“I don’t want to be no accident”

36 years ago, Richard Pryor released “That N*****’s Crazy” a transcendent album.

One routine, “N****** vs Police”, unfortunately still rings true:

 Cops really put a hurtin’ on yo ass—they really degrade you..

White folks don’t believe that s***, “Aw come on—those beatings—they were resisting arrest..I’m tired of this harassment of police officers.

That’s because the police live in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD—you know them as “Officer Timson.” Officer Timson—are we going bowling tonight? Nice Pinto you got there…

N****** don’t know them like that…

White folks get a ticket: “Here you go officer, glad to be of help…”

N****** be saying: “I AM REACHING INTO MY POCKET FOR MY LICENSE..BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE NO M************ ACCIDENT!!

It’s not true about all police—but in 2020, this routine continues to hit just a little too close to home.

We have seen black men: 

SHOT REACHING INTO THEIR POCKETS FOR THEIR LICENSE,

CHOKED TO DEATH FOR THE CRIME OF SELLING LOOSE CIGARETTES,

And now ASPHIXATED FOR SOMETHING—WE DON’T KNOW WHAT—they’ll get back to us on just what alleged crime caused his summary execution.

All taken by sworn officers of the law.

(It’s fascinating that two of these executions have occurred in Minneapolis, but that’s a story for another day).

And we know how this will go, because we’ve seen it too many times:

• The dead Black man will be devolved into a creature deserving of death.
• The good officers will stay silent, protecting the murderer(s) because “the only color we see is blue.”
• The justifiable cry of frustration (marches, riots) over another Black man taken by law enforcement will degenerate into memes about “I hope they identify them all and take away their welfare” and “all lives matter.”
• The Justice Department (ESPECIALLY THE CURRENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT) will investigate and say they couldn’t find a reason to charge the officers.
• After a delay of months—possibly years—those responsible will be found not guilty or there will be a mistrial/hung jury, because we have to understand these officers lay their lives on the line every day and unfortunately this “occasionally happens.”

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Why does it feel that we continue to take dramatic steps back? Back to the day when something like this could casually be sent as a post card.

I ask, because we know on some website that caters to the creatures who applaud what happened George Floyd, there are post celebrating this photo. 

• 

A few years ago, a columnist in a local weekly wrote that “Black man hunting season began this week.”  When I read that statement, I didn’t roll my eyes, but wondered just how much truth there was to that sentence.

We’re not hunted by “paddy rollers” any more, but if we’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, we could be George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or Ahmaud Arbery.

I despair that people who know me, consider me a friend, acquaintance, former classmate, believe that George Floyd “had it comin’,” “should have just obeyed the officer,” or any other justification they have for this cold-blooded murder DO NOT UNDERSTAND that “there but for the Grace of God goes this short round black man…”   

Because what we continue to see is that people of color–especially Black men– are not afforded the luxury of anger, confusion or irritation when it comes to interaction with law enforcement… those reactions could very well be a death sentence…

I hope to have a couple more turns on this planet and before I depart.

I would love to be afforded the opportunity of being comfortable and safe living as a Black Man…

Until Next Time