Right now I can say that I can't recall a post subject that has drawn more attention on my blog than right now on the subject of Oscar Grant. Not that the major news media has been focused on this issue until there were riots in the streets of California. Yes Oakland is enraged, as well they should be.
I have watched more people comment on my own expression of rage on my youtube commentary than anything but the election of President Obama, based on the same amount of time. I have recorded more visits and views, at each and every blog that I own or write for that covered this issue.
But I am noticing a few things.
One of the first things I noticed is how quiet a large section of the internet has become. I do not believe that a single White visitor to any blog I write to or own has said a word. Normally I have commentary from around the world, people of every race, creed, ethnicity all comment on various things I say. When it comes to race relations in America I normally get feedback from various Americans across the nation. Some agree with my views, others do not. And inevitably I have some that just want to be racist.
But I'm hearing nothing right now from anyone but African Americans - apparently. The people that defend cops when I correctly point out their policies on brutality on African Americans and other minorities are quiet. People that think my comments about race in America are biased or too extreme are silent. In fact, even the racists that find fault with any comment that reveals America is racially divided have nothing to say.
Considering the number of visitors I have every month, and the huge numbers viewing my posts on Oscar Grant, I find this odd. On 5 different blogs (including Black and White Blog which is focused on race relations issues), one of which (1800blogger.com) dwarfs my own blogs in terms of visitors each month, there is nothing being said. WHY?
Is it because the only concern of the major news media is the riots that have disrupted businesses and thus they are covering the news? Is it that the videos of the event cannot be edited in any manner that brings question of the murderous guilt of officer Johannes Mehserle? Rather ex-officer as he has resigned in an attempt to pre-empt further investigation and avoid punishment as well as embarrassment on the Oakland police.
Why are people rioting in Oakland, why is the national African American community outraged? Because this murder has been brushed aside by the media and excused by the police - like the beating of Rodney King, and the murder of Sean Bell and so on. African Americans are tired of being targets, of being ignored in the news (except when a negative statement can be made), of receiving a second-class justice while being depicted as objects of fear, violence and hate.
A White man lost in the woods gets national attention. White children that are missing gets national attention. A White man stealing millions in dollars gets national attention. White stars die and they get year-long attention. Each of these have been news items in recent weeks, and each received days of news coverage and posts on these stories have gotten dozens of responses across the blogosphere. But when the victim of a crime is Black and the criminal is a White police officer it all goes quiet.
Well I am glad I have helped raise attention on this issue. And more importantly on the fact that this is not an isolated event. That this is a policy found across the nation. That the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of this ex-cop walking away from this cold-blooded murder without spending a day in jail.
The news media have acted like cowards. They hid this story from the nation, for reasons I cannot name. They have failed to draw attention to the very thing they exist to do - make the public aware, keep all levels of law and enforcement accountable to all the people, and bring justice to those who have been wronged.
If this was kept out of the major media because of ratings, then they are worse than cowards. Fear of losing viewers because it makes cruel, vile, White police officers look bad is their job. Yet they do this job poorly.
How much attention did the assault of 15 cops on 3 Philadelphia Black men receive? Do you know what has happened to the case since that video was released? Do you know what happened to the 5 officers that brutally shot some 51 times Sean Bell and his companions in their car in New York City? How about the 6 Whites arrested and on trial for the rape, torture, and kidnapping of Megan Williams? And I can go on and on.
But I bet you know what happened to OJ Simpson, every day. Or the arrest of Wesley Snipes (and far less so his victories and overly-harsh punishment on minor non-federal charges). Or the arrest and trial of Bobby Cutts.
So I am not surprised that so many people that want to argue with me about the racial bias in movies and television (in front of and behind the camera), commercials, news, at airports, and so many other places and events in America are absolutely wordless in this case. Because there is no question of guilt. There is no twist or doubt or anything but guilt. And it was racial if not racist in its motivation. And again there is no question there.
All White people are not like ex-officer Johannes Mehserle. The shocked reaction of some of the officers on the scene tells me that not all officers in Oakland are like him. But when the news media wants to avoid the entire subject because it makes them uncomfortable, or whatever is their reason, it makes it hard not to feel that they all are like Mehserle.
Obviously I am still angry. And I have every right to be. The White part of this nation was insanely upset about OJ wining in L.A. Now imagine if African Americans were to be equally as insanely upset over the multiple, repeated, unjustified, unpunished violence and murders enacted by police officers against us. If you can imagine what that would bring, the only question I can ask is why does the news media seem to want to provoke such a reaction by failing to do its job?
Oscar Grant's family deserves tens of millions for his wrongful death. Ex-officer Johannes Mehserle needs to be in jail, convicted and put to death. And the news media is obligated to cover both of these things, for days, at every step, to ensure such an outcome and preserve some semblance of justice in America. The silence as seen so far is not enough. Action and active participation needs to occur.
Just like it would if Grant had been White.
7 comments:
The following are comments from 1800blogger.com, where I am a contributing author.
aj Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 7:20 pm e
Excellent post. Thank you for articulating this so well. I’ve heard more about Laura Bush’s china on M$M than I have on this case.
thetruth1,
First, thank you for commenting.
Now let mew correct you. This happened on Jan 1st of this year. The news media have avoided this story. Most of the nation is unaware of it. It is only now getting attention due to the efforts of bloggers like myself. I believe that this is not being broadcast by the news media on a national scale due to the obvious and videotaped guilt of the officer. I may be wrong but I believe that.
The news of Sean Bell, Amidou Diallo and many others do not stay in the national news. Sean Bell for instance was cover for part of 1 day. I know because I followed that case and blogged on it.
But the case with Casey Anthony in Florida, The case of Oj in Vegas, and the death of Heath Ledger have been in the national news for a year.
Another example, Anna Nicole Smiths death was covered for 3 months. The death of President Ford, 3 days. The death of James Brown 2 days.
The point is that the media has a present bias in the news when it comes to African Americans. Many do not see it because they chose not to, or because it does not - nor will it ever - affect them. But as a Black Hispanic man, with brothers and nephews and friends it is a fear that any of us may be shot down by police officers a dozen times of more for entering our house. No White American has such a fear, and never has in my 40 years of life.
So it is not “stirring up” racial hate. I am commenting on it. You amy not be familiar with it, but that does not mean it cannot exist. And when year after year these events happen I do not call it a coincidence or an accident. It is an institutionalized accepted policy. That too is not racist, but commentary on a racial event.
As for it being an accident, or a dumb rookie move, you obviously have not read my blog or coverage of this murder. And you have not read my blogs either. Had you done so, via the links I provided just for that reason, you would have seen several videos of the entire event - and known where to find several more - and thus be able to know why I am so adamant. I do my homework.
And as for a rookie move, perhaps. Yet that is still no excuse for murder. I was not in his mind, so I don’t know if it was intentional, but murder need not be planned. Thus they have the crime murder in the 2nd degree.
And if this were truely reversed, with a Black cop shooting a White man, on the ground, defenseless, surrounded by cops the outrage among Whites would be astounding. You doubt that? How severe and long did the outrage against OJ last? Guilty or not, how long?
And as for a White cop doing the same, it never happens. It will never happen.
So if it takes a riot, and a $25 million dollar lawsuit, and protest marches to gain national attention to a horrendous act that happens repeatedly across the nation, at least once a year it seems, so be it. If that’s what it takes to stop this from happening I can support that, though I would prefer otherwise.
And lastly to your question of what happens in the media, you really don’t watch much national news do you. Bobby Cutts, OJ, and many others do get month long coverage. In fact the coverage is so wide that other national events of greater importance are neglected. Like forest fires near populated areas which happened during the Cutts coverage or 2 days.
Or perhaps it’s because I write a blog multiple times daily that I pay attention and record these events.
And as for those cases, I am not aware of the exact details. I can’t follow everything. But I will say that the murder of any defenseless human being is an act that warrants death.
I believe strongly in penal punishment. And I am in favor of harsh penalties for harsh crimes - regardless of the color of the criminal. But our legal system does not work in such a manner. Something that the D.O.J. data directly states.
But as for this case directly, I suggest you follow my link back to my first post, and watch the video. Then tell me this was not an unjustified murder.
This comment was moved and the link modified to fit the page. No other change has been made to the post.
M. Vass said...
thetruth1 Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 9:42 pm e
dont worry the news media will cover this for days without a doubt without any help…when a white cop kills a black man it’s always a big story esp here in NY, Sean Bell,Amadou Diallo or Anthony Baez and the news about them goes on for months,the media is totally biased for these types of stories,they like you love to pour fuel on it trying to stir up racial hate groups,police hate groups,protests,roits,etc even when this just might have been an dumb accident or a stupid panic move from a rookie cop who was on the job only 2 years,you cannot say this guy killed Grant just because he was black unless you were inside Meherles head at the time…and if Grant was white this would be a one day story,over and done,no roits,no protests,no nothing but grief for family…but when Blacks commit crimes on whites it makes no news at all,nothing,even the most evil of crimes never ever make a big story with the liberal biased press we have,actually it looks like they run away from these stories….ie have you ever heard of these? I know I didnt until I stumbled across them on internet, and I watch alot of news on TV.
http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com/2008/11/marine-sgt-jan-pawel-pietrzak-wife.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Channon_
Christian_and_Christopher_Newsom
I hope you wish the same fate for these criminals as you do for Johannes Mehserles.
As found at blackandwhiteblog.net, where I am co-author.
MEGATONE Says:
January 11th, 2009 at 1:13 pm e
You are correct, there are extreme issues with the way our society has devolved over the past 40 years. Unfortunately, until people of all races educate themselves and realize what is going on, things will only continue to get worse. Before, we had forced segregation, now we have it on a voluntary basis. Just go to any high school lunch room and note the chosen seating arrangements to see this. Or, study the history of the origins of Planned Parenthood and the views of Margaret Sanger.
The only way we will ever see an end to this is to finally realize what this nation was meant to be. A nation where all men are created equal. Please note that “men” is meant to be in the generic sense meaning all people, not just men. Once we establish the proper form of Constitutional government and begin to regain our God-given rights, people will begin to see that our current ways of living are senseless. Then, maybe we can begin to live in true unity with meaningful change. After all, when you finally are living an actual free life, you would never want to infringe on the freedom of another.
Changeseeker Says:
January 11th, 2009 at 7:32 pm e
I couldn’t agree with you more. Here’s my take (and my explanation for my silence).
Hmm well I'm white and very outraged at the situation, I can't believe the riots weren't worse than they were.
Not sure how I feel about your commentary, it seems some larger issues are dangerously being missed here.
One: If Oscar Grant were white true the situation may have been different, mostly because the cops probably wouldn't have given him such a hard time in the first place. I believe the media response to this situation (if it had played out in exactly the same way, in every way except for his race) would have been exactly the same.
Law enforcement is highly regarded in our society and practically worshiped by the media. Shows such as Cops, Texas Highwaymen, etc.. rarely show law enforcement in a bad light, much less the mainstream media.
The majority of our population generally seems to believe that if someone is arrested or otherwise detained or even assaulted by law enforcement that they must have done something to deserve it.
We are quickly turning into a police state with the highest percentage of prison incarceration in the history of the US while the majority of the country simply turns its head.
I now return you to your imaginary race war.
Studio,
I’m glad you are outraged. It’s about time. And I don’t mean you individually – I mean everyone in the nation.
It’s been 3 months since 3 Black men were shot at the start of the year. At this moment I can bet money that 80% of the nation cannot name all 3 men, the states the shootings took place in, or how many were killed. But I also would bet that that same number of people know about the Casey murder in Florida or the Petersen case in Ohio.
That’s a shame and insult to us all.
But as to your thoughts of what I missed in discussing the Grant execution style murder:
You state that things may have been different if Grant was White. Well I have covered that issue extensively in multiple posts. And I will state that unequivocally the result would not have been murder. I confirm my contention with this simple question, name 1 White male that was killed in America over the last decade where police fired more than 10 shots, and the male in question is unarmed and not endangering the life of anyone. Alternately I ask, Can you name 1 White male that has been executed, while lying prone and co-operating with police, with no less than 4 officers on the scene?
Suffice to say that there is no question that if Grant were White the result would have been different.
Also, the contention that the news media would have reacted the same is questionable. But even if they did, is that not also reason enough to be outraged and angry by this situation? Is that not the purpose of the news media, to alert the public to abuses of power and to hold those involved accountable to the law?
The high regard of law enforcement is based on 1 thing. That the law is fairly and properly enforced. But I state again that this is only true when people of color are not involved. Consistently, across the nation, people of color are attacked, abused and killed by law enforcement officers every year. The high opinion you speak of is one not held by most people of color, regardless of their circumstance. Because the reality has nothing to do with what is shown (in a highly biased manner) on television and movies.
But I love the way you try to toss off all of what I have said. You state it’s an “imaginary race war” and bestow upon me the privilege of continuing to discuss it. Only a White person in America can have such gall.
Because you never face these situations. Because you never have to fear the abuse of police. So it’s not real to you. Just like being the subject of various prejudicial actions – whether in employment, housing, police actions, or anything else. It’s very easy to brush off as unreal anything that does not affect your life.
But I, like tens of millions of others, do live the reality of the situation. If that leaves you or anyone with uncomfortable feelings, I make no apology. And if I have opened your eyes to what does happen and exists, I am glad – especially if it gives you even one night of discomfort. Because things cannot change for the better if people cannot see how bad things are.
So call me a militant, or racist, or whatever. I’ve heard it all before. It does not change the facts that so few have been told.
Oscar Grant was executed, Adolph Grimes was viciously murdered, Robbie Tolan was shot without cause. All within 24 hours, none with cause, all by police. This is not a first, and sadly it will not be the last unless we all act. And that includes those Whites that prefer to brush the whole thing under a rug.
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