In class, we read and discussed the poem 4/30/92 For Rodney King by Lucille Clifton. The poem was about the 1992 Los Angeles riots (Rodney King riots), a series of riots that started after four police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department were acquitted for using excessive force while arresting and beating Rodney King, even though there was video evidence against them. The poem describes the thoughts stirred after the event, the understanding that a black man’s body “contains no life worth living” and “is nothing” because he will never be valued and justly tried. In the last two lines of the poem, Clifton says “why should we save the pictures”. These lines seem to be addressing the fact that even though there is video evidence, people are being acquitted for crimes on black people, so what is the point of saving the evidence or “pictures”. This made me think of the use of media in cases of police brutality today.
Despite videos and concrete evidence, cops are still being acquitted for their crimes towards black people. One example is in the case of Alfred Olango. Olango was shot and killed by police officers after his sister called the police for help. Even though there was a video of the shooting, none of the police officers were charged with crime. This goes back to the idea that there seems to be no reason to “save the pictures” when concrete evidence like the video taken is essentially futile.
Although there have been instances where media has failed to bring justice, the usage of media today does let us “save the pictures”, solely because of social media. I remember my mom asking once why there were so many shootings on black people these days. It’s not that there have been more shootings, it’s the fact that videos of shootings have gained more popularity because of social media. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook make it easier for these videos to surface and be shared with the world, so there is a larger impact of the videos as they in fact do make a difference.
I think this is so important. Technology is a chance for unfairly targeted groups to protect themselves. Police brutality if ever investigated used to come down to the word of the victim and witnesses against the officer’s and almost always ruled in favor of the officer. Who knows how many lives the presence of a video camera (and an increased possibility for accountability) has saved.
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm definitely noticing a lot more scenarios where beatings or shootings by cops are being filmed, and people are probably pulling out there camera even in times where nothing happens, because most of the time blacks are suspicious and scared when approached by cops because they don't feel safe with all the mistreatment by cops that has been exposed online. Also even though there's a camera on the cop car that should be filming the cops encounters many times the evidence isn't shown and that's another reason why people are resorting to their own cameras, for example putting it on Facebook live where whatever happens is online for everyone to see and free to share.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely something to be said for the awareness that these videos being on the internet causes. Seeing is believing and often times people don't realize what's going on outside of their circle unless it is broadcast everywhere all over the internet. But I can also see where the author is coming from in saying that what's the point of watching these videos and having proof and getting angry if there's no point in the end. Evidence doesn't have to matter if you're in charge.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maya and Rahi. I was watching a video the other day about this black man who was transitioning, and as people started to gender him more as a man than a woman, he started getting pulled over more and police started being less friendly and more suspicious of him. I think evidence can be important to raise awareness, but it won't do much if it implicates the people who hold power.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Social media does a great job of "saving the pictures" and allowing these videos to get around. Videos of police brutality can be very powerful and shocking and I think that is one of the main reasons why they become so heaghvily watched. They make an impact on people.
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