How do we resolve the issue?
Going against COVID-19 public health guidelines, including social distancing and wearing a face mask have shown to significantly increase the spread of the virus. However, when communities began to acknowledge the health crisis, they shut down and implemented social distancing and mask wearing. It was at this juncture that scientific data unequivocally indicated a “flattening of the curve” which gradually decreased the number of cases and contacts. Applying this same concept to the historical legacy of racial crimes against Black men by law enforcement officers, white vigilantes and black gangs can begin pointing us in the direction of reflecting and acknowledging the American Medical Association assessment of the healthcare crisis. Crimes against Black men have been a healthcare crisis that was ignored because it was not classified as such. However, not acknowledging the spread of COVID-19 as a healthcare crisis did not stop the spread of the virus, nor the resulting deaths. And, neither will ignoring the historical legacy of crimes against Black men by police officers will stop the killings. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as citizens of the U.S. to acknowledge that decades of repeated crimes against Black men by police officers and white vigilantes have become a health crisis our nation must face, and provide solutions.
According to distinguished Chair and Bioethics Professor at the University of California at Berkeley, we can begin thinking solutions by becoming “Blinded by Sight” and start seeing race through the eyes of a blind person. Dr. Osagie Obasogie contends that the pandemic of killing black people by police officers is a stark reality. We believe there are correlations between black male gangs killing black men, police violence, racism and poverty in the Black community. Is there a solution? What can be done about the tensions between many police officers and the Black community? What is the best way of managing the relationship between the Police and Black men? How can we change perceptions in many Black communities about the role of law enforcement officers? What can be done to ensure Black communities feel safe? The only correct answer is, IT TAKES A VILLAGE. A collective effort needs to be made by Law Enforcement Officers and the Black community to manage the healthcare crisis. At wautEcabm, we believe that YOU can be a part of the solution – that no matter what your background, profession or skin color is, as long as you are committed to the healing and reconciliation process, you too, can help make a difference. Every citizen is a critical component of the healing and reconciliation process; however, having an understanding of the issues are equally important.
Community involvement as well as volunteering avenues are at the foundation of the work that needs to be done on the ground. At wautEcabm, we recognize and celebrate the historical steps, successes and failures of similar initiatives that have taken place and present work that is currently ongoing. However, wautEcabm is the first organization to implement an enterprise-wide national model that’s targeted specifically to bring “racial reconciliation and healing to both law enforcement officers and the Black community.” Our approach includes a comprehensive model that implements our strategical and tactical ground game to bring together corporate, ministerial leaders. and non-profit organizations to get the work done. Subsequently, we ask first and foremost that everyone begin this work with the “Human Heart: Start with LOVE.”
Our proposed resolutions include but are not limited to implementing and supporting the following seven (7) programs:
1) Community Oriented Policing
2) Nation-wide Racial Equality Task Forces
3) Town-halls and forums
4) Law Enforcement educational workshops
5) FOP & I.U.P.A Union & Citizenship Re-awakening strategies
6) We support Eight (8) “Restrictive Use of Force Policies” 8 can’t wait
7) Mental Health and Social Services
At wautEcabm, we recognize we have a long way to go in uniting the country to bring racial reconciliation and healing to law enforcement officers and the Black community. However, we also recognize the only way to begin healing is by taking the first step. In the African proverb, we recognize it takes a village translated in the United States as, “IT TAKES A NATION”. Therefore, in the spirit of national unity and friendship, we invite you to embark with us on this journey for the Black community and Law Enforcement Officers. And, a journey for the healing of our national treasure, our beloved country – the United States of America. As Dr. King stated, together we can do this, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase just take the first step.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.