Oscar Grant - Deafening Silence

[my2sense]

Written by Michael Vass

<snip>
One of the first things I noticed is how quiet a large section of the internet has become. I do not believe that a single White visitor to any blog I write to or own has said a word. Normally I have commentary from around the world, people of every race, creed, ethnicity all comment on various things I say. When it comes to race relations in America I normally get feedback from various Americans across the nation. Some agree with my views, others do not. And inevitably I have some that just want to be racist.

But I’m hearing nothing right now from anyone but African Americans - apparently. The people that defend cops when I correctly point out their policies on brutality on African Americans and other minorities are quiet. People that think my comments about race in America are biased or too extreme are silent. In fact, even the racists that find fault with any comment that reveals America is racially divided have nothing to say.

<snip>
Is it because the only concern of the major news media is the riots that have disrupted businesses and thus they are covering the news? Is it that the videos of the event cannot be edited in any manner that brings question of the murderous guilt of officer Johannes Mehserle? Rather ex-officer as he has resigned in an attempt to pre-empt further investigation and avoid punishment as well as embarrassment on the Oakland police.

Why are people rioting in Oakland, why is the national African American community outraged? Because this murder has been brushed aside by the media and excused by the police - like the beating of Rodney King, and the murder of Sean Bell and so on. African Americans are tired of being targets, of being ignored in the news (except when a negative statement can be made), of receiving a second-class justice while being depicted as objects of fear, violence and hate.

A White man lost in the woods gets national attention. White children that are missing gets national attention. A White man stealing millions in dollars gets national attention. White stars die and they get year-long attention. Each of these have been news items in recent weeks, and each received days of news coverage and posts on these stories have gotten dozens of responses across the blogosphere. But when the victim of a crime is Black and the criminal is a White police officer it all goes quiet.

Read entire article hear: http://www.1800blogger.com/2009/01/08/oscar-grant-the-deafening-silence/

[TroglodyteScholar]

1. Yep, we white people just love it when cops kill innocent black people.

I get the point he's trying to make about the media, but why not limit his statements to the media? I mean, really...

I do not believe that a single White visitor to any blog I write to or own has said a word.

I guess Mr. Vass has some kind of new blog that logs IP addresses AND the race of the visitor. High-tech.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Sort of... If that cop gets tried by an all-white jury, you can bet your last dollar he'll get off

[NV Whino]

7. You obviously don't know the Bay Area.

First, it will not be an all white jury.
Second, even if it were an all white jury, this is the San Franciso Bay Area. The cop will not get off.

[FiveGoodMen]

10. Here's hoping you're right!

[malaise]

2. Excellent post

Then there's the baseball player in Texas shot in his own driveway by cops. He's lucky to be alive.

[my2sense]

3. Yes he is - hopefully

he can recover. He has a bullet lodged in his liver.

[anonymous171]

4. What's wrong with covering white collar theft? I thought that was an improvement.

Usually the corporate media ignores that in favor of blue collar working class crimes.

[anigbrowl]

6. I'm white and have posted extensively about it...

It's also been a big conversational topic with several other white friends, not to mention my (asian) partner - I live in the Bay area so it's local news. I've already seen it covered on CNN and several other national outlets. It's been front page news in the paper here. I don't agree that interest in seeing justice served in this case is limited to African-Americans.

[StudsT]

8. they are scared to death - they see what is going on in greece

though their silence will only exacerbate the problem.

that former officer needs to be taken off the streets as he is OBVIOUSLY a public danger and i FEAR for my children safety, DAMNIT!!!

and so it goes...

StudsT

[dipsydoodle]

9. It's mind over matter

You still have a situation in the USA where some white people dont mind that black people don't matter. x(