One of my observations in the aftermath of the September 11 attack was the response of black folks. Of course, we felt the senseless loss of life as it has become an unwelcome part of our lives since being brought to these shores. Black people have always served as this country’s moral compass. But because we’ve been so dehumanized and treated like second class citizens, we struggled for ways to demonstrate our humanity and empathize with the nearly 3000 lives lost on that day. What I found so fascinating was the scores of black people who followed the lead of white Americans in buying American flags. We put them on our cars, stuck them in our yards, wore them on our chests as if to remind the country, “We, too, sing America.” I still find this fascinating.
Nobody Wants to be a Public Servant
Police Chiefs and County Sheriffs across the country will tell you with a straight face that it’s the anti-police rhetoric that’s responsible for the precipitous drop in staffing and the inability to recruit. Milwaukee County recently pulled street patrol personnel and reassigned them to the courts. Dane County’s plan is moving ahead to expand its jail despite the disproportionate numbers of African Americans being housed.
