Let Our Black Asses Live, Whypipo
Welcome to the sixteenth installment of This Black-Ass Life! This week, we’re talking through the newfound national spotlight on the all-too-common act of White folks calling the cops on non-White people for just going about their business. We want to examine the impulse to call the police, whether it’s necessary and what the potential consequences are.
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I. The Facts
In the last two weeks, there have been several high profile incidents of White people, mostly White women, calling the cops on people of color just living their lives. Here are just some examples:
In New York, a former Obama-appointee had the cops called on him for moving into his own apartment.
In California, a White woman called the police on a Black family barbecuing at a public park. Then she weaponized her White woman tears.
Also in California, seven police cars and a helicopter showed up after a White woman called the police to say that there were “three black people stealing stuff.” They were leaving the Airbnb they rented.
A few days later in Connecticut, another White woman called the police on her fellow grad student because she was napping in the common area of their building.
In Colorado, a White woman called the police on two teen Native American boys attending a college tour. Their crime? They were shy and didn’t respond to her interrogation.
In Pennsylvania, someone called the cops on a group of Black women because they were allegedly playing golf too slowly. FYI: They certainly know how to pace a game as members of Sisters in the Fairway, a decade-old golf club that hosts national and international games.
Why is this important?
The modern police as we know it was born out of White vigilantism intended to stop integration of spaces. This is important because what spurs many of these 911 calls is the feeling that White spaces are now being infiltrated by non-White bodies.
In response to White riots in the 1910s and 1920s against immigrants, Black folks, integration and progress in general, civil rights commissions were set up in cities across the US to address White vigilantism. Once those commissions became effective, White people realized rioting would not work as a mainstream tool of intervention and began to use the police as a proxy to do their bidding.
Whether White people realize it or not, when they call the police for minor annoyances of living around other humans, they put us all at serious risk of injury or death.
A closer look at history: “Extrajudicial ‘justice’ came into its own in this country with vigilantes, the slave patrol and the Fugitive Slave Laws of the 19th century. It continued into the 20th with the lynch mob, the Vigilance Committee, the Citizens' Council and the Klan. And it lives on today … “
What can my Black Ass do?
Check out this blogpost with alternatives to calling the police complete with a list of organizations you can reach out to for help.
Read this living document of effective alternatives to calling the police.
Special Edition: What Can My White Ass Do?
Dearest White People, it is NOT your job to police public spaces. Unless you see *active* destructive behavior or events that requires an immediate response, DON'T CALL THE POLICE. Examples of real danger can include car accidents, murder, people eating faces because they are on bath salts, and armed robbery. Being uncomfortable or nervous around people is not a good reason to call the police.
So with that said, when you’re uncomfortable, try to take the following steps: Breathe deeply. Count to ten. Are you still mad? Do you still want to call the police? Yes?
Then use this helpful guide for whether police intervention is actually necessary. You’ll also see alternatives to police intervention that can be more effective.
II. Other Things
Gayle King may have admitted Oprah has smoked (or still smokes) weed on occasion.
Chance the Rapper gave an entire commencement speech about Beyoncé and Beychella and it was beautiful.
Meghan Markle invited Rev. Michael Curry, a Black American bishop from Chicago, to preach at her wedding.
I (Jumoke) am slightly obsessed with Richard Overton, America’s oldest WWII veteran who turned 112 last week. He drinks and smokes 12 cigars/day. Also, he was a zaddy back in the day.
I (Mitu) want to take a smooth moment to highlight the dragging of Duke VP Larry Moneta after he set off a chain of events that got two student baristas fired for playing Young Dolph’s “Get Paid” at an on campus cafe. First, as an alum, I want to say that students of color, queer students, students with disabilities, etc. BEEN told y’all LMo is trash. Second, Young Dolph righted the wrong of sometimes-free-speech-advocate Larry Moneta by giving the baristas $20,000.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (Mitu):
Andre 3000 dropped two songs for Mother’s Day. Enjoy.
Obligatory Kanye check-in:
I like Ta-Nehisi Coates’ take on Kanye that couches Ye in a larger conversation about chasing Whiteness in entertainment.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Mitu) am not a British royal family follower, BUT I do look forward to hopefully seeing Meghan’s aunties’ church hats giving that family a run for their money at the royal wedding.
I (Jumoke) am not looking to the next outing of an “ain’t shit man” who I once respected as an abusive harasser. Looking at you Junot Diaz and Eric Schneiderman.
III. Text from a Black-Ass Mama
I (Jumoke) woke up on Mother’s Day to a text from my mama reminding me to call my “aunties.” I haven’t spoken to any of these women since she instructed me to do so last year and I actually don’t even know who “Big Mummy” is.
Stay Black and remember you belong. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. We’ll hit your inbox next on May 28.