Watching the news this morning. They are covering the tragic story of a NY police officer senselessly killed in the line of duty two nights ago. Sad and unnecessary indeed. What is interesting to me this morning is that the media is outing the judge who made a prior decision to sentence the defendant to a drug program instead of prison. They are showing the judge's photo and questioning his legal capacity. I find that quite interesting and wonder why they don’t do the same when judges, prosecutors, cops and others in the judicial system wrongfully convict innocent people or purposely hide, withhold or fabricate evidence that leads to incarceration or even death of innocent people... Why isn't the media just as diligent or committed to exposing bad players in the legal system when the lives of ordinary citizens are also tragically ended or disrupted? All lives do matter so why shame this judge and not others? Just Wonderin'...

Condolences to the officer's Family and all others who have lost loved ones or lifetimes in the pursuit of "justice" in America. Our system is terribly flawed...

Black on Black Crime By Blacks in Blue

Is anyone else bothered that the BLACK female officer involved in tasering a Black City Councilman is the same BLACK female officer involved in the Sandra Bland case? Black on Black crime by Blacks in Blue? I'm Just Askin'... She showed an absolute disregard and blatant disrespect for this Black man and his authority as an elected official. She readily confirms in the video when reminded, that she knows who he is. She responds, "Yeah, I know who he is", and proceeds to support a disturbing and baffling decision to taser him...

I will dare say that she would NEVER have responded similarly or even thought to exercise such faulty and disrespectful judgment if Mr. Miller was a White man of even modest authority, much less an elected city official to whom she inadvertently reports, to whom at least in some way she is held accountable and who conceivably holds the key to her continued employment. NEVER! Please correct me and direct to proof otherwise if I am wrong. Please...

So the burning question for me that we need ask ourselves is, "Do Black Lives Matter to Black People"? This and other types of our behavior suggests not. This officer does not stand alone in her blatant disregard and lack of respect for a Black man of authority. She felt in no way compelled to treat him with the level of dignity or respect she would afford his White counterparts and likely demand for herself as an officer of the law... 

Shame on her!!! Shame on us for not calling her out on it. I do not subscribe to calling for loss of anyone's livelihood but I say get rid of her! She is a bigger danger to the Black community than are her White peers who will use her behavior to justify their own bad acts toward the Black community which we know can be of far greater consequence than a Black city councilman being tasered. Yeah, I said it and I mean it. Be Gone with Her!!! What say ye'? Damn Shame!!!

Click here to see video and please weigh in...  

Do African Americans Abroad Experience White Privilege?,

Took this topic from an article by the same name. It is a good article, Do African Americans Abroad Experience White Privilege?, written by Ms. Malcolm Hughes (Click here for article)

Having had the pleasure to travel to six of the seven continents, having lived in both Spain and Ghana for extended periods of time and because I have enjoyed lengthy vacations in other countries, my cursory answer to the question is "yes" Black Americans DO enjoy a certain privilege when traveling abroad. While it is not applicable to all situations, for the most part it is true, it is freeing and being treated normal or held in some high[er] regard, acknowledged or not, can be addictive and is likely a motivating force for many Blacks to leave the US. My travels have led me to accept and appreciate that in most parts I go, be it in Africa and even in Europe, I have the passport that many others want. I dare say that my Black brethren from other countries who enjoy dual citizenship with the US and who possess two passports, given a choice, very often find it more convenient and less worrisome to travel on their American passport.

While in some circumstances Black Americans carry the burden of overcoming well dispersed and negative stereotypes conveniently conveyed about them throughout the world by White America, more often than not, we step on the foreign playing field, especially in lesser developed countries, with a certain level of unearned credibility, respect and advantages usually reserved for Whites internationally and automatically afforded Whites in America. It is a very different experience. Once however, most foreigners know that we are American, a whole new experience unfolds...

This is a good article to be considered by the Black Americans who travel internationally. Check it out. I think also worthy of discussion is how do we, Black Americans, handle ourselves and respond to being in a reverse situation, especially when in lesser developed countries? Do we take on the behaviors of those who oppress us in the US? Hmmm.... Just Askin'...

Again, this is a good read and can spark good discussion...