The shooting in Charlotte and the protests that followed have brought out the worst in us, especially on social media. The partisans on twitter immediately retreated to their familiar positions either blaming the cops and white racism or blaming the protesters and black racism. A Nation of Islam preacher called for boycott of Charlotte and Congressman Robert Pittenger claimed, on national TV, that black rioters “hate white people.”
Politically, members of both parties were pointing fingers. Republicans criticized Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts for not calling out the National Guard. Democrats blasted Governor Pat McCrory for doing it, claiming he was trying to score points in his re-election bid. Of course he is, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not also doing what he thinks is best for Charlotte and North Carolina. McCrory needs the conversation to change from HB2 and he still needs to prove his leadership. This is his opportunity and as governor of the state he’s right to take it. Nobody wants Charlotte to turn into another Ferguson.
The Charlotte shooting comes on the heels of a graphic video of police killing an unarmed African-American man in Oklahoma. The number of black men killed by police needs a response and protesters need their space. The goal should be to protect their first amendment rights to raise their voices and vent their frustration without having the moment high-jacked by criminals and out-of-state professional protesters who cast doubt on the credibility of those who need to be heard.
And while it got less attention than the shooting in Oklahoma, we also need to remember that a police officer in Shelby, just sixty miles from Charlotte, was gunned down last week while serving a warrant. While that’s no excuse for another shooting, it certainly reminds law enforcement officers how dangerous their jobs can be. With the proliferation of guns in this country, they must assume that everyone is carrying and every encounter could turn deadly.
As for Robert Pittenger, he probably needs to drop out of his race. His statement was blatantly racist and inflammatory. He told the BBC, “The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger. They hate white people because white people are successful and they’re not.” The district he wants to represent is full of African-Americans who have been poor since they were enslaved.
Here’s what I hope. I hope that our political leaders work together to ensure that Charlotte does not turn into another burning city. I hope that the protesters’ frustration is turned into positive action that brings awareness to the plight of black men in this country and reduces the number who die at the hands of cops. I hope that the police get the training and support they need to reduce police shootings. I hope that Congressman Pittenger goes away. And I hope against hope that we’ll learn to wait for facts and information before jumping to conclusions.
What I hope most, though, is that this country gains a little empathy.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Pittenger is so repugnant, that in and of itself should be enough to remove him from his congressional seat, but that is wishful thinking. Pittenger is successful at being silver spoon fed, unlike a lot of successful blacks that had to knock down many barriers on their way to success. Pittenger should stand face to face with a surviving Tuskegee Airman and tell that great American Patriot all about the jealousy that he, Pittenger, is referring to. Pittenger should show North Carolinians that he cares for our great state by going back to Texas and quit embarrassing us.
It is not a racial issue, it is an economic issue for Black & White Labor. I myself have been through the mill, and know minority status as White in more than one situation.
We must agree to hate each other, just a little, and move on from there together. There were some great comedians in my day. One was pardoned posthumously I believe.
I am thinking of Dick Gregory, and his US History, “No More Lies”. Lenny Bruce. Jazz brought Black & White together with a joint.
If they could ever stay away from junk now, and then, well we did anyway. It was hard to believe the educations some of the Rock & Rollers had.
And all that got things going towards a shared identity as Americans no matter what, with Jazz & Blues, Rock & Roll.
No Mayberry Cops like drunk tank walk in from the bar and lock themselves up for the “heavy drinker” a town drunk. James Jones got it in Some Came Running.
I know the life of the hero in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, for being labor. And there is a prejudice of class if it was Community College where you went for some job skills.
We have learned a great deal from working, guys like me, and Black & White in Union Locals I worked with were crews you could trust. Lot of the Union guys I worked with in Greensboro had degrees.
& Don’t sniff at the Certifications for Airplane mechanics.
The goals of the government as neoliberal free trade capitalists who feel entitled to run thing their way because they have been here in control owning the deeds and having power as a natural inheritance have not ceased to amaze me.
The State is to become like Florida in their minds while those of us who work here call it home as much as they do.
My national modeling for Transcendia, conceptual art of the Nation & Governance saw in Piketty that inheritance is the key to wealth, so the Transcendia Insurodollar creates that out of Whole Life from birth and a Treasury that the is the insurance company of the nation.
MMT, Modern Monetary Policy at the Federal level means none of the MBAs have better than the Gold Standard models is said out of Missouri.
Foreign debt, and debt as bonds are the rage of the C.S.A. & GOP & RNC.
That is hobbling the nation and other nations as we are in a multi front contests economic warfare environment.
If you do not pay all Labor, Black & White the system breaks down. Nations do not fail when in capitalism they are paid properly, fairly.
It is a big Nation, and nations do not see their civilization given to the barbarians fail when Labor is paid fairly.
I never forget the atmosphere of a small red dirt racist town when I was growing up. I know it is hard to be a minority either way.
Whenever thinking of Race, do not forget Race, is not the issue at all, even the phrase is: “Slave LABOR’.
25 percent food insecurity working or not around Greensboro. Such treatment of our people is reprehensible, odious is a word for low wages when even the real micro companies that are immature could have the Big Government using Modern Monetary Theory, just pay the difference to make a living wage.
Police do not kill rich people.
You can’t either see the forest for the trees we have put up with the anti commie Mcarthyite days and our streets create a drug war enforcer position more than peacekeeper role for our police.
Back when Boston Police were even formed they were put there to subdue Labor in the 1840s depression.
Institutions must be led by a heroic Ideal. When the heroic ideal is missing you encourage enroaching barbarism.
I am sad for the man shot, sad for the man shot dead also at the demonstration, and sad for goals that divide us in fear.
It does not have to be this way if you have the right goals.
Well said Thomas.
I was born in 1960. So although young at the time I do remember the hatred and vitriol associated with the civil rights movement. My father was a minister and the men and women of the congregation who had previously been so pleasant became vile, detestable creatures. Their racism was visceral and repulsive. My solace came from the belief that soon these old people with no compassion/tolerance would be dead and the good people would take the reins. Now, nearly 50 years later, it has gotten worse instead of better. While I still hope for an evolution of ideals regarding racism, I now realize that it will not happen during my lifetime. And apparently it is going to get worse before it gets better.
Pittenger should be be confronted, disrespected, loathed, ridiculed, reviled, scorned, despised, humiliated, and ultimately drummed out of office. He is not fit for public service at any level. And I doubt he’s the only one who feels this way … just one who was foolish enough to open his mouth in an open venue. The NCGOP at its finest!
Gov. Pat McCrory seems to be very comfortable in these situations. He gets in front of the camera quickly and announces what measures are being taken. Actually, I don’t fault him for taking these opportunities to lead. He is there when the weather is threatening or, in this case, when a city is about to go up in flames. He is a calm voice in the midst of turmoil, and he does it pretty well. When the people of North Carolina are in crisis, it is appropriate and necessary to hear from those in charge. These are not political events, and the administrative officers of our government should be reporting to us about what is being done on our behalf.
Congessman Robert Pittenger, on the other hand, should keep his nasty mouth shut. He isn’t helping. In the middle of racial uprising, the voice of a hateful, white racist is the last thing we need to hear.
Pat always “mans up” for the storms putting on his blue shirt with the Department of Public Safety logo on it. Wonder why he’s just in coat and tie for the riot? Oughta get him a helmet and baton.
Maybe McCrory should get a special uniform for these occasions, in order to look gubernatorial. Maybe something with gold braid epaulets and big hat.
I guess McCrory’s hide-the-video law isn’t working out too well for him.
If you compare events in Charlotte to those in Tulsa, you could entertain the idea that, when authorities appear to be open and honest, the results might be a little better than when citizens think something is being hidden from them.
Pittenger disgusts me.