July 2020 Edition

The United States has experienced an eruption of protest demonstrations across many cities in response to the death of George Floyd, while he was in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There were also protests in other countries. The public outcry includes allegations of police misconduct, racial bias in policing, and systematic racism against African-Americans. The National Black Police Association has issued a statement on the case of George Floyd and it can be read here: www.blackpolice.org/mediareleases

The outcry emphasizes disproportional encounters between the African-American community and police officers. This disproportionality is well documented by several research studies and includes: excessive traffic stops of blacks in certain geographical areas and harsher criminal sentences for blacks compared to whites who commit similar crimes. These studies help establish a recurrent probability of racial bias/discrimination in these encounters, with the death of blacks from police shootings or while in custody being the most extreme form. According to CNBC (2020): “Last year, more than 1,000 people were killed by police. Black people were disproportionately among those killed, the group found…Scientists have struggled to study whether racial bias is directly responsible for the disproportionate killing of black people…Despite the large number of police killings annually, police are almost never charged for excessive force violations…” 1

The “Black Lives Matter” catchphrase was visible during these protests as well. According to CBS News (2015): “Black Lives Matter was sparked by a woman who tweeted it after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin and it caught on, especially after the death of Michael Brown…” It began as a twitter hashtag and then became an organization with the same name and a movement.² There also has been a public backlash that features “All Lives Matter.” Both catchphrases are constitutionally protected speech, but the second one is a bit of a curiosity. Consider this, “Women Lives Matter” would there be a backlash that states “All Genders Matter?” Probably not as much, because women have disproportionate experiences related to child care, domestic violence, breast cancer, etc. This is not to say other genders have not experienced for example domestic violence, as it’s been reported men have been assaulted by their female partners and LGBTQ communities have seen a rise in cases. However, women remain the most effected. The protesters come from various walks-of-life, different racial/ethnic groups, and multiple organizations. And not all of them are members of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) non-profit organization. On a final note, prior to joining any organization it is important to do preliminary research: know their mission statement, who provides the funding, and background of the leadership team.

Let me introduce a loving and fun family on YouTube, the Kabs. The father (Tay) and mother (Chanel) have three children: Teija, Maliya, and baby T.J. who live in the United Kingdom. Found their channel at the onset of the stay-at-home quarantine and have watched ever since. See the video of them at the end of this newsletter. Enjoy and Cheers to Life!

Sheretta Butler-Barnes, PhD is a Developmental Psychologist and Associate Professor of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. She was a part of a research team that identified positive perceptions of racial identity and school environment lead to a higher motivation. This research study was published in the journal Child Development as “Promoting Resilience Among African American Girls: Racial Identity as a Protective Factor” (2017). Professor Barnes has also worked with Girls Inc. Eureka! a nonprofit organization that promotes STEM education for girls.

Thomas Armstrong was born to an African-American land owning family in Lucas, Mississippi. The town has roots that date back to the 1870s when a first generation of Freedmen settled there after the Civil War. He lived during the Jim Crow era and recounts his experience in the book: Autobiography of a Freedom Rider: My Life as a Foot Soldier for Civil Rights by Thomas M. Armstrong and Natalie R. Bell (2011, 208 pages). He participated (1958-1963)  in the Civil Rights Movement as a Freedom Riderwho challenged the segregation of interstate travel. He was arrested for these activities and witnessed acts of inhumanity by those White southerners who were determined to maintain the racist system. He writes: “Most of the Freedom Riders were ordinary people, many of them college students, as well as clergymen of various faiths and labor leaders…”(page 101). The Civil Rights Movement drove the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, or national origin.” This informative book provides the perspective of an activist engaged on the front lines.