interacting with the police - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-29T09:31:56Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/interacting+with+the+policePrisons, Race and Police Brutality: The Relationship Between Economic Inequality, Poverty and Racismhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/prisons-race-and-police-brutality-the-relationship-between-econom2015-04-17T15:51:35.000Z2015-04-17T15:51:35.000ZTheBlackList-Publisherhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/TheBlackListPublisher<div><div id="article-body"><div id="article-content"><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.pigviolence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-544861_10150681440609895_1744145131_n1.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://www.pigviolence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cropped-544861_10150681440609895_1744145131_n1.jpg" alt="cropped-544861_10150681440609895_1744145131_n1.jpg" /></a>According to recent studies, African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of white people in America. And yet, African Americans and Hispanics make up less than 25% of the American population. Let me reiterate, although African Americans and Hispanics comprise less than 25% of the American populace, they comprise 58% of the prison population in America.</p>
<p>It is through this lens, and the lens of economic inequality that we must view the killings of minorities in the United States by the police. Slavery left in its wake generation poverty, educational deficits and other economic biases whose pernicious effects still reverberate today. Consider that up until the 1970's it was commonplace for African Americans to be denied loans for homes. Laws were eventually put in place to prevent housing and lending discrimination but what are the effects of the earlier victimization?</p>
<p>Home ownership is the financial backbone of wealth in the middle class. Having a home grants equity and borrowing/capital power that most families use to help pass on wealth, stability and means to their future children. But it wasn't until the 1990's that most African American families had acquired their first homes. And just as most African Americans were coming into their prime for being able to acquire their first homes, the financial meltdown hit, causing many of them to lose their homes, or their ability to acquire a mortgage. All of this leads me to the inexorable conclusion that poverty and scarcity are endemic within the average African American community.</p>
<p>According to the 2013 census, African Americans as a race constitute the lowest percentage of home ownership, sitting at just a little over 46%. Growing up poor in the inner cities, often with a fractured family structure, in one rental or another can't lend the best role models of how to get ahead. Inner cities often have dropout rates higher than 40%. With less than 50 percent of African Americans coming from a position of home ownership and less than half of them from cities like Detroit graduating from high school, they are left in an economically vulnerable position. Lack of role models aside, I'm saying that in many cases, some of them turn to crime in order to make basic ends meet. I'm not justifying breaking the law. I'm arguing that having food to eat trumps the need to operate within the confines of the law.</p>
<p>Regardless of the reasons for committing crime among minorities, what we are left with are an inordinate amount of minorities in prison, and an exceptional amount being killed by police. According to a study done by the Justice Department, between 2003 and 2009, blacks were 4 times more likely to be killed by police than whites while attempting to be placed in custody. I'd be hard pressed to say that given the disparity between the amount of whites and blacks committing crimes that the blacks are justifiably murdered by police at a rate four times higher. In my opinion the reason more blacks are killed than whites has less to do with economics than with culture. If I were a minority, and I knew that I was being profiled, and likely could end up murdered or in prison if I committed a crime, I would be scared out of mind. In fact, I would be scared even if I didn't break the law. By all realistic accounts, police kill over 1000 people annually, and report 400. I'm willing to bet that many of those outlying 600 are disproportionately minorities.</p>
<p>What is the solution? Is it more training for police? Is it stricter penalties for cops that profile? Is it raising awareness of economic inequality and trying to bolster the poor? Is it ending systemic racism in places of authority? Is it combating the culture of violence that we as Americans endear so much? It could be all of those things and more. But if our police can't lead by example then our communities can't trust them. We need to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pigviolence.com">stop police brutality</a>. And that starts with exposing the uncomfortable truths hiding in plain sight all around us.</p>
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<div id="article-resource"><p>Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pigviolence.com">http://www.pigviolence.com</a> for videos, maps, articles and more information on police brutality in the United States.</p>
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<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_S_Mill">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_S_Mill</a></p>
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<div style="overflow:hidden;">Article Source: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/8764250">http://EzineArticles.com/8764250</a></div>
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<p></p></div>Dear Black People: "Stop Running From the Police" -- An open letter to unarmed African Americanshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/dear-black-people-stop-running-from-the-police-an-open-letter-to-2015-04-14T12:30:00.000Z2015-04-14T12:30:00.000ZSendMeYourNewshttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/SendMeYourNews<div><p><i style="font-family:verdana;font-size:small;"><br /> By Orrin Hudson, former police officer-turned-community activist.<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3828572125,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}3828572125,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-full" width="500" alt="3828572125?profile=original" /></a></i></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><b> </b>I've said it before, and I'll say it again: In a situation with the police, it’s not immediately about who is right or wrong, it’s about staying alive. If the police are making a wrongful arrest, this can be corrected later at a safer time.</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2">Too many unarmed African American men are losing their lives to white police officers, and most of the time justice is not being served. But even if justice is served, a valuable life has already been lost.</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2">I served as a state police officer in Alabama for 6 years from 1986 to 1993, and I have some very helpful, life-saving advice to share with both young ones and adults. Every move you make has consequences, and you can make one move, and never recover.</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2">Here are 5 things to keep in mind when interacting with the police:</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><b>1) Don't run.</b> Although running from the police should not be a death sentence, if oftens ends up this way. So don't do it! Doing so will heighten the aggression of an officer, especially if he/she is not sure if you are armed. It also puts them in a position where they have to make spur-of-the-moment decisions, which increases the chance of an officer deciding to end your life. So stay put!</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><b>2) Show respect at all times.</b> A police officer's duty is to serve and protect, but if he/she is out of line or bullying you, continue to be respectful. Say "sir" and "no sir", and "may I" and "thank you"! These will keep the situation from escalating. If the officer is violating your rights in any way, you can fight this matter at a later and safer time.</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><b>3) Keep your hands where they can be seen.</b> Do not make the officer feel threatened in any way. At all times, keep your hands visible. Many police officers, especially white police officers, will feed into stereotypes. They may be assuming that you have a weapon just because you are Black or because they feel you look like you are up to no good!</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><b>4) You have the right to remain silent.</b> If you feel that you are being wrongfully arrested, you do not have to speak on it as this likely will not change the officer's mind. Keeping quiet protects you legally, and also keeps the situation calm and peaceful.</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><b>5) Sign the ticket and leave.</b> If you are being pulled over for speeding, simply sign the ticket and leave. Signing the ticket does not mean that you are admitting guilt; its only a promise to appear in court on the date listed on the ticket. Arguing with the officer about it will only make the situation worse, and perhaps raise his level of aggression.</font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><i>Orrin Hudson is a former Alabama state trooper, but is now the founder of <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001xLq_r4X8ZMBOwMVfGCrQNVwF7q9V8nsA4xOjY-JIIWDlOBLFzv-WF3rWtZVA0l5TnPlg37wxGlq1mUETXE39LNBvqfIURXiPmVeBH8AXISVyybEv2WH6_XEHTU55_D8XIPYgjy1ZDGye97NPqi-N0YF_THXLEg4OS85QgO3YV2M=&c=5MuTxo0Z9JH32Vo5wYR4qSOJJ7qlAf7pg_f8b9_e27PjSF_rQRTrzA==&ch=K2FJ5yZz1bnOAWo6Sm9HjU9rRx0bVaYezGGvm-L1MnFTKN5EdEyWSA==" target="_blank">Be Someone</a> - a non-profit organization that trains urban youth and adults on how to be make better decisions in life. He does workshops at schools, churches, and community centers all across the country, and has been recognized by CNN, Good Morning America, and People Magazine.</i></font></p>
<p><font color="#000000" face="verdana" size="2"><br /> ~</font></p>
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<p><span style="color:#ff0000;" class="font-size-6"><strong>ALSO READ:</strong></span> </p>
<ol><li><span class="font-size-6"><strong><a href="http://theblacklistpub.ning.com/xn/detail/2055350:Photo:204744">10 Rules of Survival When A Young Black Man Is Stopped by the Police<br /><br /></a></strong></span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-6"><strong> </strong></span><a href="http://theblacklistpub.ning.com/xn/detail/2055350:Photo:105348"><span class="font-size-6"><strong>Police Interactions 101: How To Interact with the Police in Your Car, On the Streets, In Your Home</strong></span><br /><br /></a></li>
<li><h1><a href="http://theblacklistpub.ning.com/profiles/blogs/what-to-do-if-you-re-stopped-by-the-police-nyclu?utm_content=bufferaef7a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">What To Do If You’re Stopped By The Police - NYCLU</a></h1>
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<li><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" xml:lang="en" lang="en"><p>Alarmingly accurate parody - Surviving a police encounter <a href="http://t.co/hbEOaKLtde">pic.twitter.com/hbEOaKLtde</a></p>
— zellie (@zellieimani) <a href="https://twitter.com/zellieimani/status/586595706208706563">April 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<li><h3><span class="font-size-4"><strong><a href="http://theblacklistpub.ning.com/group/questionoftheweek/forum/topics/how-do-black-boys-survive-in-a-stand-your-ground-environment">How do Black boys survive in a "Stand Your Ground" environment?</a></strong></span></h3>
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