shebekaydee

[shebekaydee]

Detroit/Algiers Motel Reaction

So, I just finished watching Detroit and never has a movie made me feel so uneasy the entire time I was watching it. I had read about the Algiers Motel incident prior to seeing the movie, so I was quite aware of what was going to happen. I knew that police were going to raid the Algiers Motel in attempt to find a weapon that was used by an alleged sniper. I also knew that no weapon would be found and that the police were going to physically assault a couple of young African American men and white women, and it would result in 3 African American teenagers dead (yes, they were only 17, 18, and 19 years old). Knowing that in general had me on the edge of my seat because I knew that watching it would be hard, especially knowing that this incident occurred in reality.

The toughest death to me was the very last one. As the motel incident came to a close I knew that in reality three African American teens died that night, yet at that point in the movie only 2 had been murdered by the police. After Larry Reed, played by Algee Smith, ran out of the motel, leaving Fred Temple, played by Jacob Latimore, in the hotel, I knew that it was going to be him. The thing that I couldn’t comprehend was why Fred would choose to die in that manner. Well I completely understand why he said, “I see a dead man”, but I don’t believe I would have anywhere near that type of strength to state that knowing that it was a matter of me leaving alive or being killed. My initial thought was that Fred was not even friends with Carl Cooper, who laid dead on the floor. But then I thought, yeah they weren’t friends, they were brothers. Brothers of the same struggle that have endured the pain of growing up in a society where they are believed to be a criminal and lesser than because of their skin color.

As the movie continues, we arrive to a very familiar scene. A court room where white American police officers are on trial for the murder of an African American. Do you even have to question what the verdict was? As horrific, disgusting, and traumatizing this incident was, all of the police officers involved walked away with their hands clean. This incident happened 50 years ago, and it is disheartening that our system allows the unjust treatment of African Americans by police officers to still occur without consequence. Watching this movie brought two things to perspective to me:

 1.     WHAT STOPS ANOTHER ALGIERS MOTEL INCIDENT FROM OCCURRING?

 Our legal system has proven over the past several years it is impossible for a police officer to be convicted of murder. We have seen (LIKE ACTUALLY SEEN ON VIDEO) multiple incidents of police officers killing men that were unarmed, surrendering, and/or that were doing nothing at all, like sitting in a car. No convictions. There have been witnesses there during these incidents. Hell the whole world has witnessed these incidents and have seen that these murders were unjust and inexcusable. Yet, no conviction. Thinking about this really makes me hate lawyers. If you watch the movie, you will see how the law makes it possible for police officers to get away with committing these murders. Anyway, my whole point is, as horrendous and nightmarish as the Algiers Motel incident was, it could occur today, literally right now, and the result would be the exact same because our legal system has not changed anything to stop an incident like this from reoccurring.

 2.     THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN OF BEING BLACK GOES BEYOND SLAVERY.

 Ever hear someone say, “slavery ended a longtime ago... stop being sensitive”, when a black person is talking about still being treated unjustly today. Well NEWS FLASH, African Americans were treated unjustly even once slavery was abolished. It is funny how there is a belief that everything went from cotton fields to flowery meadows once slavery was abolished. Well this movie goes to show that it didn’t. This incident happened 50 years ago. That may seem like a long time ago, but let me put this number into a very realistic perspective for you. This is now 2017, and slavery was abolished 152 years ago. The Alger’s Motel massacre happened 102 years after slavery was abolished. 102 years is about 2 generations of people, so your great grandparents and your grandparents. Meaning your grandparents and possibly your parents were alive and well when the Algiers Incident happened, as it happened only 50 years ago!

The Algiers Motel incident is not the only occurrence of unjust treatment of African Americans after slavery. There were so many more and all this did was infuriate and frighten individuals of the African American community. As we all know, traditions, ideas, and perspectives are passed down amongst generations and tragedies like the Algiers Motel are not just forgotten. [Well at the same time it can be, considering nothing like this is taught in history class. I am so very thankful for filmmakers that produce pictures like ‘Detroit’ to remind us all of the United States’ past.] These incidents and emotions were shared and used as lessons to teach your mother and father about the world that they had been born into.

Then Voilà here you come. As a child, you heard different things about the evil white man, and that as a black person you have to be 10x better than the white man to not succeed, but to be considered on the same level as the white man. You think it’s just the normal superstitious stories parents use to scare their children, until incidents occur that make you realize that you aren’t seen as equal. Maybe a kid says something racist to you that they overheard from their parents or your class begins to discuss slavery and you notice that all slaves were black, like you. These incidents make you more aware of your skin color. You begin to feel uneasy when you are the only black person in the room, and the stares make you feel as if you did not belong there. This burden should not exist considering that slavery ended 152 years ago right? Well unfortunately it does. I have been made aware on multiple occasions that I am black and can be treated wrongfully. As a kid there was a family that wouldn’t let their child play with me, because I was black. Someone has said “nigger” in my face just to see my reaction. I have been asked several times what sport I played while attending my undergraduate university because it was a majority white university. I have not been allowed entry into places because I am black. None of these situations had any psychological impact on me right? And you won’t guess what age I am. Only 25. Yes, slavery did end over 100 years ago but the unjust treatment of blacks did not, so no it is not something we can just get over, because yes, we are still dealing with it.  

[shebekaydee]

[shebekaydee]

[shebekaydee]

So hype

[shebekaydee]

[shebekaydee]

LeBron James, King of Flopping

[shebekaydee]

[shebekaydee]

Yessss Krit!

"You tellin’ me I can be King of Hip-Hop And they wouldn’t give it to Andre 3000?”

[shebekaydee]

via WelcomeToLoudCity.com

[shebekaydee]

But if you only have love for your own race Then you only leave space to discriminate And to discriminate only generates hate

Where Is The Love - Black Eyed Peas (via yo-kiwii)

[shebekaydee]

Discrimination & Racism exists in this world whether we try to ignore it or not. The issue is that because it is not blatantly seen in front of us or it doesn't deal with us we tend to ignore it. But it does deal with us, it deals with every single human being on this earth, not just black people. We can't progress in this world if we allow the living, breathing human being next to us to be treated lesser than anyone else. Belittling others around you does not make you stronger, and instead is a coping mechanism making you weaker. The problem is not only generating from the people that are discriminating against others, but also from the people that allow it to happen by not taking action. WE ARE A SCARED AND SELFISH GENERATION THAT IS TOO CONTENT WITH LOOKING OVER SITUATIONS AS IF THEY DID NOT OCCUR.  

The recent events with Donald Sterling, should be looked as an opportunity to show society that we will not allow this type of attitude to have power, and I believe that it begins with the players. I'm not just speaking about the players of the LA Clippers, I am speaking about every athlete in the NBA that disagrees with the comments that Sterling made. NBA athletes are some of the most influential people in our country and if there all were to take a stand it will be noticed by millions, especially since it is Playoffs Season. They might be able to continue to series without the LA Clippers but they can't continue the show if there is no one to watch. 

Though this is a terrible incident, it should not make us look at our society as if it is a cruel and racist place because there are many people that do not have this ignorant mentality towards minorities. This incident should be looked upon as an opportunity to show society that the idea of demeaning another human being to empower yourself, the foundation that the United States was built on, will no longer be tolerated. 

[shebekaydee]

Hawks motto for the off season:

#bustitopenforBari