By: Jack E. Stewart, III
Reel Urban News Op-Ed
My heart breaks for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, although I must admit this statement is becoming more of a cliché than an actual sentiment. Hearing about young, unarmed black boys and men being killed by overzealous police or vigilantes is so frequent that I am somewhat desensitized to it. I am not only not shocked by the news; I actually expect it. Does that make me apathetic? Not hardly.
The truth is, I spend quite a lot of time educating black men on what I consider to be proper protocol: avoid any action or activity that appears to be “suspicious” to white people, especially law enforcement. There is one significant hurdle that we cannot overcome. And that is the fact that our “Blackness” in and of itself is suspicious.
To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The fact is that the Negro was a slave in this country for 244 years. That act– that was a willful thing that was done, the Negro was brought here in chains, treated and burned human fashion and this led to the “thingification” of the Negro.” To many white Americans, Blacks are still viewed as “things” or “objects”, not people, that must be controlled like one would control a wild animal. That’s why something as simple as a black man jogging in a neighborhood where he is not wanted or welcomed, is viewed as suspicious or out of line. Trying to defend oneself against the tyranny of white supremacy is apprehensible and deserving of deadly consequences. If Ahmaud was a white man jogging through the same neighborhood and “fit the description” of someone that had committed a crime, the McMichaels would have waved as he ran by.
America is 55 years past the Civil Rights Movement and yet African Americans are still fight for the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Until this posse mentality is replaced with mutual respect, not mere tolerance, for people of color, stories like this will continue to be commonplace.
My heart truly breaks for the many mothers and fathers that will bury their black sons whose lives, promise and contributions were cut short because of the color of their skin.
On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was in the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick, GA when both Gregory and Travis McMichael confronted Arbery with two firearms. During the encounter, Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery.
This case is being investigated in partnership with District Attorney Tom Durden.
On May 5th, 2020, District Attorney Tom Durden formally requested the GBI investigate the death of Ahmaud Arbery. The Kingsland Office initiated an investigation on May 6th, 2020.
On April 29th, 2020, the Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) requested that the GBI investigate allegations of threats against GCPD and individuals involved in the active investigation.
On the morning of May 5th, 2020, GCPD requested the GBI investigate the public release of video related to Arbery’s death.
These investigations are all active and ongoing. If anyone has information related to these cases, please contact the GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477)
