Thank you for your vulnerability brother. We grew up on the same streets. My first encounter with the police was in middle school. It’s clear that trauma is real - here we are, years later describing the moment as it was the first time all over again. I know it was a long time ago - but I’m sorry this happened to you and your friend.
Nov 7, 2023Liked by Stanley Fritz, Evan J. Mastronardi
Thank you Stanley for writing your truth. Your writing is powerful, raw, brave and riveting. I come from an opposite culture--white female who became a police officer in my 30's. My motives were NOT to help people, but to be "paid for my passion" which was to work with scent tracking dogs. I write about the harassment I experienced as a female police officer in a tiny, red-neck police department (but those stories are small in comparison to everything I write). My experiences pale in comparison to what you and many other black youth and men have and continue to experience with cop encounters. I still love law enforcement, but I have been removed from it for almost 25 years. And I am so ashamed to read what you and others have experienced and continue to experience in cop encounters. I wonder how the lives of you and friends would have turned out if during that basketball game, that terrible-example of a "police officer" had instead joined in your game, encouraged you, maybe even purchased an authentic basketball hoop for you to improve your skills. Sometimes it is the smallest things in life that can change the course of someone's life. And your writing, my friend, has the power to do just that! Keep on keeping on!
Nov 8, 2023·edited Nov 8, 2023Liked by Stanley Fritz
You were born in the 80's and I was born in the 70's. I sense the Caribbean connection with the Flatbush reference. I remember the Abner Louima case. I was heading into the first semester of graduate school at UMass Amherst when I read the news.
Excellent article. I can’t imagine going through what you did. No child should have to endure bullying and disrespect from someone that is supposed to protect them. I probably would’ve hated the police too. It makes me sad that we don’t treat Black and brown people with respect and humanity. We ALL need to take care of each other as a community should. Globally, like you said, not just here in the US. Some days it is so overwhelming that I hate to turn on the tv or look at social media. I know wars have been happening for centuries but we should’ve learned from that by now. There is too much trauma. I am sorry that you and your friends had to experience such trauma when all you wanted to do was be kids and have fun! That policeman should’ve applauded you for being innovative and playing. Maybe some police officers will read this and be mindful of their own and other officer’s behavior. Being kind is a lot healthier and easier than being a bully.
Thank you for your vulnerability brother. We grew up on the same streets. My first encounter with the police was in middle school. It’s clear that trauma is real - here we are, years later describing the moment as it was the first time all over again. I know it was a long time ago - but I’m sorry this happened to you and your friend.
Thank you Stanley for writing your truth. Your writing is powerful, raw, brave and riveting. I come from an opposite culture--white female who became a police officer in my 30's. My motives were NOT to help people, but to be "paid for my passion" which was to work with scent tracking dogs. I write about the harassment I experienced as a female police officer in a tiny, red-neck police department (but those stories are small in comparison to everything I write). My experiences pale in comparison to what you and many other black youth and men have and continue to experience with cop encounters. I still love law enforcement, but I have been removed from it for almost 25 years. And I am so ashamed to read what you and others have experienced and continue to experience in cop encounters. I wonder how the lives of you and friends would have turned out if during that basketball game, that terrible-example of a "police officer" had instead joined in your game, encouraged you, maybe even purchased an authentic basketball hoop for you to improve your skills. Sometimes it is the smallest things in life that can change the course of someone's life. And your writing, my friend, has the power to do just that! Keep on keeping on!
This was so beautiful, thank you for writing it -- illuminated my day and spirit 🙏🕊️✨
Really good comparison. Thanks so much for having the courage to post this.
You were born in the 80's and I was born in the 70's. I sense the Caribbean connection with the Flatbush reference. I remember the Abner Louima case. I was heading into the first semester of graduate school at UMass Amherst when I read the news.
Excellent article. I can’t imagine going through what you did. No child should have to endure bullying and disrespect from someone that is supposed to protect them. I probably would’ve hated the police too. It makes me sad that we don’t treat Black and brown people with respect and humanity. We ALL need to take care of each other as a community should. Globally, like you said, not just here in the US. Some days it is so overwhelming that I hate to turn on the tv or look at social media. I know wars have been happening for centuries but we should’ve learned from that by now. There is too much trauma. I am sorry that you and your friends had to experience such trauma when all you wanted to do was be kids and have fun! That policeman should’ve applauded you for being innovative and playing. Maybe some police officers will read this and be mindful of their own and other officer’s behavior. Being kind is a lot healthier and easier than being a bully.