News stories of police using excessive force are ubiquitous. Disturbing videos and images plaster our screens, whether hand-held or mounted to our walls, threatening to desensitize us to the horrors of injustice. On August 2, 2019, an article by Mary Tuma titled “Austin Police Encouraged to Use Excessive Force?” was featured in The Austin Chronicle. Tuma wrote, “The violence inflicted on Soto-Torres, his attorneys claim, is even ‘worse’ and more excessive than what King suffered. The suit notes that APD and the city had prior knowledge of the abusive history of the officers, but took no action to prevent future incidents and failed to take steps to determine whether the officers were unfit to serve or a danger to others. The city's ‘failures to terminate and/or discipline its officers who continue using excessive force encourages officers to use excessive force when the use of such force is not necessary,’ the suit reads.”
Police brutality in this nation has a past that is painful and prolonged. In a six part series for Eastern Kentucky University, Dr. Gary Potter chronicles the history of policing in the United States from the 1600s to present day. With piercing analysis, Dr. Potter explains the origin and evolution of what we know as the police force while providing answers to questions about the nature and purpose of police.
To be clear, I am against the police brutalizing people, which is not the same as being anti-police. Valuing black and brown lives, and advocating for people to be treated with dignity and respect, is not in opposition to valuing “blue lives.” I will publish a full blog post on the topic of police brutality with recommended resources in early September. Our present is intertwined with and informed by our past. We must face the past so we can heal the future.
*Edited to add: On June 17, 2020, I came across The Redemption Project with Van Jones for CNN. I read the words, “Face the past. Heal the future.” I will no longer use this phrase for my Headlines and History posts beginning in June 2020.
#policebrutality #thehistoryofpolicebrutality #slavepatrols #antibrutalitynotpolice #loveyourneighbor #seekjustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #lament #repent #repair #facethepast #healthefuture #headlinesandhistory #historyandheadlines #broadeningthenarrative
The History of Policing in the United States, Part 1 by Dr. Gary Potter
The History of Policing in the United States, Part 2 by Dr. Gary Potter
The History of Policing in the United States, Part 3 by Dr. Gary Potter
The History of Policing in the United States, Part 4 by Dr. Gary Potter
The History of Policing in the United States, Part 5 by Dr. Gary Potter
The History of Policing in the United States, Part 6 by Dr. Gary Potter
Podcast Rec - August 13, 2019
Podcast Rec - August 13, 2019
Past Listen - The Bible for Normal People: Episode 34: Jen Hatmaker: Changing Your Mind about the Bible: A Survivor’s Guide (Released January 29, 2018)
“I was solidly an adult before I gave myself permission to become a critical thinker about faith, about the Bible, about cultural understandings of all of those things.” - Jen Hatmaker
There are people I am friends with irl who may want to sit me down for an intervention after seeing me recommend this podcast, but I keep thinking about the quote from Rachel Held Evans I shared last week. “I think (the Bible) is strong enough, and I think God's a big enough God to handle my doubts ... it was Job who finally is blessed by God, and it was Job who said, ‘I desire to have an argument with God.’... And it all points to a God and to a scripture that can handle it, that isn't fragile and breakable and always in need of constant defense.”
What podcasts have you listened to recently?
#peteenns #jaredbyas #jenhatmaker #thebiblefornormalpeople #podcast #podcastrecommendation #faith #lovingthebibleagain #loveyourneighbor #broadeningthenarrative
Account to Follow - August 14, 2019
Additional Rec - August 15, 2019
Account to Follow - August 14, 2019
I have the privilege of knowing the person behind today’s account irl. As you can see on her site for Bandy's Notebook, Sequana has "a collection of musical, expositional, and visual expressions winnowed from (her) notebook to yours."
Sequana is gifted and has created some beautiful music that gets stuck in your head and transforms your heart. I am incredibly thankful for her and want to see her flourish in all she does.
Follow @bandy_that_one_girl, and support her inspiring work.
#bandy #bandysnotebook #newartist #femalerapper #hiphop #music #support #pioneer #community #broadeningthenarrative
Additional Rec - August 15, 2019
In January last year, I watched the video “What Afro-Latinos Want You to Know” on the Pero Like YouTube Channel. I have included several quotes from the contributors to the video.
“We’ve been colonized so poorly that we want to identify with being white so much, not all of us but many of us, that we look down on dark skin.” - Aida Rodriguez
“You, as a black Latino, have two problems. First, you’re black and get discriminated for being black. Secondly, you’re Latino and get discriminated for being Latino. So you’re a double minority.” - Antonio Curtis
“Your parents are instilling in you that these European features are the most beautiful things. The standard of beauty for them is blond hair and blue eyes.” - Gadiel Del Orbe
Do you have any additional resources for broadening the narrative?
#afrolatinoexperiences #perolike #conversationsaboutrace #endwhitesupremacy #dismantlewhitesupremacy #beautyindiversity #bettertogether #empathy #learning #challengethenarrative #broadeningthenarrative
Book Rec - Aug. 17, 2019
Book Rec - Aug. 17, 2019
Current Read- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass
"In August, 1832, my master attended a Methodist camp-meeting held in the Bay-side, Talbot county, and there experienced religion. I indulged a faint hope that his conversion would lead him to emancipate his slaves, and that, if he did not do this, it would, at any rate, make him more kind and humane. I was disappointed in both these respects. It neither made him to be humane to his slaves, nor to emancipate them. If it had any effect on his character, it made him more cruel and hateful in all his ways; for I believe him to have been a much worse man after his conversion than before. Prior to his conversion, he relied upon his own depravity to shield and sustain him in his savage barbarity; but after his conversion, he found religious sanction and support for his slave-holding cruelty. He made the greatest pretensions to piety. His house was the house of prayer. He prayed morning, noon, and night. He very soon distinguished himself among his brethren, and was soon made a class-leader and exhorter. His activity in revivals was great, and he proved himself an instrument in the hands of the church in converting many souls. His house was the preachers’ home. They used to take great pleasure in coming there to put up; for while he starved us, he stuffed them. We have had three or four preachers there at a time" (Douglass, 1845, p.21).
“They attend with Pharisaical strictness to the outward forms of religions and at the same time, neglect the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith. They are always ready to sacrifice, but seldom to show mercy. They are they who are represented as professing to love God whom they have not seen, whilst they hate their brother whom they have seen” (Douglass, 1845, p.44).
The narrative of Frederick Douglass' life is vital to understanding both the past and present. His words toward those who professed Christ while enslaving neighbors are applicable today for those who claim to love Jesus while their hearts are hardened to the plight of people of color. As I read, I thought of Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 1 John 3:17-18, Matthew 25:34-40, and Micah 6:8. I long to see all who say, “Lord, Lord” love the least of these, give generously, and seek restorative justice.
What are you reading?
#currentread #narrativeofthelifeoffrederickdouglass #bookrecommendation #frederickdouglass #narrative #blackauthor #blacknonfiction #blackhistory #history #reading #learning #audiobook #seekjustice #restorativejustice #lovemercy #walkhumbly #lament #repent #repair #broadeningthenarrative
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