Category Archives: Race/Civic Issues

The Murder of Walter Scott

Throughout the course of this week I have faced disappointment after disappointment when it comes to the topic of police brutality. As seen in my other Civic Issues posts, racism and police brutality are both topics that I hold dear to my heart, and I am very passionate about. It is obvious that police brutality, especially against black men has become a problem to say the least in recent years, but it seems as though the problem is only getting worse and not better. I understand that it is not a small issue, and that changing the justice system isn’t something that can be done overnight, but the heinous crimes against black males in our country are only getting more and more popular, and something needs to be done. I first became involved in this topic with the murder of Trayvonn Martin.

 

Although I was younger and didn’t quite understand the magnitude of the problem at hand, I knew something was very wrong, and although I didn’t have the power to change anything about the acquittal of Andrew Zimmerman, I made it a point to educate myself, and so my activism began. The 2014-2015 year has been terrifying for the black community, and sad to say the least. As of today, a black man is killed by police every 21 hours, which is absolutely shocking.  I have read about so many police brutality cases over the past year, including Mike Brown, Aiyana Jones, John Crawford, Tamir Rice, Martese Johnson, and the most recent, Walter Scott.

 

Though it saddens me beyond belief the Walter Scott was murdered, I felt a little relief because finally the officer at fault was put behind bars. Although there is still a trial ahead, I have seen actions taken in this case that I have not seen in many others. The officer has recently lost his job, and remains behind bars until further notice. Earlier in the week a cell phone video was released of the events that took place in South Carolina that day, and for this I am grateful because I am almost certain that the officer would have walked free if it had not been for the cell phone recording. In the video, you can see Walter Scott running away from the officer (with his back towards him), and the officer waits until the man is at least twenty feet away from him to fire eight shots to his back. After Scott falls to the ground, the officer is heard screaming “put your hands behind your back” multiple times. At the time he did not know he was being recorded. In my opinion, he shouted those words so that if any witnesses were to testify, they would say that they heard the officer giving the man orders. He then walks over to the dead body and places handcuffs on him! He is also seen picking up the taser and placing it closer to the victim without ever attempting to save his life. It saddens me that at that moment, the officer was more concerned about covering himself up than saving someone’s life, but unfortunately that is the world we live in today. Students all over the country are showing their respects including the students at Penn State. There will be a candle lighting in remembrance of Walter Scott on April 9th, at Old Main at 8pm.

 

 

Hip-Hop has Done More Damage than Racism

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I came across this article in the Huffington Post this morning, and I have to say I couldn’t be more offended. For starters, I didn’t know who Geraldo Rivera was, but after doing a little research I found out that he has dipped into many different careers including an attorney, reporter, journalist, and television personality. Based on his numerous professions he is obviously a well educated man, which came as a shock to me after hearing what he had to say about Hip Hop. I also saw that Rivera frequently appears on Fox News, which I already have mixed views about because of their clear biased opinions.

In his rant according to the Huffington Post, River challenged anyone to find “a youngster — a Puerto Rican from the South Bronx or a black kid from Harlem who has succeeded in life other than being the one-tenth of one-tenth of one percent that make it in the music business — that’s been a success in life walking around with his pants around his ass and with visible tattoos…”. I have to say I was appalled, not only by this ridiculous statement, but also by the fact that no one thought to challenge his outrageous beliefs. I also didn’t think it was appropriate for Rivera to slander particular races and cultures in the media without any consequences – this is what is stopping racial tensions in the United States from moving forward.

Especially after taking this course, I strongly believe that before we can move forward in an attempt to stop racial tension, we must learn to understand and respect that we are all different, physically and mentally. Geraldo Rivera needs a couple semesters of RCL before returning to his job on Fox, because his comments are unacceptable.

What most people fail to realize about hip-hop is that it isn’t just a hobby, or a way to rebel against society. Especially for people like me, music is an art and therapy for people to relate to. “Black and brown people” as Rivera calls us, turn to hip hop because we cannot turn to people like him with our problems, with fear of being judged because we don’t fit into the mold of success that society has formed. So, his logic is that because myself or my brother’s feel the need to immerse ourselves in hip hop we can’t be successful? Associating hip hop to ones success or lack thereof makes no sense, because hip hop is part of a culture. I don’t see people of Fox and CNN blaming religion or sports for the failure of any specific race, therefore it is unjust to pin failure on a black person for the simple fact that they feel the need to express themselves through music.

Rivera’s point that only a tenth of a tenth of one percent of people are actually successful in their music career is irrelevant to his argument. Most people write and spit bars as therapy, and not just for money. As hard as it may be for him to believe, not everything the black youth chooses to do is to make money. It also doesn’t make sense for him to equate hip hop to just “black and brown” people because there are many successful white hip hop artists (Eminem, Iggy Azalea) that began there career the same way that black artists did – with a dollar and a dream. I also have friends that are not black or hispanic, but still listen to rap music, wear their pants low, and are covered in tattoos from head to toe. But of course, Rivera chooses to only associate these characteristics with the black youth, and that is what bothers me.

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Sources:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/17/geraldo-rivera-hip-hop-racism_n_6701628.html

Civic Issues: Biased Views on Ferguson

I recently came across an article about the Ferguson case that caught my attention. I decided to write a letter to the author.

Michael Brown: A Criminal and a Thug

Dear Matthew Vadum,

I write to you in response to your gut wrenching biased article that was published in Front Page Magazine titled “Michael Brown: A Criminal and a Thug”. The fact is, most of the claims in your article are strictly matters of opinion or hearsay, and are not backed up by any facts or evidence. I have read your article through and through, and fully understand that the Ferguson case is anything but black and white, and that there are many sides to every story. However, this is no excuse for your demonization of the community of Ferguson, the “No Justice No Peace” movement, and key aspects of the African American community (such as rap music). Based on the claims in your article, there are no grounds for you to label Brown as a criminal or thug. Considering the facts, which are that he was an eighteen year old unarmed teen, it is safe to say that Michael Brown was a victim of police brutality, which unfortunately is not uncommon today.

In your article, you highlight the rioting and looting that took place in Ferguson, demeaning the members of its community and suggesting that all black protesters had violent and destructive intentions. You state that the governor’s decisions “predictably, led to more looting of stores and all the things that usually happen when an angry, violent mob is rewarded for its bad behavior” (Vadum 1). I was unaware that tear gassing, beating, and shooting rubber bullets at protesters was the Ferguson Police Department’s way of rewarding them for said “bad behavior”.

What you fail to realize is that what took place in Ferguson is not uncommon in the United States by any means. However, because of your motive to portray Brown supporters as savages rather than protesters, you neglect the fact that riots/looting occur constantly in predominantly white communities in the United States. Take the pumpkin festival in Keene, NH for example where citizens set fires, assaulted officers, and damaged street signs over you guessed it… pumpkins. What about Huntington Beach, CA where surfers set fire to stores and vehicles on the street after winning a surf competition? The fact is, rioting and looting are very common across our country, but it is convenient for you to use what took place in Ferguson to discredit the motives of protesters.

 

Above is Penn State in 2011 after Joe Paterno was fired.

To add, I also do not agree with the way you went about portraying Michael Brown in your attempt to equate his culture to being a thug. You describe him as “hulking” and “nearly 300-lbs” as if that has anything to do with his character. You also go on to insinuate that because he listen to and wrote rap music (something that is considered an art to African Americans) he had a motive to assault Officer Darren Wilson. Your conclusions are not drawn from any solid evidence, and your writing lacks professionalism.

Best of luck in your future endeavors,

Jahaira Semedo