A significant day, and a sad day

 So for perhaps the first time, an  American Jury tells a police officer he went to far.  There are limits to his power.  He has murdered someone.

What if the white officer were a black officer?  What if he was a woman? How would his actions be viewed then?

What about the policing culture that allows this behaviour?  His colleagues who stood by?  His superiors who allow abuses of power.  

What if George Floyd was Georgia Floyd?  What if he had a clear disability?  We learn that he was weakened by his addictions.   Many disabilities are invisible.  Was there an assumption being made that he was a strong tough man?

When a person is sent to prison, so is their family.  They will be visiting him for a long time.  People in Jail are more at risk of being harmed.  More at risk of mental breakdown. More at risk of dying.  Do we care?

I listen to the podcast discussion between Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emma Dabiri entitled "Untold damage has been done in the name of race'.

My thoughts  on the podcast:

I am interested that they both say they do not like the term BAME.  Interestingly they are not alone here.  But to me it's too bad.  It is an ugly sounding word, but it is there for a reason, and not one imposed on people by white oppressors.  BAME means what Americans call 'People of Color'.  Now we don't say 'Coloured', because that is an oppressive term.  We all have colour.  So we now accept this new concept without raising an eyebrow, and reject BAME?  BAME is an attempt not to allow the idea that people cannot share their experiences collectively.  Also that some cultures have experienced much greater levels of oppression.   This is colluding with the idea of a hierarchy of oppression.  It feeds into the concept that there is a ranking of power in race.  For me both individual experience, and collective experience are important.  Tell me what term to use- I don't care.  Skin colour is trivial- it means nothing, and it is also vital and defining, both at the same time.

Why am I interested in race?  Am I allowed to be so as a white middle class male?  I have experienced discrimination-  I do know what it is like.  I've not suffered like others, but I agree with the Roman emperor who said that 'as a human, I have the capacity to understand all things human'.  I see that we are all connected.  I might not be the one sent to jail, but I am part of the family that is sent to jail.

Dabiri and Guru-Murthy discuss what is needed for things to get better.  I agree with Dabiri that the idea of linear progress is false.  Of course it is.  The world swings and oscillates over who is given importance and status, and who is oppressed.  Dabiri's first book is called 'Don't Touch My Hair'.  She spoke of her experiences in Dublin of people touching and pulling her hair.  I recalled that as a small child in Hong Kong, older Chinese children would pull my blond hair as we walked down corridors at school.  I felt indignant- it hurt.  I wondered whether Dabiri was young too when this happened to her (liberties taken only with children.)  Her experience of course has a far more pernicious context.

I am interested that Dabiri also challenges basic concepts, such as diversity.  I am reminded of Phillip Pullman, who uses sacred words with irreverence. My thought is don't be too harsh on the poor ignorant world.  Lets make it clear that there are people with evil intentions, and also those who mean well, but fail through ignorance and prejudice.  I like to think of my intentions are pure, but perhaps I am not as enlightened as I think I am.  So I remain interested and involved.