How are we doing? BLM-Related

[orangeblossom]

Sept 20, 2016 17:59:40 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Sept 20, 2016 16:39:59 GMT -5 sfy said:

So if something was actually wrong with him, medically, mentally, or otherwise, then her response is to kill him? These people are to stupid to carry sharp objects, let alone guns.

I asked MH the same question as we watched the news tonight. Wtf. How is that an acceptable response?

I know that was a rhetorical question, but it's acceptable because he was a black man.  Harm first and maybe assist later, even though survival is critical in those first  few minutes.

[Black Lavender]

I'm tired, disheartened and everything else. I feel like we're trapped in a country that wants us dead. I feel like I'm surrounded by closet racists. Our kids cheer, dance, go to school and play soccer together and I'm giving all of them side eye. I'm tired of all of the lawn signs that says "We Support our Police". I want to rip all of them out of the ground and burn them. I want to surround myself with nothing but people of color and pretend like we're the only ones who exist. I'm just tired of being upset, crying, and arguing on Facebook. The people that get it understand and the people that don't never will.

[Black Lavender]

Sept 20, 2016 12:02:29 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

My DH was invited to speak at a conference 4 hours away, and flew there and back. The conference had promised to pay for travel, but now they're saying they would only pay gas mileage. He's too embarrassed to tell them that he was too nervous to drive by himself through rural Pennsylvania (what they call "Pennsyltucky" around here). It wasn't the only reason he flew, but it was a big consideration.

Pssssshhhhh, we're in the western 'burbs of Philly and I REFUSE to drive when we go visit family it Pittsburgh. I'll take a damn train or take the 45 minute flight.

[NitaX]

Sept 20, 2016 15:39:15 GMT -5 malu said:

I have deleted 3 post attempts because I have so many thoughts, but can't seem to articulate clearly my anger, sadness, and fear.

This is a national crisis.  My mom has called me after she read of each shooting ...and she lives in India.  These killings are being reported around the world.  We look like complete hypocrites when we are lecturing other countries on how to treat their citizens while a blind eye is turned to what is happening in our own communities. 

I'd love to hear more about coverage in other countries.

[gazpacho]

And here comes the character assassination. He had PCP in his "car". I can't with this. They aren't even original.

[redwino]

Sept 20, 2016 18:35:09 GMT -5 gazpacho said:

And here comes the character assassination. He had PCP in his "car". I can't with this. They aren't even original.

I refuse to believe it. I can't trust a word they say.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 20, 2016 18:49:46 GMT -5 redwino said:

Sept 20, 2016 18:35:09 GMT -5 gazpacho said:

And here comes the character assassination. He had PCP in his "car". I can't with this. They aren't even original.

I refuse to believe it. I can't trust a word they say.

Well they had to say PCP, because that is one drug where he would be acting abnormally.  Gotta make it plausible.

[sfy]

Sept 20, 2016 18:18:55 GMT -5 Black Lavender said:

I'm tired, disheartened and everything else. I feel like we're trapped in a country that wants us dead. I feel like I'm surrounded by closet racists. Our kids cheer, dance, go to school and play soccer together and I'm giving all of them side eye. I'm tired of all of the lawn signs that says "We Support our Police". I want to rip all of them out of the ground and burn them. I want to surround myself with nothing but people of color and pretend like we're the only ones who exist. I'm just tired of being upset, crying, and arguing on Facebook. The people that get it understand and the people that don't never will.

My sister was just telling me that most of her neighbors have these! Wtf. Never seen or heard of these. Hope not to see them because tbh, they would piss me off maybe 2 notches less than a Confederate flag. Because I know what it means. It's coded language at this point. It's aka Blue Lives Matter. She's in your area, I wonder if this is regional.

[gazpacho]

Sept 20, 2016 12:15:51 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Sept 20, 2016 12:10:02 GMT -5 gazpacho said:

I am weary. I just gave a lecture on discrimination and racism to undergrads and their silence was unsettling. I am so fearful about how this constant exposure is impacting a generation...and not in the same way that inequality propelled the Civil Rights Movement. This seems qualitatively different.

How so? *pulls up chair for the knowledge drop*

Sorry for the delay...I have been in meetings all day (soul sucking meetings). No knowledge to drop...just observations.

So, this is the 3rd year in a row that a police shooting has coincided with my lecture on racism/discrimination (almost to the day). Students have had a range of reactions, including sadness, anger, feelings of powerlessness. Shoot, I have had students burst into tears-mid lecture. The most troubling has been students, most of whom are of color, either respond with the " it's just the way it is" or "I can't change it" or "I am a respectable negro and this won't happen to me". Honestly, I feel like the colorblind ideologies have disadvantaged a generation (or several generations). They seem to be hit the hardest. Folks have told them that all they have to do is be 'respectable' and these things won't happen. Yet, these things KEEP happening to people doing everyday stuff. A Black man can't even come home from class with getting shot! The looks on their faces suggest that they don't know what to do or how to respond. Yes, there are "woke" folks. But, I see a lot of students without any idea of what to do and feeling "lost". That is what feels different. There have always been those that are "woke" and those that aren't. But, something has shifted.

[redwino]

Sept 20, 2016 19:15:48 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Officer involved shooting in Charlotte. Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

There's nothing else to say.

[Black Lavender]

Sept 20, 2016 19:13:52 GMT -5 sfy said:

Sept 20, 2016 18:18:55 GMT -5 Black Lavender said:

I'm tired, disheartened and everything else. I feel like we're trapped in a country that wants us dead. I feel like I'm surrounded by closet racists. Our kids cheer, dance, go to school and play soccer together and I'm giving all of them side eye. I'm tired of all of the lawn signs that says "We Support our Police". I want to rip all of them out of the ground and burn them. I want to surround myself with nothing but people of color and pretend like we're the only ones who exist. I'm just tired of being upset, crying, and arguing on Facebook. The people that get it understand and the people that don't never will.

My sister was just telling me that most of her neighbors have these! Wtf. Never seen or heard of these. Hope not to see them because tbh, they would piss me off maybe 2 notches less than a Confederate flag. Because I know what it means. It's coded language at this point. It's aka Blue Lives Matter. She's in your area, I wonder if this is regional.

I wouldn't doubt it...this area isn't known for diversity and inclusion. I'll take a pic of the signs on my way to work tomorrow. You guys should see the homemade Trump signs on people's lawns...some of them have spotlights so you can see them at night.

Sent from my XT1096 using proboards

[Black Lavender]

Sept 20, 2016 19:26:24 GMT -5 redwino said:

Sept 20, 2016 19:15:48 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Officer involved shooting in Charlotte. Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

There's nothing else to say.

Can someone just tell me where to go? I'm up for an international move at this point...I'm so done

Sent from my XT1096 using proboards

[sfy]

Sept 20, 2016 19:31:53 GMT -5 Black Lavender said:

Sept 20, 2016 19:26:24 GMT -5 redwino said:

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

There's nothing else to say.

Can someone just tell me where to go? I'm up for an international move at this point...I'm so done

Sent from my XT1096 using proboards

I'm honestly giving serious consideration to this right now. I don't know if that's crazy or actually quite sane. It's an actual possibility with my husband's job, but I don't think my son would come and that would be at least 50% of the point. He's coming home tomorrow and I plan to ask him though. I really can't handle the idea that this could happen to one of my guys, but the fact that it keeps happening, in every type of situation, to every type of black male, with every type of reaction, in every type of environment, proves that yes, it really could.

[sweetday]

Sept 20, 2016 15:33:45 GMT -5 kicks said:

Fuck this bitch who shot him. This is what her lawyer said:

"He had a very hollow look in his face, kind of a thousand-yard stare, so to speak, and would not communicate. And she could tell he was not normal. She thought that when she saw him,"

He was probably scared shitless, rightfully so. Or maybe he had been in an accident. Or maybe he had a naturally resting bitch face because when the cops roll up we're supposed to smile at them. Really the only reason he was shot is cause he was black.

I swear it seems like police often lack critical thinking skills that are desperately needed.

Fuck.

So now we should make sure to look the "right" kind of normal??

[skwcm80]

Sept 20, 2016 19:15:48 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Officer involved shooting in Charlotte. Fuck.

I'll keep fighting the good fight but I'd be lying if I said that I'm not losing hope.

[malu]

Sept 20, 2016 18:29:00 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Sept 20, 2016 15:39:15 GMT -5 malu said:

I have deleted 3 post attempts because I have so many thoughts, but can't seem to articulate clearly my anger, sadness, and fear.

This is a national crisis.  My mom has called me after she read of each shooting ...and she lives in India.  These killings are being reported around the world.  We look like complete hypocrites when we are lecturing other countries on how to treat their citizens while a blind eye is turned to what is happening in our own communities. 

I'd love to hear more about coverage in other countries.

I'll ask my mom if she read about them in one of the English papers or in our local paper.

When the article came out about Alton Sterling, I did ask her how they described him (since it was around the time the media/online commentators were trying to start their dog-whistle about his past). 

The article focused on how an unarmed African American man was shot in the U.S. by police, how he was working outside a convenience store when police were called, and the shooting was unprovoked. 

When Philando Castile was murdered, my mom said she felt the article made it a point to reference what happened to Mr. Sterling the day before.   I remember my mom saying that the article described how Mr. Castile was still inside his car and a child was in the back seat when the cop opened fire because he was scared.  (I can't remember if the article used "scared" or "nervous" or something along those lines, but it definitely didn't portray the cop as in control or competent).


I will be sure to ask her if there were any articles about Terence Crutcher.  I have a BIL who lives in Muscat; I'll ask him if he's read anything about what is happening here.

[malu]

Sept 20, 2016 18:35:09 GMT -5 gazpacho said:

And here comes the character assassination. He had PCP in his "car". I can't with this. They aren't even original.

This is so disgusting. Not that I expected anything else- the cop was recorded saying that he wouldn't put his hands up, when the chopper video clearly showed both of his hands in the air (and didn't someone in the chopper say he had his hands up?)  She was already lying about what was happening at that point and that was even BEFORE any shots were fired. 

[kicks]

Sept 20, 2016 19:31:53 GMT -5 Black Lavender said:

Sept 20, 2016 19:26:24 GMT -5 redwino said:

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

There's nothing else to say.

Can someone just tell me where to go? I'm up for an international move at this point...I'm so done

Sent from my XT1096 using proboards

Yep I have thought about moving my timeline of moving overseas up.

My plan was to practice for 7-10 years then go to school at the London school of Hygiene and tropical medicine for a masters degree to get my foot in the door to working for nonprofits again or foundations.

However, if Trump gets elected I've seriously contemplated doing that almost immediately after residency and then moving back to somewhere in Southern Africa or maybe East Africa. I have several former collegues who went to school there and you make really great connections to hook you up with jobs overseas.

The Caribbean or S America is also an option. I start my French lessons tomorrow and am taking it very seriously as a lot of jobs want someone who can speak French.

[kicks]

Sept 20, 2016 19:47:25 GMT -5 sfy said:

Sept 20, 2016 19:31:53 GMT -5 Black Lavender said:

Can someone just tell me where to go? I'm up for an international move at this point...I'm so done

Sent from my XT1096 using proboards

I'm honestly giving serious consideration to this right now. I don't know if that's crazy or actually quite sane. It's an actual possibility with my husband's job, but I don't think my son would come and that would be at least 50% of the point. He's coming home tomorrow and I plan to ask him though. I really can't handle the idea that this could happen to one of my guys, but the fact that it keeps happening, in every type of situation, to every type of black male, with every type of reaction, in every type of environment, proves that yes, it really could.

Not crazy at all.

[kicks]

There is also another story of a St Louis officer who killed a black man back in 2011. Essentially got off. But recently they found he planted a gun in the car of the man he killed, it only had the officers DNA on it. Also in the video he is heard saying "I'm going to kill him" so that is precisely what he did. He is now being charged with murder.

And I accidentally clicked out of the article I was reading so I googled "St. Louis police officer planting a gun" and in return came lots of articles of other police shootings of black men. I didn't read any of the other articles because I'm starting to feel sick.

[NitaX]

kicks my mouth is hanging open reading the St. Louis story. Jesus Christ.

[brandnewday]

I am FUCKING PISSED OFF.

My pulse is racing, I'm angry. I am broken, again and again that this happens in tandem.

I told my H again to drive with his wallet on the seat. I asked him if he wanted to take our newer car so that he wouldn't risk the chance coming home from class tonight. I put him in the role of every single black male shooting and I am broken. I feel it, and now I'm crying. I haven't yet, and now it's just rushing out.This country is so broken.

[borinquen57]

I feel like I have nothing to say anymore. It's just such a feeling of hopelessness that nothing will ever change and no justice will ever be served.

[meshaliuknits]

This is insanity. We cannot go on like this. Something is gonna give and when it gives it ain't gonna be pretty.

Some days I wonder how are there not more riots?

[dowagercountess]

I'm not ok. How the fuck am I supposed to send kids away to college? I'm tired and angry and helpless and fuck this country. I hope they riot. Burn shit down.

[imobviouslystaying]

On one hand, I'm angry. On the other, I'm just resigned. Because again, this shit happens all the time and again, nothing changes. And if nothing changes, then of course, it will happen all the time.

I mean we live in a country that can't change after a classroom full of white upper middle class kindergartners are slaughtered. So of course they ain't doing shit about a bunch of uppity negroes who can't follow unspoken and impossible commands to stop being black.

[persa]

My heart aches for all of you that live with this burden of worrying for your loved ones' basic safety on a day to day basis. I am so sorry.

[lovelyshoes]

It's incredibly heartbreaking. I don't even have words. I'm thinking of everyone and their loved ones.

[calle28]

I am just so so angry!

I just heard about NC this morning on the radio. God, it's never-ending.

[andwhat]

I will not be watching anymore videos, but H and I were saying yesterday that it seems to be a good thing to be without TV or internet right now. I mean I hate feeling so uninformed, but I don't know if I can handle much more.