Some Police Officers Treat Black and White Men Differently
How this mistreatment can be heard in their condescending tone
The public is just learning what African Americans have known for ages that the mistreatment of African Americans started from slavery and has continued until this very day. Much is coming to light due to the many public video tapings that have brought much-needed attention to what these officers have been doing far too long. Many wonder why African Americans men are so angry. They are angry because they are sick and tired of being treated worst than animals and/or less than being human.
Body-camera footage has confirmed to the world what African Americans have and are experiencing from day one after setting foot in this country, only due to their skin color. A skin color that many whites lay in the sun to get but ridicule another human being for having it.
One hundred body-camera footage confirmed it as a fact that when there is a traffic stop, officers spoke to African Americans in a tone demeaning them, less respectful and not friendly at all but sometimes in a provoking manner, unlike Caucasians when there is a traffic stop.
The sad reality is that these disrespectful officers are often dispatched in the people of color neighborhoods where much injustice has happened thereby they sowed seeds of much distrust in the African American community. Trust is an issue, and rightfully so. How can the community trust in the law enforcement system that is supposed to provide and protect that does everything except that causing havoc within the community on all levels?
The alarming increase and highly publicized deaths of African American men, women, and children at the hands of racist officers have alerted the country to what has truly been happening for years but often swept under the carpet by the powers that be.
A study highlighted that African American men were 2 1/2 times more likely than Caucasian men to be killed and find themselves at the hand of excessive force by racist police. Officers that are not racist, do not readily result in such deadly force especially when the situation does not warrant it. Being killed in this manner has become the leading cause of African American men’s plight in America.
Also, African Americans are more likely to be pulled over than Caucasian drivers and searched, even though they are less like to be carrying illegal contraband compared to Caucasians.
Police body cameras and public videos have been major in confirming this reality in the African American community, also adding transparency that would lead toward accountability and repercussions with police departments.
To prove the ingrained disrespect for African American men, the words like sir, ma’am or thank you are rarely heard, (57%), but words like dude and bro or hands on the wheel were heard 61% of the time. Also, the tone was mostly negative toward African Americans and positive toward Caucasians.
The fault of the dysfunction and/or distrust with officers in and out of the communities of color is not without justification. These communities are dealing with this ill-treatment at the hands of police officers as means of survival as they readily comprehend in various encounters police officers’ condemnation via mannerism, words, and approach from the onset.
The solution has to start with the police officers to stop the hate and racist behavior and treat all people the same. Protect and serve is their job and their salaries are paid by all the people’s taxes and everyone deserves respect. When you give respect, you receive respect.
In conclusion, law enforcement does not have to guess as to why people of color shy away from talking to officers about anything. Talking to an officer rarely benefits the talker and could easily put that person in a disadvantageous situation, even death. This ill behavior or racist behavior of these officers needs serious interventions by higher officials that are not part of the problem.
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