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| Road in front of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. near Rush arrest site. |
A disturbing video was released by The Citizen Times, and some community members are asking the police chief to resign. (https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/02/28/video-shows-apd-officer-beating-man-suspected-jaywalking-trespassing/382646002/)
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| Picture of Shiloh community where blacks lived in 1900's and where bodies were removed to make room for Biltmore Estate |
A little history on the place where the incident happened. Asheville is where the famous Biltmore Estate tourist attraction is located and where blacks were disinterred from burial grounds from the estate's rolling lands to make room for roads. George Washington Vanderbilt II built the mansion between 1889 and 1895, and it is the largest privately owned house in the United States.
Blacks often worked at Biltmore as servants and lived in the basement. There was a school on the estate where whites were taught the arts and blacks were taught how to be cooks and waiters.
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| Kitchen at Biltmore Estate |
On August 24, 2017, Rush was crossing Biltmore and Short Coxe avenues when he was stopped by police who then cussed him, ran after him, wrestled him to the ground, beat him in the face and head, and tasered him. "You think I'm a punk, and I'm not," one policeman told Rush before threatening to arrest or ticket him for allegedly breaking four laws. Officer Christopher Hickman beat Rush and later resigned in January 2018 before he could be fired, however, at least two other officers were involved in detaining Rush.
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| Photos taken of buildings leaving Asheville, N.C. |
(Photos by Tomi Johnson while touring Biltmore Estate)
D says: It will be an endless and constant struggle. History tells us that humans are uncomfortable with people they don’t know in general, and especially if they don’t look the same.
ReplyDeleteThere is arrogance in all of us, and any hint of arrogance, either in expression, demeaner, or verbalized on the part of a police officer or a civilian just walking, will easily cause and escalation to a more confrontational situation than it should.
I believe there is too much emphasis in the media to something we can work out in time. Tensions are not allowed to come to a level where the benefit of the doubt is the first instinct.
I think of how it was around the pre and post MLK. There was a systemic problem for sure, and tension in the south and in high density city areas were high. Had to be dealt with, and he did it right. However, in retrospect even with the injustices, it was a decent period for music. Differences were beginning to be understood and accepted in some areas, although it would have taken much longer.
Look at the large crowds that go to current day Motown and Do Wop concerts. Very warm and comfortable surroundings, predominantly white because of demographics, but generally everyone was loving the quality of the sounds and sentiments. Music is different today. Too much discontent verbalized by many politicians and wealthy artists, instead of let’s get along. It’s attack, hate, etc. Crazy.
There will always be these instances, but today outliers are not just dealt with as outliers when appropriate, they are held up as the norm, not put in context, and continue to stoke the flame.
It will always be a struggle to counter discrimination in all its forms, it will never go away, and it needs to be monitored always because we’re imperfect.
It seems poor people are being discriminated against in our system of "justice", not just black people. We have a lot of sick, "tax-paid" authorities running police "gangs" which we should be worried about...because they have the most powerful guns and the "justice" system backing them. It's a power dynamic when you deal with the police. Perpetrators who want to "stop injustice" can do so instead of making excuses - they know the difference between right and wrong, but they think they can say and do whatever. These folks are trained to kill and need transparency. Thank God for that camera. We shouldn't put inhumane people like that cop in places where he can harm others, so I'm glad he quit!
DeleteJesus would not like it, I don't think, and he will come back to save the Universe with a sword and a mighty wind if we don't stop mistreating "others." He will be accompanied by our ancestors. Helping "others" is what the story of the Good Samaritan is all about. Have we not evolved in 2,000+ years? It takes self control. Man may be weak, but he can do anything he wants to do. WE AIN'T STUPID! It seems odd that we pay taxes and pay police but are afraid to walk down the street. We're all in this prison together, and we better learn how to get along. That MLK you speak so highly of was murdered. We need to end hate now! Actions only count!
"Trouble don't last always" my mama used to say. It's time to change. It's sad, but pets of different colors aren't discriminated against...why are people, created in the image of GOD?
D says:m In agree 100%.
DeleteMy point is we are flawed. We cannt have evolved in 2000 yesrs. It's an instant in time. As we are flawed, we should understand that and work with each other and not allow bad behaviors go unnoticed and addressed. Bad actors need to be removed.
The tough part for me is that I think we are making progress, but it's hard to know and appreciate for sure and therefore difficult to acknowledge. I dont know the frequency of bad behaviors like this, but it has to be lower over time.
Doesnt mesn you stop watching for it, expose it, and address it when it occurrs. But, how has the overall picture changed? For the worse or for the better.
I think overall, forr the better, with miles to go. I have to think all the blood, sweet, and tears was not wasted.
E says: Interesting read. Thanks
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