20th Century Fox has just released the first poster for the upcoming film, Hidden Figures, based on the women you don’t know behind the mission you do. This incredible untold story about the women who helped the U.S. win the space race stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. Hidden Figures hits theaters January 2017. Be sure to check out the trailer below!
August marks the launch of the “American Evolution: Virginia to America 1619-2019” program. Encompassing four years of programming meant to commemorate pivotal happenings that took place in 1619, including the arrival of the first recorded Africans to English North America and the emerging presence of women in the Virginia Colony, this program will offer a variety of events to engage and educate families, history buffs and curious individuals alike.
Organized by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, this year’s program will kick-off on August 20th in Fort Monroe, Virginia with African Arrival Day — an event that will shine a spotlight on Virginia’s first African peoples, allowing visitors to travel through history and explore the lives of colonial Americans firsthand. The dynamic history of America’s colonial past will be told through diaspora-themed films, authentic African performances, onsite interpreters and living history guided tours, musical acts, and scholarly conversations. There will also be a number of interactive site tours around the scenic Continental Park, officiated by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, the event will also feature journalist and author Roland Martin as the keynote speaker. Here’s a bit more detail on a couple of the themes that will be present throughout the commemoration event:
A of the highlight of the African Arrival Day kick-off this weekend includes the Project 1619 African Diaspora Film Program, which will screen the film Bound — African vs African Americans on Aug. 21st at The American Theatre (125 E Mellen St.) at 5 p.m. The film explores the cultural and historical aspects of the African diaspora. “Bound speaks about how we connect to each other as a people, our experiences, each other, humanity, the great human story,” said Peres Owino, director of Bound. “It becomes how you understand the African and African-American story.” Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
For more information on African Arrival Day and the accompanying events, visit Hampton VA 2019 Commemorative Commission website.
[Image: HamptonVA2019.com]
Sony Pictures Entertainment recently released the official “lust trailer” for When the Bough Breaks, a thriller starring Regina Hall (Laura Taylor), Morris Chestnut (John Taylor), and Jaz Sinclair (Anna).
The trailer is set to a slowed-down version of Monica and Brandy‘s 1990’s hit song “The Boy is Mine.” It’s a fitting song considering that Anna becomes psychotic and dangerously fixated on John Taylor, after he and his wife Laura Taylor hire Anna as a surrogate. “The couple becomes caught up in Anna’s deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it’s too late,” according to the official Sony description of When the Bough Breaks. Check out the trailer below and remember to set a reminder for the film release on Sept. 9th.
“These are my words. Written from my heart and not filtered through a third party gaze. Please read these separate from any platform I may have, but from me as a fellow human being.
I write to you all devastated…
Over the last several days, a part of my past – my arrest, trial and acquittal on charges of sexual assault – has become a focal point for media coverage, social media speculation and industry conversation. I understand why so many are concerned and rightfully have questions. These issues of a women’s right to be safe and of men and women engaging in healthy relationships are extremely important to talk about, however difficult. And more personally, as a father, a husband, a brother and man of deep faith, I understand how much confusion and pain this incident has had on so many, most importantly the young woman who was involved.
I myself just learned that the young woman ended her own life several years ago and I am filled with profound sorrow…I can’t tell you how hard it is to hear this news. I can’t help but think of all the implications this has for her family.
I cannot- nor do I want to ignore the pain she endured during and following our trial. While I maintain my innocence that the encounter was unambiguously consensual, there are things more important than the law. There is morality; no one who calls himself a man of faith should even be in that situation. As a 36-year-old father of daughters and person of faith, I look back on that time as a teenager and can say without hesitation that I should have used more wisdom.
I look back on that time, my indignant attitude and my heartfelt mission to prove my innocence with eyes that are more wise with time. I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name. Empathy for the young woman and empathy for the seriousness of the situation I put myself and others in.
I cannot change what has happened. I cannot bring this young woman who was someone else’s daughter, someone’s sister and someone’s mother back to life…
I have changed so much since nineteen. I’ve grown and matured in so many ways and still have more learning and growth to do. I have tried to conduct myself in a way that honors my entire community – and will continue to do this to the best of my ability.
All of this said, I also know there are wounds that neither time nor words can heal.
I have never run from this period in my life and I never ever will. Please don’t take this as an attempt to solve this with a statement. I urge you only to take accept this letter as my response to the moment.
Nate”
— Nate Parker addresses news that the woman who accused him and his roommate of sexual assault committed suicide in 2012. The rape allegedly occurred while all three were students at Penn State. Details of the 2001 trial resurfaced last week when The Birth of a Nation director and star spoke to Deadline and Variety about the 17-year old charges. This week, the accuser’s brother, Johnny, told Variety that his sister killed herself when she was 30. Parker was found not guilty and his roommate, Jean McGianni Celestin, was initially convicted of sexual assault, but the verdict was overturned on appeal. Now the trial is threatening to cast a shadow over the release of The Birth of a Nation, which was co-written by Celestin. After the film premiered at Sundance in January, Fox Searchlight bought it for $17.5 million, the largest in festival history. There has also been Oscar buzz for the film that chronicles Nat Turner‘s slave rebellion, but all the acclaim for the important film could be overshadowed by Parker’s past.
[Image: Fox Searchlight]
Since August is proving to be hotter and more humid than July, we thought we’d hip you to our favorite way to keep our feet cool and stylish — FLEEPS.
FLEEPS sandals ($38) are the anti-flip-flop. Yes, they’re made of a rubber-like material, EVA, like flip-flops. And it’s true that FLEEPS feature a toe thong like flip-flops. But FLEEPS are so much more, thanks to their unique design and commitment to ending poverty through education.
You know that really annoying flopping sound other thong sandals make when you walk? An adjustable ankle strap prevents FLEEPS from causing a similar annoyance, so you can be incognito when necessary. Plus, these cute and colorful sandals won’t hurt your feet. The smooth finish of the toe thong and lightweight shock-absorbing sole ensure that. So hitting the boardwalk or the pavement in FLEEPS isn’t a painful experience.
But what’s also important is that FLEEPS’ founder, Kael Robinson, has committed to changing the course of poverty through education, while creating a sustainable and stylish product. Ten percent of every pair sold goes to the FLEEPS Foundation, which, according to a press release, provides funding “to its non-profit partners committed to the education of girls, including Shining Hope for Communities and Starfish Impact.” FLEEPS’ goal is to sell over one million pairs in order to send over 10,000 girls to school by 2019. As of today, consumers have purchased 998,900 pairs of FLEEPS.
With a stylish yet comfortable design, and dedication to educating girls and ending poverty, FLEEPS just might be the best sandals ever! Get your pair here.
[Images: FLEEPS]
Even zoo animals want to be left alone sometimes. That’s a lesson a girl learned the difficult way.
In a clip that is going viral, a family can be seen visiting Tiger World in Rockwell, North Carolina. Two little girls approach a baboon’s cage, and the one in pink tries to entice the baboon to engage with them by throwing food into the cage. But it’s the other girl who bears the brunt of the baboon’s visible agitation.
The baboon picked up a fistful of feces and flings it, hitting his target right in the face.
Her male companions can’t help but to chuckle at the turn of events.
“Uhh! I hate this place,” the girl understandably complains.
Her father, presumably, can be heard gagging as he tries to clean the poop off her face.
This is probably her last time visiting a zoo.
The IRS knows NeNe Leakes is “very rich,” and wants her to pay her back taxes or deal with it seizing her property and assets.
On July 22nd, the IRS hit the former The Real Housewives of Atlanta star with a federal tax lien in a Georgia court. She owes a little over $824,000 in taxes from her 2014 income.
You may recall that in 2014, Leakes not only appeared on Dancing with the Stars and RHOA, but also made her Broadway debut in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and launched her clothing collection, The NeNe Leakes Collection, on the Home Shopping Network. The year was definitely good to her.
The IRS has accused the 48 year old of refusing to pay $824,366.01, according to court documents. If she continues refusing, it will seize her property in order to satisfy the debt.
In 2015, she dropped $2 million on a brand new six-bedroom, six-bathroom, 9,511 sq. ft. mansion in Duluth, Georgia. The home is located within a gated community that boasts a country club, golf course, and several more amenities.
Leakes leads a good life. Now it’s time for her to pay the tax man like the rest of us, instead of joining the ranks of these other celebrities with tax issues.
[Image: Instagram]
The U.S. women’s relay team will get a second chance at qualifying for the 4×100 final, after being disqualified for dropping their baton during the qualifying heat.
Allyson Felix claimed Brazilian sprinter Kauiza Venancio elbowed her as she was passing the baton to teammate English Gardner on the third leg.
Team USA petitioned for a re-run, and the IAFF sided with the Americans and disqualified the Brazilians.
Video of the race shows Venancio encroaching on the U.S. team’s lane. Her feet do not appear to cross the white line, but her arms and ‘bows certainly do.
Felix explains what went wrong during the hand-off in the video below. The video also presents footage of the botched hand-off.
Felix explains the botched handoff in the 4x100R. #TeamUSA will re-run at 8pm Rio time. https://t.co/8MXXlqgUXR https://t.co/muPEg9NTXR
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 18, 2016
The intrusion caused Felix to miss her opportunity to hand the baton to Gardner. She threw the baton at her teammate in a last-ditch effort, but it fell on the ground, which is an immediate disqualification. But Felix knew Team USA could protest the disqualification if they finished the heat. She picked up the baton and made Gardner continue running. Team USA finished dead last, but was allowed to petition for a review.
Today at 8 p.m., Felix, Gardner, and the rest of their team will re-run the race alone on the track. They will have to beat the time set by China, which came in eighth place during the qualifier with a time of 42.7 seconds, in order to earn a place in Friday’s 4×100 final.
It seems at least two Olympic sprinters have been gunning for Felix. Earlier this week, she came in second during the 400-meter dash after Bahamian runner Shaunae Miller made a controversial dive across the finish line to win gold.
We’re going to need Monica Brown to release a rap album after watching her accept the #SoGoneChallenge. Chance The Rapper got the trend of rapping over the instrumental of Monica’s “So Gone” rolling. But Monica and Missy Elliott, who produced the track, had to drop their own version on Instagram and Twitter. EPIC!
Kevin Hart and Dwyane Wade have also accepted the challenge.
RELATED: Q&A: Monica Brown Is A Mom First And Foremost
[Image: Instagram]
Usher Raymond not only stars as champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in Hands of Stone, but also co-wrote the title song, “Champions,” with Ruben Blades, Raphael Saadiq, and Taura Stinson.
Yesteday, the Weinstein Company shared the lyric video for “Champions.”
Official synopsis of Hands of Stone:
“HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year‐old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)”
The film is written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz, and stars Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Raymond, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, and John Turturro.
Volvo Cars and Uber have formed an alliance to develop the next generation of autonomous driving (AD) cars, according to a press release.
The Swedish premium automaker and the world’s leading ride-share company will jointly develop new base vehicles that will be able to incorporate the latest AD technologies. There’s a possibility that some of the vehicles will be fully autonomous driverless cars, which experts say will be safer than today’s people-operated vehicles.
“Over one million people die in car accidents every year. These are tragedies that self-driving technology can help solve, but we can’t do this alone,” said Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick in a press release. “That’s why our partnership with a great manufacturer like Volvo is so important. Volvo is a leader in vehicle development and best-in-class when it comes to safety. By combining the capabilities of Uber and Volvo we will get to the future faster, together.”
Both Volvo Cars and Uber have contributed a combined $300 million to the project. Volvo and Uber engineers will work in close collaboration to develop base vehicles based on Volvo Cars’ fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which is currently used on the multiple award-winning Volvo XC90 SUV, as well as the S90 premium sedan and V90 premium estate.
The SPA has been prepared from the outset of its development, beginning in 2010, for the latest autonomous drive technologies and next generation electrification and connectivity developments.
Volvo will manufacture the base vehicles, and then Uber will purchase the vehicles from the automaker. Both companies will use the same base vehicles for the next step in their autonomous driving strategies. Uber will add its own self-developed autonomous driving systems to the Volvo base vehicle. While, Volvo will use the same base vehicle for its strategy to develop fully autonomous driving.
Both companies are expecting this alliance to be the beginning of an extended industrial partnership.
Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, said in a press release: “Volvo is a world leader in the development of active safety and autonomous drive technology and possesses an unrivaled safety credibility. We are very proud to be the partner of choice for Uber, one of the world’s leading technology companies. This alliance places Volvo at the heart of the current technological revolution in the automotive industry.”
[Images: Volvo Cars]
“Running out the hotel to pay this bill? y’all know I ain’t got no jobsssssss? let me borrow 20$? #unstoppableNene #oversight #shaneinthebacktripping”
— NeNe Leakes sarcastically responds to news that she owes the IRS over $824,000 in back taxes. According to court documents, the IRS accuses the former RHOA star of refusing to pay taxes from 2014. She owes exactly $824,366.01. If she doesn’t pay up, the IRS is threatening to seize her property and assets. Leakes called her failure to pay an oversight and hinted that she was going to pay Uncle Sam immediately. Of course, a little tax trouble didn’t stop the actress from showing off her beaming Hollywood smile.
[Image: Instagram]
Beyoncé has turned her “Formation World Tour” into a family affair, bringing 4-year-old daughter Blue Ivy and husband-of-eight-years Jay Z along for the fun.
On a recent stop in either New York or New Jersey (the Statue of Liberty is visible in some of the images), Bey and her squad enjoyed delectable desserts and refreshing citrus-based beverages.
Yellow was the dominant color scheme, but Blue dressed to a different beat in a pink and purple ruffled ensemble.
Keep clicking for more images of Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, and Jay Z’s summer fun, and be sure to check out Beyoncé’s Paris jaunt, which also went down this summer.
[Images: Beyonce.com]
A birthday fit for nine-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, another #SoGoneChallenge accepted, and a half-naked Idris Elba. Here’s your CELEB IG WKND!
Usain Bolt had the best 30th birthday ever after winning his ninth Olympic Gold Medal.
Porsha Williams spilled the beans that BFF Shamea Morton, who definitely got the drama started with Kenya Moore last season, is engaged to Gerald Mwangi.
LeBron James not only threw wife Savannah a carnival-themed birthday party, but also gave her a Ferrari Testarossa.
Angela Simmons, Romeo Miller, and the rest of the cast of Growing Up Hip Hop wrapped season 2.
And speaking of Romeo, he gave the stans a gift for his birthday.
Broadway sensation Cynthia Erivo popped into June Ambrose‘s closet cleansing pop-up shop.
Keshia Knight-Pulliam revealed the middle name of her unborn daughter and promoted her podcast. Hint: it’s inspired by her messy divorce from Ed Hartwell.
Lupita Nyong’o shared fan art. And threw it back to being on the Queen of Katwe set, Thursday.
Ludacris spent some time with his babies.
Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade accepted the #SoGoneChallenge.
Good god, Idris Elba made a Monday feel like the weekend with this early-morning treat.
ARtv captured family man Kyle Arrington of the Baltimore Ravens for a video titled “Off the Field.” Along with discussing the responsibilities and rewards of parenting, Arrington also tested the Kia Sorento with Fit Fathers and Automotive Rhythms. Arrington is father to two sons, Kyle Chandler Arrington Jr. and Kaden Chase Arrington.
Enjoy this day-in-the-life feature with one of the proudest dads in the NFL …
[Image: Instagram]
[Image: @IAmGhettoNerd via Twitter]
The luxury SUV from the British automaker reportedly costs $250,000. It’s named for the Roque Bentayga, an iconic peak in the Atlantic Canary Islands. Bentley describes the luxury vehicle:
“Bentayga takes exquisite luxury into new territory, challenging preconceptions of what an SUV can be. It offers unrivalled comfort and refinement with complete control even in the harshest of conditions.”
[Image: Bentley]
But maybe Birdman should’ve saved his dollars …
He and Lil Wayne have been hit with a $3.3 million lawsuit for sampling some obscure tracks for the songs “You” and “Certified,” reports TMZ. And now the veteran songwriters want them to pay.
Hands of Stone might be a film about the epic rematch between boxing legends Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) and Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond), but there’s enough sex in the movie to warrant a red band trailer.
The trailer captures some steamy scenes between Duran and Felicidad Iglesias (Ana de Armas). Leonard’s lustier side is exhibited also during a love scene featuring Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Juanita Leonard.
Take a look at the NSFW Hands of Stone red band trailer.
Hands of Stone will be released this Friday, Aug. 26th.
[Image: The Weinstein Company]
Experienced and written by Kimatni D. Rawlins
Hyundai invited me to relish the emotions, the excitement, the technology, and the inspiration emanating from the fresh and innovative 2017 Genesis G90 touring sedan. Would this hallmark from South Korea inspire? Did it embolden me to rethink my opinion? Did it changed my perceptions? Absolutely!
The idyllic panoramas of Western Canada commingled with the gorgeous summer weather of British Columbia and congenial countrymen helped to elevate my travel experience. Yet, Canada is beautiful year-round from the stimulating chilly winds of fall to cold weather sporting during the majestic winters. The people are so active and alive here I experienced a moment of jealousy. Suffice to say, both Vancouver and Okanagan Valley were perfectly suited for the launch of the Genesis brand, which currently consists of the G90 full-size sedan and the mid-luxury G80. By 2021, Hyundai aims to expand the Genesis lineup to six vehicles, including utilities and sports coupes.
“Genesis cars exude confidence, and it has driven us to design an ownership experience that is personalized, convenient, and saves time,” said Erwin Raphael, general manager of Genesis in the U.S. market. “Respect and courtesy are the foundation of the Genesis experience. We will honor our owners’ time through streamlined processes that put their needs first.”
The idea to separate the parent company Hyundai from the automotive outlier Genesis was brilliant. Genesis is only the second luxury brand to launch in the 21st century. Company officials believed their time had come and didn’t hesitate since the resources were in place. From dedicated platforms and powertrains to documented owner experiences and expectations, executives were all too confident and ready for the potential sales success.
According to Raphael, luxury continues to evolve and change but the substance has to be there. Customers at this level aspire to be a part of an entity and feel respected by the brands they support. They also need to know their time — a precious, nonrenewable resource — is being spent well. Luxury is a balance between product and experience; it’s life-enriching and well curated. Genesis will not take away mass volume from Mercedes Benz S-Class aficionados, but it will grab the attention of those looking for more luxury for exponentially less.
Genesis recruited executives from Bentley, Lamborghini, and Lexus, to name a few. From design and performance to marketing and branding, the launch formula had to be perfect. The brand’s vision implemented the removal of normal boundaries to expand the soul of the G90. I opened the soft-touch power doors to bask in the beauty of the commodious and lavish interior and began to enjoy my driving oasis. Sitting in the rear, I was in heaven while adoring the comfortable amenities of the gentle headrests, extended legroom, privacy screens on all three windows, and operation of various adjustments from the center control console. The cabin is outfitted in nappa leather, genuine veneers, a 22-way adjustable driver seat (16-way passenger), cooled and heated seats on the V8 model, quiet and serene environment as a result of double-pained acoustic glass, soft-touch controls, and 3-zone climate. A 17-speaker Lexicon premium audio system with Quantum Logic Surround and Clari-Fi music restoration was also at my disposal. In addition, watching a video on the 12.3-inch multi-media screen was quite the experience.
The Genesis G90 comes in two distinct models, the G90 5.0 Ultimate or the G90 3.3T Premium. For the four-hour ride from Vancouver to the immaculate Sparling Hill Resort, I chose a Caspian Black 3.3T with the 3.3-liter Twin Turbo V6 engine producing 365-horsepower and 376 lb.ft. of torque starting from 1,300 rpms. The 5-liter V8 distributes 420-horsepower and 383 lb.ft. of torque. Both are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC, steering wheel paddle shifters, and Intelligent Drive Mode with Sport, Eco, or Individual settings. Both models are available in RWD or AWD. The V6’s midrange power is abundant and makes you wonder if a V8 is actually necessary.
The G90 is the vehicle for individuals with opulent aspirations. From a partnership with the NFL to its placement at the prestigious PGA Tour in Los Angeles, the Genesis brand will soon become omnipresent. Aren’t you glad you’re in the know first?
[Images: Genesis]
Like Omarosa Manigualt being presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s resident Black person, FOX News also had its own “Black girl.” The network’s former CEO Roger Ailes regularly referred to Stacey Dash as “the Black girl,” according to Andrea Tantaros’s $50 million sexual harassment lawsuit against him.
However, Dash wasn’t the only woman of color Ailes reportedly gave a disparaging nickname. He allegedly called host Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle a “Puerto Rican whore.” Tantaros also alleged that Ailes said Harris Kimberly Faulkner “has the tendency to look like the angry Black woman.”
Tantaros accuses Ailes and Bill O’Reilly of creating an uncomfortable work environment. Her lawsuit states, “Fox News masquerades as a defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny.”
Ailes resigned last month, declining a $40 million severance package.
Dash has commented on Ailes’s moniker for her, but she’ll probably argue that he was just being truthful.
[Image: Instagram]
Written by David Banner | Art by Phil Cohen
The videotaped executions of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police earlier this year reignited ashes of outrage and inspired more protests among Black people nationwide. In addition to these killings, the acquittals of the Baltimore City police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, shooting of caretaker Charles Kinsey by a North Miami police officer are seen as slaps in the face to a community seeking justice.
To some, the frequent murders and abuse of Blacks at the hands of cops without impunity is clear and irrefutable evidence of a broken American justice system. To others, the lack of convictions of police indicates that the system is working just as it was created to. As proof, advocates of the latter view point to the history and development of policing in America, particularly in the Deep South.
Slave Patrols & Police
Conventional histories point out that U.S. police departments derived from various volunteer watch groups that sprang up in northern cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago during the mid-19th century. While this is no doubt the more popular version of police history, the infrequently discussed development of policing in the South has a more sinister history that is described by Yale law professor Stephen L. Carter as, “deeply intertwined with the violence of racial oppression.”
As is widely known (but less commonly discussed), the first police departments in the South evolved from the slave patrols (“paddyrollers” or “paterollers,” later “patrollers”) that began in South Carolina during the 1700s. Seen by some as the first publicly funded police departments in America, the slave patrols had three primary functions:
Typically, this “discipline” was maintained by “organized terror” exacted in the most ruthless, violent, and brutal ways imaginable. Seeking continued control of the newly-freed slaves in the Post-Civil War period, the slave patrols quickly adapted by evolving into the various police departments of the American South.
On-duty Cleveland Division of Police Officer Timothy Loehmann fatally shot Tamir Rice, 12, at Cudell Recreation Center in Cleveland, on Nov. 22, 2014.
The Public & Police
Despite this troubled history and the present day murders of Blacks, many Americans still express unwavering support for the law enforcement community. A Gallup poll assessing the public’s confidence in the institutions of American society found that police garnered the third highest vote of the public’s confidence, beating out public schools, television news, and even the church. In addition, despite high profile police brutality cases like Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, John Crawford, and Walter Scott, most Americans still express a faith that law enforcement upholds the laws of society. What accounts for this seemingly unshakeable support of police in the face of their history and their actions toward the Black community?
One possible explanation is the tacit approval that Whites seem to give of the brutality (both past and present) of police toward the Black community. Pew Research polling has consistently shown that Blacks and Whites diverge in their views of police. While Blacks have protested the illegal activities of police, many Whites, as far back as slavery and as recent as now, have sided with, sanctioned, and supported law enforcement’s heavy-handed and antagonistic approach to dealing with Blacks.
Another possible reason for the continued support of law enforcement is the popular notion (promoted mostly by Right Wing politicians and police unions) that law enforcement officers now find themselves under a greater threat of harm. But, is that the case? Is there actually a “War on Cops” being waged? Despite a majority of Americans (both Black and White) believing that there is indeed a war on cops being prosecuted by criminals, nothing could be further from the truth.
The “War on Cops” That Wasn’t
Statistically, being a cop is not an overwhelmingly dangerous occupation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, being a cop doesn’t even make the top 10 of the most dangerous jobs in America. (This stands true even when you include the officers who lost their lives in the recent shootings in Dallas.) Surprisingly, it’s more dangerous being a farmer, a garbage collector, or a fisherman than it is being a cop. However, let’s look deeper into the police fatalities that do actually occur. Those numbers may also be surprising.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in 2015, 124 officers were killed in the line of duty. We see from the data that the leading cause of death for officers in 2015 (as well as previous years) was traffic-related incidents. The vast majority of cops killed on the job die as a result of automobile and motorcycle crashes and being hit outside their vehicle by oncoming traffic. That’s not quite the “danger” we’ve been led to believe police are facing.
According to the same law enforcement source, when dealing strictly with officer deaths caused by firearms and felonious incidents, there was a 14 percent and a 16 percent decrease in fatalities, respectively, since 2014. And most remarkably, an historical analysis of firearm-related fatalities of police shows that 2015 recorded the lowest annual firearm-related fatalities since the late-1800s, as well as the lowest gun-related deaths (adjusted for population) ever. A 2015 report from the American Enterprise Institute (a conservative think tank) states: “There’s never been a time in U.S. history when it’s been safer to be a U.S. police officer than it is today.”
On July 5, 2016, Baton Rouge Police Department Officers Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni shot Alton Sterling at close range, killing the 37-year-old man.
The War on Blacks
While government and law enforcement sources alike dispel the overblown and media-hyped dangers of policing, what remains all too real is the war that corrupt cops are waging on the Black community.
According to the website Mapping Police Violence, these were the facts in 2015:
These numbers are indicative of the steady increase we’ve seen of police killing Blacks since 2013. This increase, as well as the above numbers for 2015, is all the more startling for three very important reasons. First, according to the FBI, there has been a consistent decline in violent crime nearly every year since the mid-1990s. Second, the Black community has witnessed more than a 50 percent drop in Black homicides since the 1990s. And last, even if Black criminality had risen (instead of drastically dropping), and even if the “War on Cops” myth were true, that still doesn’t justify the disproportionate number of Blacks being killed by cops. Why? Because as we’ve come to find out, the group most responsible for murdering cops is white males. In fact, 71 percent of police murdered in 2016 were killed by white men.
Solutions
As intractable as the problem of police killings (and brutality in general) may seem, and as ingrained as certain law enforcement attitudes and practices may be, concerted efforts must be made to stem the tide of rampant abusive practices by police on the Black community. In my view, two preliminary efforts, one on the part of police and the other on the part of the community, are key.
A Return to (True) Law Enforcement
In 1829, Sir Robert Peel created the London Metropolitan Police, widely viewed as the world’s first modern police department. As the “father of modern policing,” Peel was adamant that a properly functioning police force must be deemed credible and legitimate in the eyes of the public it served. To this end, he developed nine principles that, if followed, would foster the respect and dignity sought by the community and the police alike.
Among his principles we find:
Principle 2: “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police existence, actions, behavior and the ability of the police to secure and maintain public respect.”
And probably the most profound of all,
Principle 9: “The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them.”
Simply returning to these foundational principles that mandate recognition and respect would go a long way in addressing and correcting many of the missteps that police make when dealing with Black people.
Policing Our Own
Policing our own communities can take various forms. One approach is for citizens to simply take their communities back. This doesn’t necessarily mean totally removing a police presence, but it does mean that the residents of the community themselves should act as the policing force. This approach is based on the assumption that residents playing a more visible and active role in the affairs of their community are a much-needed step toward reestablishing safety and security in their neighborhoods.
By “policing,” I’m referring to a comprehensive approach to better the conditions of our environments. While “policing” as I see it would obviously involve volunteer patrols and Night Watch activities (as in the early days of policing), the kind of “policing” I’m advocating would also include projects such as food pantries, regular community clean-ups, offering and training in conflict resolution, life skills and technology training, and counseling. By addressing all of the needs of the residents (safety, nutrition, environment, and social and interpersonal aspects) a greater impact can be left, and that impact will be reflected in more peaceful, harmonious, and aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods that would foster pride for residents.
