Sean Bell - Son of the Black Community

Sean Bell – Son of the Black Community
By Maliek K. Branch
April 28, 2008

"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe." – Frederick Douglass

The paradox occurring in our society today is mind blowing. Currently, the country is reveling in the fact that a black man, Barack Obama is the front runner for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. At the very same time, three NYPD detectives were acquitted of all charges in the shooting death of an unarmed black man, Sean Bell. Many would argue that Barack Obama is the great black hope. He is the evidence that black people in this country have come a long way, from the slave ship to the white house in the matter of 400 years. On the contrary, Sean Bell is the evidence that we have not come as far as people would like to think. In fact, the acquittal of the men who murdered Sean Bell in cold blood only further demonstrate that the value of the life of a black man in this country is still no greater than it was when that same life was being traded on the slave auction block. In fact, that black man’s worth was greater when his physical body could be used for the financial gain of this country (which we still see today with the high pay of black athletes).

The tragedy of Sean Bell’s murder by the NYPD is present on many levels. In the most obvious form, his death is a tragedy for his fiancé, his parents, his children and all the people who knew and loved him personally. His death is a tragedy for the city of New York because once again the police force assigned to protect and serve ALL New Yorkers has carelessly and recklessly killed an unarmed man of color. And on the deeper, less visible level, his death is a tragedy for the entire black community. Throughout this ordeal whenever I have expressed my opinion about the murder of Sean Bell, people have asked me, “Well did you know him?” At first I would answer truthfully, no – because I did not know Sean Bell. I realize now however, that was an untrue statement. I know Sean Bell. The entire Black community knows Sean Bell. Sean Bell is the father, husband, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend and most importantly, Sean Bell is the son of the Black community. He is every little black boy born into this world with a face of innocence, not knowing that from the second he exits the safety of his mother’s womb, he is a target, a suspect and a potential victim of homicide. He is every little black boy growing up in this country that does not value his life or his contribution to this society. Sean Bell is every black young man who walks the streets daily combating the stereotypes and preconceived notions that he is criminal or future criminal. He is the young man who needs to be taught and prepared how to deal with the police by the time he is 12 years old. The young man who needs to know that if the police approach him, place his hands high over his head, even if he has done nothing wrong – for this is the only way to stay alive. Sean Bell is every black man who walks around with a chip on his shoulder because no matter how much right he does, the wrong society believes he is capable of will always make him a criminal, even when he is a victim. You see, not many people actually knew Sean Bell personally, but we all know Sean Bell.

Once again, the justice system, a very realistic mirror of this country, has demonstrated that justice is not for all but for a few. The life of a black man is not held to the same standard as others. Had Sean Bell, been Sean Smith – a 23 year old white man – the outcome of this story would have been very different, particularly if the same three cops had been the shooters. Had a one Black, one Hispanic and one White detective gunned down an unarmed, young white man the night before his wedding – the country as a whole would have been outraged. No one would have questioned for one second what this mans criminal past was, nor would anyone have cared that he was at a strip club the night before his wedding. The reason for that is simply because young white men do not have a stigma of criminal attached to them. Therefore, no one would have assumed he was a criminal first, victim second. Such is not the case for Sean Bell. It is that assumption of criminal that led cops to open fire without provocation or justification. It is that same assumption that led a judge to acquit the officers based on the “criminal past and demeanor of the witnesses”. It is also that assumption that makes this meeting between the black man and police very dangerous for the black man (without the gun) and not for the officer (with the gun and bullet proof vest).

So forever, my heart will break for the black men who are being hunted in this country by a justice system that criminalizes them, even when they are clearly the victim. With a justice system keeping the black man enslaved, what is the future for all the Sean Bell’s? What is the future for the Black community? Have we made a far leap from the sixties and the back of the bus or are has this country simply traded in the noose and tree for the more acceptable badge and bullet?