A few nights ago, I attended a community wide meeting. I was interested because there was going to be a discussion about vacant properties in our area, and there are at least 3 on our block.
It turned out to be similar to other community meetings I have attended since we moved to the east side of St. Paul. I always want to go because I value our community and want to be aware of what's going on in the area. And I almost always leave frustrated and angry. Not about the "happenings" in the area. But because while our neighborhood is about one third Caucasian, the folks attending the meetings are all or mostly white. I could overlook that, but they always seem more concerned about their property values and who's not taking care of their yard than about the needs of the community.
No surprise, I walked into a room full of white people with "concerns" about their community. I found a seat next to the door so I could escape if I got too annoyed. I heard mutterings at the tables around me about neighbors and how they had repeatedly complained to the authorities about the "code violations" and nothing had been done.
The chief police officer spoke and shared some insights into trends and crimes in the community, and how the foreclosure crisis has influenced criminal activity. I was quite impressed with the sergeant. Until he made one statement. One statement that may have eased the minds of those in the room, but made my blood start to simmer, and by the time I made it home, come to a full rolling boil. To this room full of white people, he said, crime in our area is primarily "Black on Black."
I'm not ignorant. I'm familiar with criminal patterns in our area, but do we have to make it about race? Do we have to ignite stereotypes? His sentiment could have so easily be stated without the baggage. Maybe "most victims know their assailant"? Or "primarily gang/drug related"? Or "most crime is not random"?
Instead he chose to feed a disturbing belief not only among citizens, but public defenders of our safety. The kids I work with at the after-school program often express negative attitudes toward police officers, and I always respond something like, "most police officers have good intentions, and work to keep us safe." But maybe I shouldn't be so surprised they come to such conclusions.
Ser. Casper didn't know there was a woman in the audience with a black son safe at home sleeping in his crib. He doesn't know this woman's heart aches over the trials her son will inevitable face because he was born black instead of white. That she worries about the day when her son can move beyond the shelter of her privilege to the local gas station for a soda only to be judged and feared unfairly by those around him. They will unashamedly narrow eyes and clutch their purses. That she fears he will be "mistaken" by one Ser. Casper's officers as a danger to society.
I suppose I am like every other mom on this planet. Along with the strongest love I have ever known comes the most sleepless nights...and when my baby started sleeping through, my insomnia was just beginning.
One thing is for sure. I can't look the other way and say, "not my problem" anymore.
