In the Washington Post we read: "D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said yesterday that her reshuffling of the department has been misinterpreted by some critics and that she has treated whites and African Americans equally in assembling her new command team." (Full Story)
She said that she does not want people to focus on the wrong things. In her assessment, race would be the wrong thing on which to focus. Yet, D.C. is Chocolate City and certain things must be considered. My father is a retired Chief Deputy U.S. Marshall - the second Black person in the Country to hold that post. Also, he is a former Assistant Chief of Police. In addition, he is responsible for developing and organizing an entirely new police department. I bank on his experience for my comments.
The old motto of police forces throughout the Country is: "To Protect & To Serve." But, that statement has always been a bit troubling to Black America. The question has always been, to protect whom...to serve whom? Throughout the history of this Country Black America has had poor relations with the police. If it was not billy clubs and police dogs, it was Rodney King beatings, 41 shots for Diallo's wallet, the sodomy of Abner Louima and countless examples of police brutality. It has been a relationship encased in threats of police sanctioned violence. It has been a history of disrespect for Black people by police forces across America.
So, to protect and to serve whom? For Black America, the prevailing sense has been that the police exist to protect and serve the interests of White America. Police are affectionately called "overseers," keepers of the new plantation. Now many would like to dispel my comments as on the fringe, yet anyone who truly considers themselves a public servant must face this fact. Black America has distrust for the police.
Compound this sentiment with Chief Lanier's reshuffle of the police leadership. To have a police force where the leadership is predominantly White, in a city that is predominantly Black is insensitive to say the least. It is also arrogant and disrespectful. Chief Lanier may like to believe that these are the wrong things to consider, yet if she truly cares she would understand this to be the most important consideration. If she were not insensitive, she would consider that many in the District already believe (and see) that there is a plan to change the demographics of the City. She would take into consideration the fact that Black people in Chocolate City are upset that they are being displaced and marginalized in their own city.
Chief Lanier, you are right - performance must be considered. We all want an effective police force. But, imperative to that success is the racial dynamic of that force. Are you saying that the Black officers could not learn to perform at high levels? Are you saying there are no Blacks anywhere in the Country who perform - or could perform - at a level which meets your expectations? Chief Lanier, are you saying that there are no Blacks in law enforcement capable to fit your requirements?
Chief, I ask you to consider this. Many - if not most - of the police officers in the District of Columbia have no connection to the community. They do not live in the District. Therefore, they do not know the people. And therefore, the people do not trust them. With your restructuring and removing of Black officers/assistant chiefs, you further alienate the community. So, who do you protect? Who do you serve? What gestures are you going to make to assure the Black majority in this city that you are not part of the effort to cause a dramatic shift in the racial demographics of Chocolate City? What commitments will you make?
Because Mayor Adrian Fenty has blacked-out his administration through whitewash, maybe these considerations are of no concerns to you. Maybe since the Mayor seems to serve the interests of the minority, you might be able to ignore these questions. Honestly, I cannot fault you. Yet, Democracy in America mandates majority rule. Like it or not, in D.C., Black people are the majority. So, the solution: we - Black in D.C. - must do more...
So, Black people of D.C. - both immigrant and native - remember: D.C. is Chocolate City! This is our city, until we give it away. It was once said, "It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated...it is finished when it surrenders." We must not surrender our place in the District.
With hope, I remain ever vigilant: for D.C. is Chocolate City!
She said that she does not want people to focus on the wrong things. In her assessment, race would be the wrong thing on which to focus. Yet, D.C. is Chocolate City and certain things must be considered. My father is a retired Chief Deputy U.S. Marshall - the second Black person in the Country to hold that post. Also, he is a former Assistant Chief of Police. In addition, he is responsible for developing and organizing an entirely new police department. I bank on his experience for my comments.
The old motto of police forces throughout the Country is: "To Protect & To Serve." But, that statement has always been a bit troubling to Black America. The question has always been, to protect whom...to serve whom? Throughout the history of this Country Black America has had poor relations with the police. If it was not billy clubs and police dogs, it was Rodney King beatings, 41 shots for Diallo's wallet, the sodomy of Abner Louima and countless examples of police brutality. It has been a relationship encased in threats of police sanctioned violence. It has been a history of disrespect for Black people by police forces across America.
So, to protect and to serve whom? For Black America, the prevailing sense has been that the police exist to protect and serve the interests of White America. Police are affectionately called "overseers," keepers of the new plantation. Now many would like to dispel my comments as on the fringe, yet anyone who truly considers themselves a public servant must face this fact. Black America has distrust for the police.
Compound this sentiment with Chief Lanier's reshuffle of the police leadership. To have a police force where the leadership is predominantly White, in a city that is predominantly Black is insensitive to say the least. It is also arrogant and disrespectful. Chief Lanier may like to believe that these are the wrong things to consider, yet if she truly cares she would understand this to be the most important consideration. If she were not insensitive, she would consider that many in the District already believe (and see) that there is a plan to change the demographics of the City. She would take into consideration the fact that Black people in Chocolate City are upset that they are being displaced and marginalized in their own city.
Chief Lanier, you are right - performance must be considered. We all want an effective police force. But, imperative to that success is the racial dynamic of that force. Are you saying that the Black officers could not learn to perform at high levels? Are you saying there are no Blacks anywhere in the Country who perform - or could perform - at a level which meets your expectations? Chief Lanier, are you saying that there are no Blacks in law enforcement capable to fit your requirements?
Chief, I ask you to consider this. Many - if not most - of the police officers in the District of Columbia have no connection to the community. They do not live in the District. Therefore, they do not know the people. And therefore, the people do not trust them. With your restructuring and removing of Black officers/assistant chiefs, you further alienate the community. So, who do you protect? Who do you serve? What gestures are you going to make to assure the Black majority in this city that you are not part of the effort to cause a dramatic shift in the racial demographics of Chocolate City? What commitments will you make?
Because Mayor Adrian Fenty has blacked-out his administration through whitewash, maybe these considerations are of no concerns to you. Maybe since the Mayor seems to serve the interests of the minority, you might be able to ignore these questions. Honestly, I cannot fault you. Yet, Democracy in America mandates majority rule. Like it or not, in D.C., Black people are the majority. So, the solution: we - Black in D.C. - must do more...
So, Black people of D.C. - both immigrant and native - remember: D.C. is Chocolate City! This is our city, until we give it away. It was once said, "It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated...it is finished when it surrenders." We must not surrender our place in the District.
With hope, I remain ever vigilant: for D.C. is Chocolate City!
