The black community must bear equal responsibility for this tragedy. The black community has tolerated or at least condoned the culture of lawbreaking that has created the atmosphere of suspicion of black males that exists. If I am going down the street and I observe a group of young black males, I am immediately on guard, because groups of young black males that are dressed a certain way, and behaving in a certain way, have a history of committing mischief. This is not racism, but simple good sense.
I am certain that if I observed a group of young white males, dressed in a certain way, ie: shaved heads, combat boots and wearing “wifebeaters,” I would be alerted and perhaps take anouther route. Am I guilty of prejudice? No, merely excersizing prudence. We owe our survival to rapid first impressions and “fight or flight.” A certain appearance has come to identify certain groups. Hoodies, baggy pants, basketball shoes etc. has come to symbolize particularly black thugs. “Wifebeater” undershirts, baggy pants or shorts, athletic jerseys, headbands etc. have come to mean hispanic thugs and their imitators. Does that mean that ALL kids who dress this way are hoods or criminals? Of course not, but it does mean, that to the casual observer, who may be in danger, that they fly the flag of the enemy. One does not wait to explore deeper, one fights or flees. Black, white and hispanic communities have been guilty of allowing and condoning thug-like dress and thug-like behaviour by their children. The emulation of thug-like dress and thug-like behaviour by young people has led to countless tragedies such as we have seen lately. I certainly feel sorry for parents who lose their children to these atrocities, but they, and the culture at large, must share responsibility.
What’s the bottom line? Do not dress like a thug, do not behave like a thug, do not think like a thug, do not associate with thugs and chances are good that you will not be treated like a thug.Your “self-expression” is certainly not worth your life.
