Dr. Alwin Spence
A few weeks ago I was watching ‘ The View ‘ on television. A very popular game show host was the guest that morning.
In a very lively discussion he spoke of his visit to Africa, and how it felt great waking up in the mornings with the feeling of being part of a majority, conveying the message that it was important to him.
His thoughts resonated with me, because for the first 25 years of my life, I too was part of a proud majority.
So, what is it to be a part of a majority?
What must have changed for this game show host, and for me, what changed when I moved from a majority to a minority.
In a democracy, the majority in numbers, often represents power and control, while the minority in numbers often is interpreted
as powerless and to be controlled.
So, the game show host, however rich and popular he may be , the stigma of being a minority is something he must carry, while the power of the majority continues to elude him.
Unfortunately in most cases persons from a minority are looked down upon and discriminated against by the powerful majority.
The game show host is part of the perceived negative Black minority. His acquired wealth and privileges do not elevate him into majority status. He cannot benefit from a majority power and control.
In Jamaica I was a part of that majority and even though I have been away for a very long time, I maintain my membership of that majority, which provides me with the psychological strength that I use
to fight my minority status and all that comes with it.
In Jamaica a policeman arrests someone for breaking the law. How he carries out this arrest is not influenced by the color of
the police or that of the felon. In the United States it is very different.
My focus today is on Black police versus a Black citizen.
In Memphis very recently five Black policemen are alleged to have beaten Tyre Nichols, a Black man, to death.
Why?
The five Black policemen work for the white establishment, the very society that holds them as inferior, and as such without any
real power.
So, from where will these Black policemen get their power and recognition? They chose to demonstrate their police
power over the powerless Black man.
Elevating them into an elite law enforcement branch was to set them up for the ‘ kill. ‘
House Slaves Vs. Field Slaves.
The creation of two types of slaves, one called House slaves, who energetically made sure that the Field slaves served the
master to the best of their ability.
The Field slaves often feared the House slaves. What did the House slaves get in return for their vigilance?
The belief that they were getting preferential treatment was enough for going out on a limb to impress the master.
Divide, in order to conquer was the order of the day. So, from the days of slavery, Blacks have been their own enemies.
What brownie points were these five policemen earning from the white superior establishment?
What is it to clean up Memphis, what does it mean?
The overwhelming Black prison population might provide some answers. The U.S. police force is white control.
One of its important mandates is to control the Black population, and a successful method is using Black policemen against Black citizens.
The cameras will not allow the white establishment to push this aside. Tyre Nichol’s murderers must be given the proper and
rightful punishment for his death.
Too much force is being used to intimidate ,dehumanize and control Black people so that they remain inferior and subservient.
The concept of getting rich on the backs of Blacks must be removed from those who continue to perpetuate it.
Blacks were never slaves, they were enslaved. They are free from the physical and psychological chains.
It is now 2023, Black slavery is dead, white mastery is also dead.
My Sympathies Go Out To The Family And Friends Of Tyre Nichols.
Change Must Come.
