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| Evil is a common denominator OR: Sniper proves Black folks aren’t monolithic |
| Woebeit made in
America Africans’ intelligentsia, who have pulled themselves up by their own
bootstraps (and affirmative action be damned), are fond of regurgitating that academic
cliché, “We’re are not a monolithic people, who all think or act alike,”
Black folks’ reaction to the revelation that the “Beltway Sniper” was
indeed a man of color, was almost unanimous. “We just don’t do that kind of
thing,” was the general consensus echoed throughout Black America when 41-year-old
John Allen Muhammad (nee Williams) and his 17-year-old cohort, John Lee Malvo, were
charged with perpetrating a reign of terror upon the Washington, D.C. area by
indiscriminately using its denizens for target practice. Hey, I plead guilty as charged. Furthermore, I’m already on public record, after ventilating my Black perspective on KCOH (1430 AM) Radio’s Oct. 24, 2002 Person-to-Person talk show. Like most Black folks, I was positively certain that the brothers were victims of a racist, right-wing conspiracy to further besmirch Black males’ often maligned image. Ergo, I’m not only guilty of racial profiling, but jumping to conclusions, sans benefit of sufficient information. As much as it pains me, I must confess that my Twilight Zone cranial circuits simply aren’t programmed to consider that brothers are just as capable of committing insidious, unprovoked malevolent deeds as any other human predator. For sure, there is a preponderance of historical evidence that validates the sad fact that evil has always been a common denominator for humankind, although we were created in God’s image. Nevertheless, when it comes to some dastardly deeds, i.e., serial killings, mass murders, suicidal bombings, seditious terrorism and devil worship, we just can’t put Black faces in such evil places. Come on and pray with me, you “We’re not a monolithic people” brothers and sisters, you know where I’m coming from. I dare you to say that you don’t still have a problem with imagining a brother gunning down innocent people that he didn’t even know. I sure as hell do. Yeah I know we’ve had brothers like Coral Eugene Watts, who raped and murdered over a dozen women back in the 80s, but he was somewhat of an aberration. What I’m saying is, it is generally agreed that Black folks must be provoked to deliver a fatal stroke. Translation, we (Black folks) usually retaliate violently in defense or when reacting to an offense, rather than perpetrate senseless violence just for the hell of it. Consequently, we usually have a specific target or a particular grievance to address. Wait! Before I venture too far into the Outer Limits of my Black perspective, mayhaps I should visit cyberspace to find support for my conjecture. Try pulling up www.angelfire.com and click on “Serial Killer Profile.” Okay, I hear that marketing propaganda that Black folks have yet to become of age technologically too. Ergo, I’ll share the following excerpt with you: “The ‘typical’ profile of a serial killer is a Caucasian male between the ages of 18 and 32. There will be evidence of child abuse in his background. In his background, he will show signs of the McDonald triad, which are bedwetting beyond the age of ten, abuse to animals and a history of arson. The serial killer will operate by himself. This set profile does not encompass every serial killer. There have been many serial killers that do not fit this profile. For this reason alone, the standard or set profile of a serial killer is used to aid an investigation, not run it.” In other words, the FBI profilers are just as clueless when it comes to grasping the concept of evil being a generic common denominator, as we are. However, the report did reveal a couple of Black serial killers. I’m sure everybody remember Wayne Williams, the notorious miscreant charged with the “Atlanta Child Murders?” If not, you can always discuss him with Mayor Lee Brown, who was Atlanta’s top law enforcement officer at the time. I never heard of Cleophus Prince, Jr., a brother known as the “Claremont Killer,” but since our public libraries make computers available to those who can’t afford one, I’ll let you do your own research on him. Meanwhile, I happened to be listening to “The Savage Nation,” a conservative talk show that’s aired on KPRC (950AM) radio, in the wee of the morn, as the host beat up on law enforcers for racial profiling White males. The host (Michael Savage) also pointed out how the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone was being used to push the fact that the “Beltway Sniper” was a made in America African off the front pages. Race card notwithstanding, Savage claims that the liberal press purposely was down playing the sniper story because they was proven as wrong as the posse of law enforcement agencies that never considered that a Black man was capable of such a reprehensible act. Evidently, even White folks are inclined to believe that they’re the most evil people in America??? Nevertheless, profilers offer the disclaimer: “The standard profile compiled by the FBI is pretty accurate. However, there will always be exceptions to the rules.” For sure, Muhammad is an exception. First of all serial killers usually are “Lone Wolf” killers, but for some crazy reason young Malvo apparently teamed up with the older suspect. What really threw me off was that the alleged sniper also took out brothers, e.g., a Black child. I would think, if a brother is really mad at the system, he would target cops or authority figures. But, alas, evil is a common denominator. Then again, Williams might have been one of those brothers who have been programmed to believe that our own people are our worst enemies, insofar as they cause us far more pain, up close and personal, than angry White males that ultimately are the Dr. Frankensteins who create the monsters. Then again, how can society blame mindless monsters, without holding their creator accountable? I wonder if anybody knows where I’m coming from? |
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