Why I am thankful in 2010

I am so thankful that so far 2010 has started off better than 2009. It's a sign that I can only hope continues throughout the year.

Now I don't mean that 2010 is better politically, economically, or in most any other measurement (see VASS for why). I do mean that the year is starting off better socially. At least as far as all reports have shown to date. Which is questionable at best.

In 2009 the year of "Change" started with the murder of 2 men, young African American fathers, and the critical shooting of another by police officers across the country. And when I say start I mean that literally. These men were shot within minutes of the ball dropping at Times Square.

Many still do not know the names of Oscar Grant, Robbie Tolan, or Adolph Grimes. Because the major media ignored these men and their stories of police abuse that I believe was motivated by their race. To this minute I doubt almost anyone other than my long-time readers are aware of what has happened (or more accurately not happened) to the police officers and the cases (click the link at the bottom of this post to learn more about these men). Which initself is another problem that 2009 shared with virtually every year since I was born.

But so far in 2010 I can see no report of such police brutality. I can see no hint of a murder born solely in racism and prejudice. In that at least the year has improved versus 2009.

Of course in 2009 it took days before any comment or hint of the year opening murders and assault caught any attention. In fact it took weeks of inaction and excuses leading to a riot before the major media even remotely noticed the most egregious murder of Oscar Grant. And even then, the major media address the riot and hinted at a cause of some sort.

Thus I am left with the same wish I had prior to the New Year's start, and the same as every year. That this might be a year without a racially motivated attack on African Americans (particularly young men) by police officers. I continue to hope that police won't "accidentally" shoot a Black man in the back while he lays on the ground in California. I hope that 15 officers will not pounce upon Black men like a gang of thugs in Philadelphia. That officers won't kill and wound Black men celebrating a bachelor party in a hail of bullets more akin to a gangster movie in New York City. That young Black men coming home from the store won't be shot in their driveways while their mother watches in Texas.

I can hope that none of these events will happen again in 2010 or ever. I can look forward and imagine an America where being Black (and young) does not place a crosshair on African Americans by trigger happy police officers across the nation. I might even take a moment to fantasize that equally violent and unnecessary acts will not happen to Latinos, Asians, and other people of color in this nation.

Perhaps if we all can imagine a year, just 1 year, without these kinds of events we will finally be 1 step closer to an America that is finally beyond racism, prejudice, and other acts of small petty minds.

I don't want to be proven wrong. I hope I won't be proven wrong. But I still won't go to Las Vegas and make a bet about it. Not yet, but I would like to.