I recently watched the video of a Mississippi state trooper grabbing and taking down a young man who was handcuffed behind his back. The state trooper then proceeded to kneel on the man as he had him on the ground.
I don’t know what led to the officer’s actions or why he believed his actions were necessary. However, I was feeling tired after watching the video, then I recalled one of my favorite poems, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes. I will not quote the entire poem here, but the great poet wrote a few lines about three quarters down in the poem that I believe we should talk about. Mr. Hughes penned:
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
I think about this poem quite often after I read stories or watch videos about questionable officer behavior against citizens. The reminders of the unequal treatment of black and brown citizens during interactions with law enforcement officers can be heavy – the pain, the anguish, the anger, the hurt, the disappointment, the tears, the fears, the rage. Some police departments and officers still wonder why communities are upset with them as they go on to play the victim, ask for time, patience, and understanding to investigate the incident.
I understand the frustrations of those community members who wonder if things will ever change for the better. I understand those community members when they say they are sick and tired. But that is when I remember the verses in Mother to Son – “Don’t you set down on the steps, ‘cause you find it’s kinder hard, Don’t you fall now –, For I’se still goin’ honey, I’se still climbin’.” With that I steel myself for another day of trying to make a difference in this arena of officer accountability.
This journey to better officer accountability and more responsive police departments and officials depends on us continuing to push, demand, discuss, and vote for change. It requires us to keep going and keep showing up, even when there are no “newsworthy” events, no lights, and cameras. If you want to keep moving toward better officer accountability, visit the ACRB website often, join the ACRB mailing list, volunteer with the ACRB, attend ACRB meetings, share your thoughts on officer accountability, contact your elected officials, vote for those who support officer accountability. We can’t “set down”; We must continue to climb. Visit the ACRB website at acrbgov.org.