"If a Cop Kills My Son..." [A KAG Klip]
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000

Lately, so much has been going on in the aftermath of the recent rash of
police killings of unarmed Black men in NYC that I've had no time to
digest it all. Much of the activity is encouraging. Demonstrations are
picking up steam -- with kids from college, high school and junior high
school getting involved. The Mayor's few high-profileBlack supporters are
starting to jump ship. Hilary is beating the dreaded Ghouliani in the
polls. A major economic boycott of the city's white-owned businesses is
scheduled for Easter week and beyond. Even the majority of white New
Yorkers seem to be turning against the mayor for his thoughtlessly
insensitive handling of the Dorismond shooting. (Intriguingly, Rudy
remains as popular as ever with upstate whites.) Three out of four Black
New Yorkers now disapprove of the Mayor's handling of the police. Let's
hope the anger continues to build and build, eventually extinguishing that
evil man's political career.

And this ain't just a NYC thang.... Out west in Los Angeles, more than
FIFTY "guilty" convictions have been overturned as the full extent of
their police corruption becomes apparent. Now we discover that cops
routinely brutalized and robbed citizens in the name of fighting gangs.
They planted evidence, set up innocent people and beat false confessions
out of them. Indeed, many of the recently overturned convictions were
guilty pleas. The people *knew* that they had been set up but they also
knew that judges tend to believe the word of police officers over that of
poor people of color. And some clueless people still wonder why O.J. got
off! The LAPD has much to answer for.

Despite all the current hubbub, however, I bet that all this will be
forgotten by the majority of Americans before too long. Some cosmetic
changes will be made. A few people will lose their jobs. Minorities will
grumble but life will return to "business as usual." White America will
return to its slumber -- until the next eruption.

And so it goes....

Saturday night, I spent a rare evening bar-hopping in Hell's Kitchen
with my younger twin brothers (Troy and Bryan) and nine of Troy's
buddies. The event was Troy's bachelor party. Our happy band was
comprised of six Blacks, three Latinos, two Asians and one white,
ranging in age from 22 to 39. (I may share my impressions of attending
Legz Diamond, an adult establishment featuring nude dancers, in a future
KentAGram.) I am pleased to report that there were no negative incidents
and a good time was had by all. My parents have confessed that they worry
when their sons are out on the town, especially in NYC. Even "nice" (read
relatively affluent, educated, and well-spoken) Black young men are prime
targets for the police. They have advised us on how to deal with the
police should we ever be stopped. Is this something that most white
parents feel compelled to teach thier sons?

There are no answers to be found here. Just questions, confusion and
simmering anger. I just wanted to share some random thoughts and the
article that follows. The following personal essay by the "Village
Voice"'s Peter Noel speaks to the feelings these events inspire in many
Black fathers, brothers and sons.

Let's be careful out there....

Kent

Read the essay (at Village Voice)