Yesterday after watching the Chauvin trial I was filled with an overwhelming rage. I had to take time to reflect on what I had seen and heard. I thought about the book written by Dr. Price Cobbs and Dr. William Grier entitled Black Rage. The book was published in 1968 after the assassination of Martin L. King and the riots in Washington DC that followed his assassination. It made me think that 53 years that very same rage was being stocked by a failure to acknowledge that not enough as changed.
The senseless murder of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin once again signaled that black life was not valued. In the name of justice there had to be a trial. That’s the American system. I get that. Yesterday what I saw was a defense team without a viable defense. I saw obfuscation and multiple attempts to get witnesses to lose their cool. The defense trial strategy comes down to one thing and one thing alone. The defense is looking for jury nullification. They are playing to the audience of one who they hope they can get to hang the jury.
To be clear, this is not a theory based on justice. It is a defense based on the old them versus us. It plays to the racial bias that is rooted in America. What concerns me is that it may in deed work. There were significant red flags during voir dire that should have raised eyebrows. They didn’t and a jury was empaneled. One bigot can light the flame.
We’re going to see the American legal system at its worst. I’m going to continue to watch because I owe George Floyd that much. He gave his life and all I’m giving is my time.
I can’t help but wonder what Dr. Cobbs and Dr. Grier would be saying 53 years after Black Rage.
THINK!!
EYES WIDE 👀 OPEN!!!