Justice, Rebellion and Retribution

Value of Black Life on Trial in the Streets of Oakland

As the trial of a Bart Police officer who killed a young black man at a Bart( Bay Area Rapid Transit) station in Oakland, CA on the charge of murder draws near against the backdrop of 4 police officers killed by a young black male parolee, we take a look at the impact of these events on the community and the kind of response that follows. We also want to examine the roots of the violence related to the value of life placed on one group or individual as opposed to another.
Even if the Bart Officer is convicted of the murder of Oscar Grant, a long history of abuse and misconduct by so called officers of the law cannot be obliterated in a single stroke of justice. The prerogatives and actions of this Armed , military like contingent which patrols our neighborhoods must be contained and subjected to regulations and guidelines decided by and accountable to the people.

With the exception of self defense, or the liberation from physical bondage or oppression, violence of just about any kind is a blight upon the civility and nature of human kind. It portends a state of depravity and barbarity, a certain kind of pathology among peoples and nations of the world. There isn’t any enduring justification for its glorification or sanction, whether as a pretext for the prosecution of wars or to preserve peaceor whether perpetrated by the state, law enforcement or the individual. It is a particularly heinous affliction when used to systematically intimidate, subdue or humiliate a particular group or nationality, and to consistently value the life of one group over another, which has been the case for African and other oppressed people within U.S borders and beyond and Oakland California is no exception.

In the case of Oscar Grant the criminal justice system stalled in its investigation and apprehension of the suspect who had fled the area. The suspect was later captured in another state and taken into custody. Of course the black community is no to these assassins called police officers. Of course the black community is no stranger to the excesses of the assassins called Police Officers. The blood of black men and occasionally black women stain the landscape from California to New York, and the obituaries read like that of organized genocide.

As we fast forward about two months later we collide with yet another incident of violence of a different scenario, with a seemingly lethal dose of vengeance and retribution on 2 Oakland Police Officers. In the wake of the killing of the 4 police officers, by an apparently aggrieved and despondent parolee, Lovelle Mixon, national and local politicians and public officials converged on the city of Oakland in unprecedented numbers to memorialize the four officers. The grand matrons of the U.S Congress in the person of Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer, two U. S Senators from California, eulogized the officers as men of peace and praised their devotion to duty and family. The duo elevated the statue of the four officers to almost super human proportions, while omitting any reference to the social conditions and disparities for which black men are subjected and which fuel the violence, discontent and hopelessness in black communities nationwide.

Among the black public officials and dignitaries in attendance at the memorial, none were allowed to speak; not even the Mayor of Oakland. As the black officials, took their place among the masters of the plantation, they were disgraced, and were left to stew in their own humiliation. Some might refer to the black dignitaries’ disinclination for controversy regarding the issue as taking the high road, even if all roads available had been blocked and barricaded in advance. It appeared that the rejected black officials were more inclined to prove themselves as loyalists and patriots than to stand up in defense of their dignity. Later, a group of black public officials and office holders assembled to protest the exclusion of blacks as speakers at the ceremonies, only to be rebuked by the Police Officers Association for their insensitivity to the families of the slain officers. Although a strong rebuttal to the Police Officers Association’s accusations appeared to be in order, none were forthcoming and the group retreated into their cocoon, heeding their master’s voices.

Lovelle Mixon, was, at least partially, a victim of a system which erects formidable barriers to opportunities available to black men and parolees, and which fails to provide sufficient resources for the expression and resolution of their grievances. This is not to justify what Lovelle Mixon did but to present a plausible explanation of why he did what he did when so few of us seem to even care.

Not surprisingly, this attitude of indifference and distain is mostly reserved for young black men, with young white men encountering a different attitude altogether Recent studies have shown that more white men with criminal records are employed at greater rates than black men without any contact with the criminal justice system. The Sentencing project, an organization that gathers statistics on the criminal justice system, reports on their web site that one in three black males born today can expect to go to prison if present trends continue.

Our first black president is yet to intervene or offer any solutions to some of the most striking incidents of injustice in the black community. Upon questioning by a journalist from BET (Black Entertainment Network) about the skyrocketing black unemployment among black men in Chicago, which hovers above 50 percent, Obama, in a rather incredulous response, implied that a rising tide lifts all. That is to say his economic stimulus package would benefit those most in need and that being black and brown people. Although very cleverly put, it is not difficult to project, based on past experience , and present statistics that without the kind of intervention which address racial disparities in our society, black people are destined to receive the short end of the stick, as has always been the case. A rising tide, then, will only lift those already afloat, while leaving black and brown people to sink in the murky waters of “benign neglect”.

Except for the Bay view News paper published In San Francisco, there was very little mention in the black press of Mixon’s circumstances, like his inability to find work largely due to the stigma of incarceration and a felony conviction. While sympathy and condolences were magnanimously extended to the families of the slain officers, by the press, the grief and pain of Mixon’s family were virtually ignored

Shocking as it might seem to some, at a meeting of black rappers, the audience was reported to have cheered when hearing of the killing of the four officers. This reaction is not as disgusting and reprehensible as some might think when placed in perspective. It is the kind of reaction which occurs when the reverence for life of one group is contrasted with the reverence of life of another.It is as if the implications of a violent attack upon men in uniform, especially when they are white, who are sworn to serve and protect, far outweigh the travesty of murder of unarmed black men, who are relegated to an inferior status of diminishing value, and whose only crime, more often than not, is the color of their skin and the fate which awaits them. In this case and many others where one human life reigns supreme over another, it is a value judgment which only serves to propagate violence, not diminish it.

Virtuosity In Black, Part I

or Liar, Liar, House on Fire

Part 1
Breaking News.
The highly acclaimed production of Virtuosity in Black or subtitled by some critics, as Liar, Liar, House on Fire, a child like taunting refrain, has been scripted into a pageantry of real life drama competing in popularity as one of the most memorable productions of screen and stage in American history, largely due to an outstanding performance by Barack Obama, featured in the starring role.

Barack Obama, a suave and charismatic native son, along with his entourage of hypocrites and turncoats is receiving national and international acclaim for what some are calling one of the best performances of the century. Obama was groomed and selected for the part by an elite group of casting directors. He is said to be ecstatic over his success in capturing an immensely coveted part, especially for a black man. His fortunes as a consummate actor and serious contender for the part began with his memorable role as the Senator from Illinois. This powerful drama of a few years ago established his credentials as a reliable and trusted protégé of an elite ruing oligarchy whose powers are legendary for their ability to mold the Academy of Arts and Sciences in its own image.

Obama’s historical ascendency to capture the leading role in Virtuosity in Black is being hailed by some observers as a decisive victory for the repudiation of the questionable talents of the only other contender for the role. The runner up was associated with a discredited actor whose ability was eventually deemed unsuitable by the decision makers. Consequently, they concluded that Obama’s competition lacked the necessary credentials to capture the hearts and minds of the audience in this critical period of unprecedented skepticism among the masses.

Some in the Academy of Arts and Sciences are indignant over the role of the ruling oligarchy, who they accuse of hi-jacking the decision making process and rendering the vote of the rank and file null and void. Some are also saying that because the drama depicts a black man who refuses to stand up for the rights and humanity of black people that the real color of the protagonist is actually yellow, not black.

Consequently some polls, are showing an emerging backlash to the popularity of the production, which has been roundly criticized as a gross distortion of basic human values, which represent the best of human nature in a society hungry for role models they can emulate in a time of crisis and uncertainty.

The above combination of metaphor, satire, and a dose of sarcasm is designed to impress upon the readers how one can easily mistake form for substance and be harangued into believing the authenticity of information which has been edited, omitted and distorted in the service of a elite group who weld the power of censorship and the control of information for mass consumption.
Seeking information beyond the enticement and seduction of images and form is crucial if one is to uncover the truth. The truth is that Obama’s image and his very carefully crafted speeches are often in contradiction to his policies and decisions. Some of us have already perceived as much and have spoken boldly on the subject. For those of us who are still in the dark or harbor doubts about the Obama deception, especially as it relates to the African community, standby, as we breathe life into the simmering ambers of the metaphor.

Please see Part II