Why Non-Work Related Posts are Covered on this Blog (and another Sean Bell case update)
I have another update on the Sean Bell case. For anyone wondering why I provide updates about Sean Bell’s murder on a blog about workplace racism, there are 2 reasons: 1) There are sometimes non-work related issues that are important to Blacks and that still deal with the general issue of racism in America and 2) There are usually parallels between racist activity taking place out in communities and racism that takes place in offices.
For instance, the Sean Bell police shooting:
-- Stereotyping was one of the first responses to the Sean Bell shooting. Bell and his friends, although they had police records, were hyped up even more as dangerous thugs—even though they didn’t possess weapons. Now we see the new angle I mentioned here earlier this week, that is turning Bell and his friends into dangerous AND oversexed thugs. Bell and his friends alleged wanted sex so badly that night they followed a woman to her car to ask her to sleep with all of them at a hotel. This is despite the fact that the police were doing an undercover sting at the strip club because the strippers were allegedly doubling as prostitutes. If that is the case, Bell and his friends could have gotten “specials” right inside the establishment.
The same way stereotyping was used against Bell and his friends to make them seem worthy of being fired upon more than 50 times, many Blacks fighting racism in the workplace have to deal with stereotyping that often portrays them as being lazy, mean/rude/angry/defensive, insubordinate, overly sensitive, etc. These stereotypes are used to justify whatever doom has befallen the Black worker. The Black worker must be painted as having earned exactly what they got: denied a promotion, suspended, fired, demoted, etc.
-- There was an overreaction to the Black men before and during the shooting. No matter where you fall on this case, one cop firing more than 30 times (stopping to reload), and many other cops firing there weapons—all at unarmed men—is clearly an overreaction. The shooting was so wild that shots hit an elevated train (almost hitting a transit cop) and bullets went into parked cars.
Similarly, when race-based issues come up at work, White staff and members of management are often prone to overreacting to the Black worker and, therefore, are prone to overreact to the situation, in general. Instead of being honest about what’s happening at work and having someone apologize for abuse or attempting to rectify abuse, some Whites decide to overreact and they go on an all out assault that is WAY OVER THE TOP for the situation.
-- As with the Bell case, there are credibility issues. For instance, police said there was a 4th man with Sean Bell and his friends and this man fired his weapon at police. However, the record of police radio transmissions never show a 4th man was present, doesn’t say a suspect fled the scene and is armed and dangerous, doesn’t give a description of an alleged suspect, etc. It smacks of lies without putting much thought into it.
Similarly, Blacks dealing with race-based issues in the workplace often run into White staff or members of management with credibility issues. Despite gaps in logic and a lack of evidence to support claims against the Black worker, these offenders are willing to continue to engage in behavior and to continue to make excuses for actions that defy logic and require a suspension of disbelief in order to be accepted at face value.
I could go on, but I think you get my point. There are parallels to watching a dead Black man get a similar smack down as Black workers often face. Let’s be honest, racism is racism. The tactics are going to be the same, but the field of battle is what will change.
Anyway, you’ve got my reasoning for non-work related posts on the blog. Now, back to the Bell case:
The police have recently revealed the surprise accusation that Sean Bell was trying to get sex from a woman (the police actually referred to her as a “prostitute”), which supposedly led to an argument with the woman’s male companion. The alleged argument between Bell and this man supposedly caused the police to suspect that Bell and his friends were carrying guns, and/or about to get a gun, and/or were possibly about to engage in a drive by shooting.
I’ve already gone on the record with my belief that this new claim is nothing more than bullsh*t!
The latest from Sean Bell’s family is that the woman he was speaking to is actually a relation of his—by marriage. More importantly, the woman is a witness against the police. She witnessed Sean Bell’s murder and says that he and his friends NEVER received a warning from the police, before the cops opened fire on the group.
She also says that the police have caused her to lose her job by repeatedly showing up at her place of employment. The woman claims she’s receiving death threats telling her not to show up in court or “her a** was out.” She’s had to move because of the threats and fears for her life.
The police insist they are not the ones making the threats. However, it’s worth noting that her testimony is damaging to the police. Who’s got something at stake, as far as a reason to silence this witness? Not Sean Bell’s camp! Enough said.
For instance, the Sean Bell police shooting:
-- Stereotyping was one of the first responses to the Sean Bell shooting. Bell and his friends, although they had police records, were hyped up even more as dangerous thugs—even though they didn’t possess weapons. Now we see the new angle I mentioned here earlier this week, that is turning Bell and his friends into dangerous AND oversexed thugs. Bell and his friends alleged wanted sex so badly that night they followed a woman to her car to ask her to sleep with all of them at a hotel. This is despite the fact that the police were doing an undercover sting at the strip club because the strippers were allegedly doubling as prostitutes. If that is the case, Bell and his friends could have gotten “specials” right inside the establishment.
The same way stereotyping was used against Bell and his friends to make them seem worthy of being fired upon more than 50 times, many Blacks fighting racism in the workplace have to deal with stereotyping that often portrays them as being lazy, mean/rude/angry/defensive, insubordinate, overly sensitive, etc. These stereotypes are used to justify whatever doom has befallen the Black worker. The Black worker must be painted as having earned exactly what they got: denied a promotion, suspended, fired, demoted, etc.
-- There was an overreaction to the Black men before and during the shooting. No matter where you fall on this case, one cop firing more than 30 times (stopping to reload), and many other cops firing there weapons—all at unarmed men—is clearly an overreaction. The shooting was so wild that shots hit an elevated train (almost hitting a transit cop) and bullets went into parked cars.
Similarly, when race-based issues come up at work, White staff and members of management are often prone to overreacting to the Black worker and, therefore, are prone to overreact to the situation, in general. Instead of being honest about what’s happening at work and having someone apologize for abuse or attempting to rectify abuse, some Whites decide to overreact and they go on an all out assault that is WAY OVER THE TOP for the situation.
-- As with the Bell case, there are credibility issues. For instance, police said there was a 4th man with Sean Bell and his friends and this man fired his weapon at police. However, the record of police radio transmissions never show a 4th man was present, doesn’t say a suspect fled the scene and is armed and dangerous, doesn’t give a description of an alleged suspect, etc. It smacks of lies without putting much thought into it.
Similarly, Blacks dealing with race-based issues in the workplace often run into White staff or members of management with credibility issues. Despite gaps in logic and a lack of evidence to support claims against the Black worker, these offenders are willing to continue to engage in behavior and to continue to make excuses for actions that defy logic and require a suspension of disbelief in order to be accepted at face value.
I could go on, but I think you get my point. There are parallels to watching a dead Black man get a similar smack down as Black workers often face. Let’s be honest, racism is racism. The tactics are going to be the same, but the field of battle is what will change.
Anyway, you’ve got my reasoning for non-work related posts on the blog. Now, back to the Bell case:
The police have recently revealed the surprise accusation that Sean Bell was trying to get sex from a woman (the police actually referred to her as a “prostitute”), which supposedly led to an argument with the woman’s male companion. The alleged argument between Bell and this man supposedly caused the police to suspect that Bell and his friends were carrying guns, and/or about to get a gun, and/or were possibly about to engage in a drive by shooting.
I’ve already gone on the record with my belief that this new claim is nothing more than bullsh*t!
The latest from Sean Bell’s family is that the woman he was speaking to is actually a relation of his—by marriage. More importantly, the woman is a witness against the police. She witnessed Sean Bell’s murder and says that he and his friends NEVER received a warning from the police, before the cops opened fire on the group.
She also says that the police have caused her to lose her job by repeatedly showing up at her place of employment. The woman claims she’s receiving death threats telling her not to show up in court or “her a** was out.” She’s had to move because of the threats and fears for her life.
The police insist they are not the ones making the threats. However, it’s worth noting that her testimony is damaging to the police. Who’s got something at stake, as far as a reason to silence this witness? Not Sean Bell’s camp! Enough said.
Labels: false allegations, racial profiling, stereotypes
posted by S. Mary Wills at 5:04 PM
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