Indifference, Systematic Racism, How Some White People Just Don’t Get It, And Other Stuff

by Kenneth Cooper

Nah, Drew, I think I’m good. You can keep the apology, just like the late game interceptions. You said what you said, and meant what you said when you said it — again. You only apologized after the media jumped all over you, some claiming how you had lost the locker room, along with all credibility, and how you, the Saints, and the city of New Orleans would be better off if you just went on ahead and retired.  That was me too Wednesday and Thursday, looking at you like a man whose sense appeared to be continually diminishing in direct proportion to his talent. But then came Friday, and there you were, out there on Instagram, directly checking the president, letting it be known how the issue is not, and never was, about the flag. And when you posted that, I was like, “Well check him out. Amazing.” I hadn’t seen you create that quick of a turnover since the first possession of overtime in the NFC Championship. I still can’t say that I’ll be chanting Drewwwww! when you’re introduced at the game, can’t say that I’m buying your sudden transformation. But I’m watching you Drew Brees, hoping that you’re heart is changing for the best.

Did you hear? Friday was a great day for George Floyd, a great day. There he was, on this great day, smiling down in celestial glee, thankful to God and president Trump that the unemployment numbers were better than expected. Yes, he had been murdered, another black man killed by the police, but it was the economy, the president said, not that millions of people, black and white, were protesting in the streets over his death, that had George Floyd saying, “this is a great thing that’s happening for our country.” If this wasn’t a family forum…

The president’s narcissism and penchant for adoration knows no bounds. Earlier in the week, he had citizens gassed and pelted with rubber bullets, so he could walk across the street and pose in front of a church with a Bible. I said it then, and I’ll say it now: If there was a god, that thing would’ve been sizzling in his hand.

“Why aren’t they out protesting when blacks kill other blacks? I don’t ever see any of these people marching in Chicago and other cities behind that” – any random white, or black, person afflicted by the mental deficiency known as conflation.

What does black people killing other black people have to do with being treated equally under the law? Nothing. We pay the police to solve crimes, not commit them. So when those who are sworn to serve and protect show up and harass and kill instead it’s a greater violation of the public trust. Also, when a black person kills another black person, the system works. The killer is usually arrested and has his face plastered on the news as an example of justice being served. But when police kill blacks, they get desk duty, then are exonerated, and placed back on the street. Justice? Hardly.

When people resort to conflating these two issues, they’re either not well informed or are just concocting an excuse to mask their indifference for black lives. When approached, don’t allow their deflections to be entertained or televised.

“Watching the news, you’d never know white people killed each other.” — me

When somebody says there’s no such thing as systemic racism in some parts of the justice system, tell them the story of Travis McDaniel.

Travis McDaniel was a regular good-ole-boy, a man in possession of many good-ole boy characteristics —  an unruly beard, a shotgun, a pick-up truck with a Confederate flag on the toolbox. One day, Travis saw a black man jogging through his neighborhood and did what any good-ole boy would do: assumed he was a criminal. So with the help of his dad, and a neighbor (another good ole boy), Travis jumped in his pickup truck, chased the black man down, and killed him. Friday, we learned that after he shot Ahmaud Arbery 3 times, he stood over him and called him a f*cking nigg*r as he lay dying. This was after the neighbor hit Arbery with a truck. Travis was also known to talk about nigg*rs on social media, posting how his job is great because there’s no nigg*rs around, and how life would be better if some unknown nigg*r was dead. The Glynn County police and District Attorneys knew about the social media posts, knew that Arbery had been hit by a truck, but two DA’s refused to press charges.  When Ahmaud Arbery’s family gave the DA evidence and pressed for charges to be filed the DA still refused.  Two months after the murder and only after the video became public nationally, did the state step in and charge Travis McDaniel. Now. That’s. Systemic. Racism.

I don’t think there’s anything left to say after that.