The Pigs had us Running

I remember when my friends and I would take off running when we saw the police. It never failed. We could have been sitting on our momma’s clunker chillin’ eating cherry Now and Laters - Momma should have kept her 1980 Nova: Cash for Clunkers: What You Need to Know Reuters – but when the Pigs (such a disrespectful description) rolled-up on us, without hesitation and for no real legitimate reason at all, we would begin to run to the creek. The creek was our hiding spot. Nothing but boys would go down to the stream that separated the New Projects from the Old Projects.

Now, before you folk from ‘the north’ begin to blast me about my beloved projects just know that I grew-up in Thomasville, North Carolina. The country. Our projects were “townhomes” according to my college buddy, Lamont Morrow: “Man, please I am from the city. I know what projects are…I grew-up there. Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn. These are projects stop trippin’.”

http://www.bluejake.com/images04/misc/2004_1_projects3.jpg

I never did go to Lamont’s projects. I would not have made it one night!

What I did ‘make’ was a mockery of law and order each and every time I ran from the police. Not that they were coming for me – but I exhibited behavior that was ‘hood acceptable’, and confusing to the policemen. Think about it for a moment…We ran from those who are in uniform to Protect and Serve. These white men, and occasional token black cops, were just doing their job: On patrol on James Avenue. They were making certain that we were not being violated or committing violations. That’s all. However, I and many other African Americans for various reasons without significant personal justification may not have any respect for police officers.

Of course, I have asked myself why over the years. Then all I have to do is click on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROn_9302UHg

After countless years, I cannot watch all of this video. In this act of police brutality which was later in effect sanctioned by the Los Angeles’ courts in the form of acquittals – perhaps a pervasive repugnant-ness of cops is understandable? Or, what about the Haitian immigrant that was viciously sodomized by a gang of cavemen frontin’ as New York City policemen?

Abner Louima - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I don’t relive these horrible occurrences in law enforcement history via commentary to spread venom. The acts alone are enough to leave one with lasting negative impressions of the Men in Blue. I am just contemplating lately about why so many people of color hate the police. Even as I recall these stories I cannot say that I dislike the police…as my early project days my have indicated…I am just leery of them. Unable of trusting them.

One thing I will NEVER do is raise my children to disrespect the laws of this unjust land and the enforcers of the law. Warren Balentine, a man I like when he is not trying to please all his radio talk show listeners, said something that I agree with: “One of the best weapons we can give our black kids is a general understanding of how law works.” He is right. He was also correct when he alluded to this: “We all should practice some level of civility toward law enforcement.”

http://ultimatecollegehouseparty.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/cop-1.jpg

Cops are not all bad. I actually want to believe that most are good. Un-crooked. On the Up and Up. With this positive mindset we should support them and appreciate the sacrifice they make. Also, just maybe the young girls featured in this story (below) would have told the cops the truth if they we not scared of them:

Dallas Girl, 14, Jailed With Adults For 10 Days - cbs11tv.com

Written by Brian E. Payne. Inspired by the Pigs…no sorry: The Good Police!