American society. [5] The iniquity has burgeoned from the period of slavery, and it is now more complicated, albeit not being overtly exercised. We have blamed the recent cases of racism on the white American segment.
Ahmaud Arbery, too young to die
We have experienced the most tragic moment in the history of racism in America. Exactly eight years after the traumatizing killing of Treyvon Martin, a young and ambitious American high school boy was killed in “Self-defense.” According to the New York Times report, the victim was a football star who regularly ran to keep fit. The police report indicates that Arbery passed Gregory McMichael, who suspected him of being involved in a string of break-ins. Mr. McMichael called out to his son, Travis, who joined his father in chasing Arbery. Travis is suspected of having shot Arbery, who was unarmed. A surprising trend is that Gregory McMichael is a former police officer and retired investigator for the Brunswick district attorney’s office.[6] As we protest against the killing of Arbery, we should ask ourselves why most of the reported incidents of racism involve police officers.
As exciting news on the Arbery’s murder jury selection stream in, it is high time we fathom the life tome solution to end racism. Involving in protests may not be enough. Our political actors must come together and take stringent measures on our police department that has continually acted racially. Our judicial system is an independent organ of the government that could help enforce and direct how to handle racism. Although the solutions are institutionally based, racism can be fought best if we, the Americans, desist from racial profiling and being on the frontline in teaching our younger generation against racial practices.
Bibliography
Ahmaud Arbery Is Chased and Killed in “Self-Defense,” 8 Years After Trayvon Martin,” Equal Justice Initiative, last modified June 30, 2020, https://eji.org/news/eight-years-after-trayvon-martin-another-young-black-man-is-chased-and-killed-in-self-defense/.
American Civil Liberties Union. 2021. The Bill of Rights: A Brief History. [online] Available at: <https://www.aclu.org/other/bill-rights-brief-history> [Accessed 26 October 2021].
Marc Stein, “Led by N.B.A., Boycotts Disrupt Pro Sports in Wake of Blake Shooting (Published 2020),” The New York Times, last modified September 4, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/sports/basketball/nba-boycott-bucks-magic-blake-shooting.html.
Miller, Joel, Philip Gounev, András L. Pap, Dani Wagman, Anna Balogi, Tihomir Bezlov, Bori Simonovits, and Lili Vargha. “Racism and police stop: Adapting US and British debates to continental Europe.” European journal of criminology 5, no. 2 (2008): 161-191.
“Role of Police in America,” Charles Koch Institute, January 18, 2019, https://charleskochinstitute.org/stories/role-of-police-in-america/.
Sears, David O., Jim Sidanius, James Sidanius, and Lawrence Bobo, eds. Racialized politics: The debate about racism in America. University of Chicago Press, 2000.
[1] American Civil Liberties Union. 2021. The Bill of Rights: A Brief History. [online] Available at: <https://www.aclu.org/other/bill-rights-brief-history> [Accessed 26 October 2021].
[2] “Role of Police in America,” Charles Koch Institute, January 18, 2019, https://charleskochinstitute.org/stories/role-of-police-in-america/.
[3] Marc Stein, “Led by N.B.A., Boycotts Disrupt Pro Sports in Wake of Blake Shooting (Published 2020),” The New York Times, last modified September 4, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/sports/basketball/nba-boycott-bucks-magic-blake-shooting.html.
[4] Miller, Joel, Philip Gounev, András L. Pap, Dani Wagman, Anna Balogi, Tihomir Bezlov, Bori Simonovits, and Lili Vargha. “Racism and police stop: Adapting US and British debates to continental Europe.” European journal of criminology 5, no. 2 (2008): 161-191.
[5] Sears, David O., Jim Sidanius, James Sidanius, and Lawrence Bobo, eds. Racialized politics: The debate about racism in America. University of Chicago Press, 2000.
[6] “Ahmaud Arbery Is Chased and Killed in “Self-Defense,” 8 Years After Trayvon Martin,” Equal Justice Initiative, last modified June 30, 2020, https://eji.org/news/eight-years-after-trayvon-martin-another-young-black-man-is-chased-and-killed-in-self-defense/.
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