afrsfinalproject-blog

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

The U.S., the police department, and just random people oppressed, badmouth and treat African American people less than human. On the article “The Guardian” gave examples of petty encounters with the police such as stopping for speeding or a broken tailgate escalate into physical confrontation.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/11/chokehold-police-black-men-paul-butler-race-america

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

Just as how Black men and women are constantly judged in every area of society, Bigger Thomas in the novel Native son was judged based on his skin tone various amounts of time. While the Black body has many great qualities such as beautiful melanin and striking physical features many look at these gifts as things to fear and downplay. For Bigger and many other black males his black skin sealed his fate and assured his death.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

It is so sad when a hashtag #dontshoot comes into existence. Black people in general have to be careful around the law because it has been a know fact that we are seen to them as a target practice. It should not be that way in one’s own society

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

“No; he did not think they would suspect him of anything. He was black. Again he felt the roll of crisp bills in his pocket; if things went wrong he could always run away. He wondered how much money was in the roll; he had not even counted it. He would see when he got to Bessie’s. No; he need not be afraid. He felt the gun nestling close to his skin. That gun could always make folks stand away and think twice before bothering him.” 

Before Bigger murdered Mary, a white woman, he was already living his life in fear. After the murder, this fear intensified. It intensified to the point where Bigger thought his only options were to either run away or use his gun in sight of a white person. Although African-Americans are no longer physically in chains, this portrays how our minds and freedom are still held captive.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

One can not even be safe in the comfort of their own community. Being black in America would probably be one of the toughest jobs because it is a never ending battle between yourself and the country. If one can not be black in America, where can you be black?

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

This picture is depicting how black and brown people were never included in the American Dream. Considering that the American society consider themselves equal but leaves out many ethnic groups demonstrates that segregation is still relevant. The Latino culture has been discriminated against as well, and having to plead with one’s community to be apart of it is very unfair.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

This picture portrays how difficult it is for an African American to achieve “The American Dream.” It shows the road of all the obstacles black people have faced throughout history and compares it to the road of no obstacles that white people have faced. It also depicts the ignorance of white people by having the white man say to the black man, “Are you just slow or what?” Many white people think that everything is equal and fair between all races when in reality white people have the most opportunities to succeed and have never faced the same obstacles as people of color.   

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

Police Brutality

“For a black man, to assert your dignity before the police was to risk assault. In fact, the dignity of black people meant less to them...” 

-Garnette Cadogan, Black and Blue

For a long time, police officers have been abusing their power and assaulting African Americans. When an officer stops a black person it is very difficult for that person to defend themselves even if they try to speak politely. Most of the time the officer does not care about what the person has to say. In some cases if the person’s tone of voice sounds the slightest bit rude when trying to defend themselves then the police officer will get mad and believe it is okay to assault them. These police officers do not care about African Americans and will not listen to what they have to say, instead they will wrongfully accuse them and this will sometimes end in murder.     

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

This article shows us how the African American community is still discriminated against to this very day and makes us think that overall the problems we had in 1968 are still happening to this day. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/systematic-oppression-2015-america

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

“Goddmnit, look! We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we ain’t. They do things and we can’t. It’s just like livin’ in jail.”

-Richard Wright, Native Son

Black people are locked in this prison that the people have built all around them. White people can experience things a black individual cannot. They can leave there Home and feel safe as to where a black man worries if he will make it home. White people are living free while black people a trapped and drowning in the white man’s America.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

“To yell “Black-on-Black crime” is to shoot a man and then him for bleeding.” -Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me Black on black crime is a big issue in America. Simply because black lives aren’t valued like the life of a white man. If a black person shoots another black person it brushed off as just another normal day as opposed to a white man being killed then everybody has to stop what they are doing. Black lives need the respect and attention as any other white individual.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

“Violence is a personal necessity for the oppressed...It is not a strategy consciously devised. It is the deep, instinctive expression of a human being denied individuality.” -Richard Wright, Native Son So many black individuals are forced to protect themselves and are taught as children to defend themselves. It is something they have had to do for so long that it has become unconscious instinct when the danger. They try to defend themselves in the only way they know will be effective in jelling alive since survival is every humans primal instinct.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

-Schools with a hire concentration of Black students are taught by inexperienced teacher -These schools don’t have access to AP courses -School have poor quality like in Detroit the schools have dead rats, spoiled food, cracked floors,moldy ceilings and in Baltimore the school classrooms don’t have a heating system -Black students in these schools receive more suspensions than a white student (3.5 Times more likely) -A Stanford study showed Black students are treated differently by teachers than white students -Schools in the U.S remain very economically and racially segregated Ta-Nehisi Coates talks about how the school system doesn’t help black students prepare for the real world and are put in the back burner by the school system.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

Although this clip is humorous, there is a truth to it. One reason why police brutality is here is because many whites have a fear of African-Americans. Most times, there is no reason to be afraid; it is the negative connotations and stereotypes of blacks that cause them to be fearful. It seems as if the only way they know how to handle this fear is to murder people of color.

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

“Raise up! Or I’ll shoot”, says the officer

Black men line up, expecting to be murdered

By those who have sworn under

Oath to “protect and to serve”.

 “Raise up! Or I’ll shoot!”, says a white man

“Give me back what you stole, or your life ends now!”

Black men accused of being thieves,

Stripped bare of their dignity.

 “Raise up, and stand together!”, says the Black men of America.

Lined up with arms up, shouting “we will not surrender!”

Side by side they unite, fighting with no hands, no weapons

They shout, “You may have won the battle, but WE will win the war!"

    Here is a poem analysis written by a member of our group. It is a creative analyzation of the sculpture made by Hank Willis Thomas. 

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

No Justice For Black People

“White rage carries an aura of respectability and has access to the courts, police, legislatures, and governors, who cast its efforts as noble, though they are actually driven by the most ignoble motivations.” -Carol Anderson “White Rage”

Black people have been exposed to cruel treatment for a very long time and this all happens because people who are of higher power allow it to. These people are the ones who are supposed to implement fairness and justice in this country but instead they are doing the exact opposite. Police officers act like they are here to protect and serve everyone but the truth is they only care to protect white people and not black people. They are the ones killing African Americans and constantly harassing them. Furthermore, the courts who are supposed to seek justice always seem to let the criminal in police brutality cases get away with no punishment which shows no justice for the black person they killed or injured.       

[afrsfinalproject-blog]

In New York three correctional officers beat an inmate and ripped out his hair (dreadlocks). The correctional officers then saved the hair as a trophy. The correctional officers were then charged with violating Kevin Moore’s civil rights and falsifying records. Moore (56 years old) the man attacked was only to spend one night in the Downstate Correctional Facility. The officers that were their when he arrived tried placing him in a ward for mental health issues. Moore was worried and didn’t want to seen as a monster so one of the officers began beating him. They forced Moore to the ground where they punched and kicked him in the head and groin. Once more was removed from his own pool of blood one of the officers went back to retrieve Moore’s dreadlocks that he had ripped off during the beating. Ta- Nehisi Coates talks about the destruction of the black body. Having a black body brings hardships and pain. The black body is something we should cherish but the white people of America view the black body as dangerous. The black body is what we as people of color cherish and use to share our story. https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-prison-guards-beat-black-inmate-took-his-dreadlocks-as-a-trophy