So, another law abiding black male is mistaken for a thug. It’s happened to my sons already (at the ages of 12, 13, and 15)., Sigh…will things ever be different?
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nypd-releases-video-of-james-blake-arrest/
Black men are not safe in this society. They haven’t been from its inception, and I don’t foresee it getting any better any time soon.
Those who are in power to make change, won’t. Those on the ground demanding change are accused of “reverse” racism and playing the “race card.”
It’s sickening and I simply cannot wrap my head around the terror that parents of Black children, especially males, go through.
ETA: Can’t wait to see how certain posters try to explain this one away. The way they’ve twisted other videos has been truly incredible and I’m sure somehow they’ll show this is James’ fault.
Sickening.
It might get a little better as policing is reformed, but as long as blacks have a much higher arrest and incarceration rate, the problem will not go away.
I want to believe things will change someday, romanigypsyeyes, but sometimes (like today) I just don’t feel too optimistic about this.
Someone called the cops on my boys when they were in the park almost a year ago and said they had an “airgun” (which look like real guns, so the cops came to the park right away ready for real trouble). Well the 911 caller failed to mention that my kids’ gun was huge, yellow, and plastic (a nerf gun). She did, however, mention that they had “bushy” hair. Thankfully, these particular cops didn’t approach my boys they way this NY cop did James Blake, and the encounter ended on a friendly note once the cops understood that this was a frivolous 911 call. But now, I get nervous whenever my kids want to go the park. pool, etc. around the neighborhood.
There’s no doubt about it- Black men are not safe in our society.
Way too many incidents between Black men and the police are happening nowadays. Maybe Blake being a well known individual will enable him to make a bigger shove in changing this (or at least promoting discussion/awareness).
One of the crazy things in this story is that it took place just outside the entry to the Grand Hyatt which is one of the major hotels that players, USTA staff, and tournament officials use during the US Open. Blake is very well known in the tennis community. It’s stunning to me that nobody recognized what was going on and intervened. There are usually tons of people going in and out those doors day and night during the Open.
@Anxiousmom1 to be fair, if you look at the people around, they all just seem kind of shocked. Everything happened pretty quickly if the video is in real time.
That’s interesting that he’s well-known in the Tennis community. (I know zero about tennis.)
All that cop must have seen was “black man who doesn’t belong in this upscale setting/ must be up to no good”. I think for some cops there is almost a gut level, instinctual response to black men along these lines. The constitution and their training does not govern their thinking anymore. Stereotype-fed instinct takes over.
Whatever he was thinking, I think he is in trouble now.
This saddens me tremendously. When something like this happens to a celebrity - you realize every black male is truly at risk. The guy they were after was accused of identity theft, I believe, not homicide. Even if they HAD the right guy - would it have been necessary to slam him to the ground?
Romani I agree…They do look shocked and it did all happen awfully quickly. I wonder if some of the bystanders knew who he was and vouched for him once the assault was stopped? He was the number 4 ranked player in the world not that many years ago…He’s definitely somebody American tennis fans would recognize.
^^I think it took several minutes before the cops realized he was a famous person. Then they probably quickly transitioned to CYA mode.
By the way, not that it should matter, but Mr. Blake is also a Harvard grad.
“Whatever he was thinking, I think he is in trouble now.” @JustOneDad I hope he is, but I don’t know…
I don’t think black men are less safe today than in the past. However, the great thing about our modern times is the fact that we have video evidence of what minorities have complained about for years. Unfair, unequal, and sometimes illegal treatment by law enforcement. Growing up in Brooklyn, I saw the illegal behaviors by the NYPD. But who would believe me or any other minority? We’ve progressed to video evidence and that is where the uproar comes from. But this is old news in black neighborhoods. Yet society is slow to move away from blaming the victims in most instances. I am encouraged that as the evidence continues to come forward, we will finally get real police reforms.
Is there any reason why the police couldn’t identify themselves, ask James Blake to put his hands up, and then arrest him?
The Grand Hyatt is not particularly upscale and has a lot of foot traffic. Black men wouldn’t stand out there, particularly attractive, well dressed ones. If anyone says there are cops in NYC who aren’t violent thugs, they are lying.
@Zekesima The officer lost his gun and badge and is now on desk duty awaiting results of the review.
Blake is a great guy, but he’s not a Harvard grad. He attended for two years.
Apparently he looks exactly like someone the cops were looking for, who was suspected of being part of an identity theft ring. What I don’t understand is why the cop didn’t just approach him and say, “Suspect’s Name? You’re under arrest.” and then cuff him. Why the need to wrestle to the ground someone who wasn’t accused of any type of violence?
This sounds like a Bad Cop.
However, if the NYPD had an expectation of fair treatment for black citizens, this cop wouldn’t dare do this. Remember, this is the same police department who stopped and frisked predominantly minorities with impunity for years. A desk job until this blows over is unacceptable. They need to change the whole system and have real criminal punishment for bad cops.
@rockvillemom you are right. It was wholly unnecessary to SLAM James Blake to the ground given the alleged crime of identity theft. Where are the “law abiding” NYPD officers idly saying nothing about their reckless colleague? The police want to be respected but do not hold the obvious “THUGS” among their rank and file accountable. It is time for President Obama to lead on this dire matter of national disgrace…
Thanks for that info @JustOneDad. Hopefully, he is not just slapped on the wrist and then fully reinstated. I agree with @frugaldoctor that the punishment for such overstepping needs to be severe enough that cops think twice before attacking anyone else like this again.