In New York an undercover cop informant walked into a Black owned business and planted cocaine inside (crack, to be more specific). He then proceeded to photograph it, and in the end the innocent business owner was arrested. What the brilliant police informant didn’t know, thankfully, was the entire falsification and crime this informant committed had been captured by the security camera.
Andrews’s lawyer can be heard narrating the shocking surveillance video.
“He comes in, places the crack on the counter. Crack, which under federal sentencing guidelines, would get him 4 years in jail. Under New York State law would get him 2 to 7 years in jail,” attorney Kevin Luibrand says in the video.
I don’t care if he had a smoke shop; and it makes no difference how the people may use the LEGAL items in his store- if a store sells rope and someone uses it to commit suicide, is that store owner responsible for the death? NO.
It enrages me the video mentions he had a “smoke shop” where you can buy smoking “devices” and things of the like. That’s not relevant. Not to mention, crack cocaine and marijuana are two MASSIVELY different things.
Let’s go back in time for a moment now… Note the similarities?
[ First…For those who would rather watch than read, below is a brilliant and tragic documentary… It is one everyone needs to see, I believe. If you’d like a shorter version, there is one at the end of this article.]
In 1921 there was a community known as Black Wall Street located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before I go on about that let me touch the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, on how horrifically hard life was for Blacks in America in the 1900s.
On the one hand, it’s great as slavery was now illegal by text (as it still is,,,by text); lynchings and horrific public killings went on as a normal and acceptable occurrence, and no one was exempt. Not women, not men…not even children. After slavery was made “illegal” one must realize it did not vanish overnight. It still hasn’t vanished today with our prison system but that’s another blog.
After slavery was put on the books as illegal, slavery did not vanish. The now former slaves either were not made aware of their new “freedom” or convinced to stay there- for they had no where else to go. The government didn’t give any aid or help in how to start a life of ones own, getting a job in a white world where you don’t know which white person is kind and which had the desire to lynch you would have paralyzed me with fear -as I am sure it did far too many. So many people continued to slave away because fear is strong and sometimes it is easier to do what you know than to break out into a new life. Especially if you’re afraid of those who used to be called your “master”.
Hell, if it wasn’t until the Supreme Court decision in 1967 that, in America a Black person and a white person could join hand in marriage legally, and yet still be harassed and attacked; imagine what it would have been like in the 1920s? If a white person even accused a Black man of looking at a white woman, he could/would likely be killed.
Black Wall Street goes back further than 1920, I encourage you all to either read about it or watch the video below; for though it is a tragic, tragic truth that we can see starting to happen again in America; it also has a wonderfully positive aspect to it. Their pride, hard work, sense of community and self empowerment is inspiring. We need that now.
But, for the purpose of this blog I will stay in the 1920s…
During a time of great struggle in America over something as pointless as color and race, there was a place called Black Wall Street. Located in Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black Wall Street was one of the most wealthiest and prominent Black communities in early 20th Century America. With a prosperous and healthy population of approximately 10,000 people in the Greenwood area of Tulsa, it was home not only to well off families, but also being the home to several multimillionaire businessmen, black businessmen.
Black Wall Street was called many derogatory names by whites. During what we now call the The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, bombs, death and mass destruction caused the collapse of this thriving area. The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 successfully demolished this thriving business community. It can easily be called one of the most devastating racial riots in history.
There are government records that make it clear they do not want the Black community to flourish. Look into the FBI files back during Hoover’s days. As I always say- we need to wake up, look at history and realize it could and is happening again but in a more subtle way.
The amazing Nelson Mandela said he didn’t fear those who were honest about their racism and hate; but rather those who kept it hidden for they are the most dangerous.
We need to remember that… Mandela is a soul whose judgment I know I feel is easy to trust. We must be smart and unify -everyone- against the real problem. If you don’t see the signs of something horrific coming (well, even more horrible than now) you truly should rethink your views…
Don’t let Black Wall Street happen again….. If you would like to get involved, activists have posted the following information on who to call and talk to about this matter- flood their phones. Let them know we will not tolerate this! We can’t.
A great point was made that, had he not had cameras, he would STILL be in JAIL…
Shorter Version of Black Wall Street –
Truth- A Right to Fight For... 