This is Systemic Racism
Three months after a white man shot a black jogger there were no arrests
As of today, May 8, 2020, I began reading about Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. I started hearing about it last week. However, when I started reading about the shooting, I was shocked to find out the crime happened in February. No one arrested until yesterday.
A video was recently released showing Ahmaud’s murder. Even though police knew exactly who killed Ahmaud, there were no arrests until after the video circulated. The public outrage preceded the final arrests of the two men who killed a young man on a jog. How is this possible? This is not a rhetorical question. It is possible because of systemic racism.
When we talk about systemic racism, we talk about the criminal who murdered a young man that was a former officer and investigator in the local district attorney’s office. The district attorney, Tom Durden, accepted the case even though he has a relationship with the murderers, even after the initial district attorney recused herself. Why didn’t Tom Durden recuse himself? My answer would be no one was looking, and he did not think he had to (even though that would be the ethical thing to do). Tom Durden then said there was “insufficient probable cause” to arrest the murderers. If the video never came to light, it likely would have ended here. This is systemic racism.
Systemic racism works because people in places of power get away with targeting minorities. Systemic racism works because people in positions of power give cover to the good old boys. We see it in this case. We see in the case of Brock Turner.
I know some people do not believe there is racism or systemic racism. Their minds will never change. However, they are the exact people we need to keep from positions of power, positions that affect people’s lives, and disproportionately minorities’ lives. There are good, honest, compassionate people in places of power. We come in contact with them, and we know them. We need to keep them in positions of power. There is no easy answer on how to accomplish this. I wish there were. The first step, however, is just recognizing it exists. Stop giving excuses.
When I saw this murder happened in the south, it did not surprise. They do not only occur in the south, but there are so many that do. I live in the south, and the town I grew up in is known for its racism. Nothing else. A small city outside of New Orleans. When I was a child, a black man came to give an estimate to repair a furnace that was stopped by the police and escorted to the home. He never returned for the repair. While POC live in this city, I have heard from some they prefer to bypass it altogether, especially at night.
“Older” friends and relatives used the “n” word freely. You may think this is a time that has past. It is probably much better, but it is not in the past. This past summer, my parents’ neighbor, whom I barely know, told me she hates “n.” Just dropped that into a casual conversation. I am ashamed to say I was so shocked I did not say a thing. Maybe I would have been less shocked if it was an “older” person, but this was a middle-aged woman. Why would someone think that is okay to say to me? They obviously do not know me well. Just because I do not appear to be a minority, I should have told them that is not okay with me, and I am sorry I did not respond in such.
Does racism exist today? Yes. Does systemic racism exist today? Yes. Systemic racism is why there are more minorities in prison. It is not because they commit more crimes. It is because there are not people in power, protecting them, and giving them cover. This is why poor people (minorities and not) are more likely to end up in prison. They cannot afford the best defenses, and they do not have the connections. Let’s be honest. How many people who are not POC do you know that managed to get charges such as DWIs thrown out because of their connections and privilege? I know several. How many POC do you know that have been able to get that same kind of treatment? I know none.
*Intentionally left out murderer’s name
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