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Opinions expressed on editorial pages of this newspaper by Columnists or Guest Writers, do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of The Florida Sentinel Bulletin or the Publisher.
ontrary to popular be-
lief, television news outlets aren’t the bastions of journalistic integrity they make themselves out to be. But I’m sure most of you reading this were already aware of this fact.
The truth is that they’ve mastered the art of manipu- lating their content so that it shapes and forms public opinion. A prime example of this occurred last week on HLN (Headline News Net- work).
During one of their seg- ments, the CNN sister net- work showed back-to-back cases of police brutality being administered by white police officers on Black citi- zens.
The first footage shown involved a cop in North Car- olina choke-slamming a 22- year-old kid outside of a Waffle House after police were called to the location in reference to the alleged sus- pect engaging in disorderly conduct.
Immediately following the airing of that disturbing incident they went to an- other video, taken from the dash-cam of a police officer’s car in Alpharetta, Georgia, that showed a 65-year-old Black woman being violently pulled from her SUV by sev- eral officers while she des- perately screamed for a supervisor to be called to the scene.
After going to a commer- cial and coming back HLN went on to air yet another
story depicting an encounter between a white member of law enforcement and a Black motorist in Ocala, Florida. This time, instead of it being an adversarial confrontation, the cop in this particular episode was offering some much needed assistance.
When a woman’s infant son stopped breathing on their way home she pulled off the road where a sheriff’s deputy, who just so hap- pened to be in the area, was able to rush the child to the nearest hospital.
According to the attend- ing physician at the medical center that treated the child, the deputy’s quick decision- making was very instrumen- tal in the baby’s survival. And, of course, the story ended with the deputy being deemed a “hero” in the eyes of the little boy’s mother.
To the casual observer it was probably seen as a sim- ple coincidence that these stories were strung together while conveniently ending on a high note. But the truth is that a producer behind the scenes was, more than likely, responsible for strategically arranging these events to be shown in a specific order. The last one purposely posi- tioned as a feel good piece in an effort to balance out the coverage.
The network knew they couldn’t get away with not showing the multiple inci- dents of poor policing. So they included something that would, somewhat, soften the
hearts of their viewers to make them think twice be- fore considering all cops complete a—holes after wit- nessing the first two ac- counts of misconduct.
While it’s hard to dispute the fact that good police offi- cers do exist, after watching that deputy’s display of sin- cere concern, I couldn’t help but wonder what would hap- pen in 18 years if that deputy once again encountered that same baby?
I mean it’s easy for a man to show sympathy for a new- born in distress. For him to express anything less would be considered inhumane.
What I’m curious to know is if this officer would be just as compassionate with this child after it transformed into a full grown man? When that helpless infant is 6 ft. tall, bearded and wearing long dreadlocks, will it still dawn on that officer, before he pulls his trigger or admin- isters a lethal choke hold, that the person he’s about to kill or severely mistreat is still someone’s precious bun- dle of joy?
At the end of the day these broadcasters can help distribute all of the propa- ganda they can muster in an effort to bring credibility and respect back to the profes- sion of law enforcement. But, until there’s a serious reduc- tion in the amount of abuses Blacks suffer at the hands of these so-called keepers of peace, that 1 in 100 ratio of good cops to bad still trans- lates to those badge wearing overseers being a part of a system we simply can’t trust. And that’s something no amount of editing can ever gloss over.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can contact Mr. Barr at: cbar- ronice@gmail.com.
Everyone Loves Black Babies
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
All Thanks For First Responders!
he Nine Principles of British Policing (later
adopted as the basis for American community policing) states in essence, police are recruited and paid to have the same concerns and to provide the same quality of protection and community quality of life that should be the concern and responsibility of every member of the community which the police rep- resent.
Expand that idea to include all First Responders — fire- fighters, paramedics, police officers, deputy sheriffs etc. – and you will have correctly identified the spirit of the men and women who risk life, limb, sanity and spirit to make our society a place of safety and sanctity for the majority of its citizens.
These past weeks, America has taken pause from its busy mania long enough to give a heartfelt thanks for what the men and women known as First Responders do and mean to the reality of our society.
We, at the Florida Sentinel also take time to let this group know we realize the reality of our lives hangs too often in the balance of their professions.
What race, gender, or religion are these men and women who guard our streets? Are they tall, short, bald, thin? Do they speak English as a first language or Spanish, or French . . . or is the language they speak a true communication that demonstrates its dialect by often unthinking self-sacrifice?
Then why are first responders so historically mis- understood? Is there anyone who would disbelieve that all cops are racists? Is there one sane-minded person who could argue that all racists are cops? The diversity of human nature is true for first responders as it’s true for us all.
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