Just as there was a slowdown in homicides after the 2nd Baltimore Ceasefire in November, there's been an even MORE impressive slowdown in homicides after the 3rd Baltimore Ceasefire held Feb. 2-4.
This strengthens the case that it's not policing, but the power of the people.
If efforts of @BmoreCeasefire & Baltimore residents could help slow and prevent violence and homicides so dramatically, then that goes back to the question of why do we need the Baltimore Police Department at all.
What we always needed was peacebuilding from within.
We need a Baltimore Peacebuilding Authority to address crime and violence, not the Baltimore Police Department.
Peacebuilding centers conflict mediation, public health, mental health, and connecting people with resources to turn away from violence and crime.
We also should consider that the #GTTFtrial is functioning as a venue akin to poor man's version a Truth & Reconciliation Commission (because there's truth but no reconciliation).
It may be it is cathartic for people in the Black Butterfly that BPD's crimes are coming to light.
The fact that Black women have led @BmoreCeasefire is HUGE. We had 300 Man March a couple years ago that attempted to quell violence, but their approach was more masculine and militaristic. Having Black women push for peace brings a different energy towards deescalation.
If you are in Baltimore and a masters or doctoral student in public health or another social science, I would venture to say that studying @BmoreCeasefire would make a fantastic thesis or dissertation. Something is special about this effort that should be studied and replicated.
To further clarify, we need Black students writing a thesis or dissertation on @BmoreCeasefire. And if a Black woman could do it, even better. Black women are leading the effort and a Black woman researcher would be best able to pick up on what is making the effort effective.
The last murder was on Feb. 2/3 (Sun website says 2/3 at 12am).
After almost averaging a murder a day last year, the city has gone 7/8 days without a homicide.
Folks, that is an absolute MIRACLE. Yes, it's way too early to declare victory, but this is inspiring & promising.
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This research blows out of the water the notion that hiring more Black, Latinx, Native, or Asian stop police from killing Black people.
This makes sense although I admit I'm still stunned. It shows the power of institutions above individual identity. psmag.com/social-justice…
After pulling the research article, I'm not certain we can say that Black officers are as deadly since all nonwhite officers are lumped together into one category.
But, I don't doubt that it COULD be true that Black cops are just as likely after what has happened in Baltimore.
I think this research as may confirm something in a larger sense. Although having Black representation is good (especially in a field like K-12 education), it is not enough to fix the white supremacy embedded in the policies, practices, and cultures of our institutions/agencies.
I would hate for @BenJealous to lose because no one sat him down and gave him an operative definition of democratic socialism that he could EMBRACE and contrast with Hogan’s business-friendly capitalism that hurts Marylanders’ with lower incomes.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a democratic socialist. Like you can link yourself to Dr. King and rock it. But if Maryland Democrats can’t find the gumption to challenge their corporate wing, they will lose not only whatever soul they have but the upcoming gubernatorial race too.
Hogan is a popular governor in part because of the acute failures of the Maryland Democratic Party to offer a deep vision AND articulation of racial equity. Hogan wants to spend $9 billion on highways while rejecting $3 billion for Baltimore’s Red Line. You’ve got to say that.
Folks, if you work with a big organization and want to "solicit my input" or "pick my brain" to help you do your work, that's called consulting.
Don't dance around this when you contact me. I don't want to randomly meet. I don't want to go to insipid meetings. I'm a consultant.
Big organizations in Baltimore are rife with sending invitations for people to come and help them do THEIR work, but will not either compensate people for their efforts.
Like don't disrespect me by coming at me this way. Times out for the foolishness.
I do work with some organizations in the city that actually value my time and expertise. So I'm already busy! I'm incredibly thankful for the Black women that actually push for me to be compensated fairly.
So it's literally insulting to see how big organizations are operating.
We must discuss how police violence against Black people impacts the mental health & health outcomes of Black people.
First @profsassy's research shows how police violence against Black family members impacts the health of Black women. Think Erica Garner. hogg.utexas.edu/podcast-police…
Second, research conducted by social scientists at the University of Pennsylvania shows that after police violence against Black people, there is a mental health toll that is exacted. Black mental health is affected. yesmagazine.org/mental-health/…
Third, work by @safiyanoble shows that mass media often profits from the circulation of images and video of Black death, but white media outlets are not concerned about the health impacts. Think CNN replaying police brutality videos on a repeated loop.
So let’s talk about Black cops and Black plantation overseers.
Slavery was such a lethal and devious system that White slavemasters often put Black people in charge of keeping other Black people “in line.”
Thus, Black people were given power to enforce and punish others.
The Black overseer is pernicious relic of White America’s slavery and Black bondage. The Black overseer is a complete sellout, a vile extension of white supremacist terrorism.
This role was explained with terrifying genius in Django Unchained by the characters Stephen.
Black overseers joined White slavemasters in inflicting pain on their brothers and sisters.
Another example of this was found in the Belgian Congo when the Belgians used other Africans in the Force Publique to install a terror regime against the Congolese.