We have all seen on the news the terrible scene that played out in the streets in Minnesota when George Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old black male, was arrested by the Minnesota Police for attempted forgery at a convenience store. The action was caught on video as George Floyd, handcuffed and pinned to the ground face down by an officer who pressed with his full weight with his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck for more than 8 minutes. We watched and heard George Floyd crying out that he couldn't breathe. We heard him calling for "Mama". We watched as his body went limp with the officer still holding him down. This will be a scene I shall never forget.
As nurses, we see the horrific effects of racism in our hospitals and community every day. We cannot remain silent as yet another black man has died at the hands of police...
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George Floyd's last words were "I can't breathe.” George Floyd died shortly after arriving at the hospital."
Nurses jump into action when they hear someone say "I can't breathe", instead of standing there watching them die. Their goal is to save lives, not kill people
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In the case of George Floyd, Minneapolis Police took no care or life-saving measures. Instead, they left him pinned down to the ground until paramedics arrived. Police ignored the pleas of George Floyd and he died.
Nurses care for all patients, regardless of their gender, race, religion or other status. We expect the same from the police. Unfortunately, nurses continue to see the devastating effects of systematic racism and oppression targeting people of color in our communities. We demand justice for George Floyd and a stop to the unnecessary death of black men at the hands of those who should protect them.
As a nurse, or as a compassionate human, how has this horrific event affected you? We have seen protests (some peaceful and some that have erupted into riots), vandalism, looting, and more. What is going on in your community? What actions can nurses take?
Let us stand together and let our voices be heard. Post your comments below.
Again, 'cause it's suspect and you haven't answered a direct query, what's your issue with spelling out "black"? You have no problem typing w-h-I-t-e...
What is your point? I think you mistook my point. I said more blk cops kill blk people than white cops. Of course no one seems to care.
Yes! Finally we are getting somewhere. NO GROUP Should be lumped together with assumptions about them. Not police, not blacks, not whites. That is the whole problem with this thread. The anger instead of being directed at the ones who are guilty is being directed at all of varying categories of however you choose to divvy people up. It is sickening. Can't anyone ever look at things realistically?
Life is filled with 80/20 proportions. Eighty percent of any group is not causing problems. Not racist, not criminals, not abusive. None of us can answer for the twenty percent. And we cannot change it either. We can look at our own behavior and that is all we have power over. Being angry is not going to change anything. It just hurts your soul and takes time away from better activities. You cannot change racism by force. It is a mindset. You cannot demand people think a certain way.
All you angry people feel free to jump and attack me- I know you will scrutinize every word looking for an attack point. But I am not your enemy.
Happy Nurse's Day to all of you, even those who are angry and who are misdirecting that anger at our brothers and sisters in nursing.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
11 minutes ago, DesiDani said:
The foster care system can be bad for kids regardless of race.
Definitely. I think many foster parents are wonderful and do it for the right reasons, but others may do it for money and then mistreat the children. Same with group homes. I will have to take classes on behaviors that foster/adopted children may exhibit before moving forward with the process. There are some behaviors I don't feel qualified to handle, and I wouldn't want to harm a child by placing them in my care and then being unequipped to handle their needs.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
4 minutes ago, nursemarion said:
Eighty percent of any group is not causing problems. Not racist, not criminals, not abusive. None of us can answer for the twenty percent. And we cannot change it either. We can look at our own behavior and that is all we have power over. Being angry is not going to change anything.
I agree that most people are good. I don't think there is a way to quantify what percent of police are racist or corrupt. But whatever percent it is causes horrible consequences. I think it's OK to be angry about that as long as we use the anger as motivation to try to enact positive change, and not to incite violence or destroy our own mental health. Generalizations are not good, I agree. I have never stated all cops are racist = )
Again, 'cause it's suspect and you haven't answered a direct query, what's your issue with spelling out "black"? You have no problem typing w-h-I-t-e...
Let me ask you something. When I was young- some time ago- we were told not to use the word black when describing people. It still makes me uncomfortable because of that. Now the word Negro means black in Spanish. But it is also a no-no. Afro- American, or African- American is not really appropriate because it assumes all black people originate from Africa- not so. If a person is typing blk, a common abbreviation, could it be that subconsciously this is a way of expressing discomfort with the word black, which like me, may make that person feel like they are rude when they say it?
I was taught that we do not address race in any way in our words. It makes people feel singled out and it is a racist thing to do. That was what I was taught by my parents. Not all of a sudden everyone wants to shout out that this one is BLACK and this one is WHITE and the other is ASIAN. And I don't like it. I want everyone to just be. It makes me see how non-binary people are reacting. They do not want to be labeled. I do not like people to be labeled. Maybe there are others who feel the same. Maybe blk makes it softer?
What is your point? I think you mistook my point. I said more blk cops kill blk people than white cops. Of course no one seems to care.
The overall data shows that black officers are just as likely as white officers to use lethal force against blacks, but it doesn't show they are more likely to shoot black people.
More relevant to this discussion though is that it doesn't show that black officers are more likely to inappropriately use lethal force against black people.
The data that shows black officers are just as likely as white officers to use lethal force is the overall aggregate data, the vast majority of which are incidents where lethal force was used appropriately.
It's the inappropriate use of force that is the problem, and minorities, the poor, and the mentally ill are more likely to be shot, beaten, or killed than others without reasonable justification.
The overall data shows that black officers are just as likely as white officers to use lethal force against blacks, but it doesn't show they are more likely to shoot black people.
More relevant to this discussion though is that it doesn't show that black officers are more likely to inappropriately use lethal force against black people.
The data that shows black officers are just as likely as white officers to use lethal force is the overall aggregate data, the vast majority of which are incidents where lethal force was used appropriately.
It's the inappropriate use of force that is the problem, and minorities, the poor, and the mentally ill are more likely to be shot, beaten, or killed than others without reasonable justification.
Where is your info to support your claim? Mine is in the thread.
Let me ask you something. When I was young- some time ago- we were told not to use the word black when describing people. It still makes me uncomfortable because of that. Now the word Negro means black in Spanish. But it is also a no-no. Afro- American, or African- American is not really appropriate because it assumes all black people originate from Africa- not so. If a person is typing blk, a common abbreviation, could it be that subconsciously this is a way of expressing discomfort with the word black, which like me, may make that person feel like they are rude when they say it?
I was taught that we do not address race in any way in our words. It makes people feel singled out and it is a racist thing to do. That was what I was taught by my parents. Not all of a sudden everyone wants to shout out that this one is BLACK and this one is WHITE and the other is ASIAN. And I don't like it. I want everyone to just be. It makes me see how non-binary people are reacting. They do not want to be labeled. I do not like people to be labeled. Maybe there are others who feel the same. Maybe blk makes it softer?
As a black female I just LOVE the long disclaimer a white person gives me before they tell me their opinion or ask me something.
The source you posted stated that "Black cops are just as likely as white cops to kill black suspects".
And that's not buried somewhere in the article, it's the title of the article.
Just as likely, not more likely.
Either way, why aren't people upset about that? Anyway here is more info.
One interesting finding of the ProPublica study is that black police officers also kill black suspects at a higher rate than white suspects. About 78 percent of the civilian victims of black officers are black. “I don’t know if it is black and white problem or more a blue and black problem,” Gabrielson said.
Either way, why aren't people upset about that? Anyway here is more info.
One interesting finding of the ProPublica study is that black police officers also kill black suspects at a higher rate than white suspects. About 78 percent of the civilian victims of black officers are black. “I don’t know if it is black and white problem or more a blue and black problem,” Gabrielson said.
The only ProPublica study I can find did not state that black police officers are more likely to kill black suspects, what study are you referring to?
I think the reason people aren't upset that black officers are just as likely as white officers to appropriately use deadly force is that appropriate use of aggressive, violent, or deadly force is not the issue.
To your point though, the issue isn't as simple as just black vs white, including black cop vs a criminal of any color. It's an issue of some police officers seeing others as being less deserving of the same rights and protections as others. There are certainly black officers that see the poor, minorities, the mentally ill, etc as being more deserving of violent or aggressive behavior. But despite that, it's still the same problem, and just as deserving of being dealt with.
More blk cops kill blk people yet there is more outrage with white cops. Issues with cops and blk people usually tie into crime in blk communities and you know it. You can try and isolate the two but it won't work.
Spoken like a true rdnck! I hear that more rdncks sell meth to each other than anyone else? Is that true in your community? What's with the teeth?
You like insulting black people? How does it feel to be labeled? And you know what rdncks are famous for?
Why do you guys like mud so much? Whenever I watch you folks on Youtube I always seem to see you driving quads, jeeps, pickups etc into really nasty, smelly, filthy, muddy water filled ditches. Why? And what's with the catching catfish with your fists and eating wildlife? No supermarkets or just allergic to civilization?
Don't go pointing fingers at people when you live in a glass house! Be respectful or you won't be respected back.
And what's with your obsession about black people? Just by the way you address them blk immediately signals your intent.
Have you ever tried to see how many other black people are immense contributors to society? Just by the indignity they have had to suffer and the stoic presentation should immediately alert you to the character of these people. They are Americans first. They fought in wars for this country, contributed to the very foundation of this country and deserve the respect of everyone just as any white person!
You are on wrong side of the tracks here bud! I don't know which America you want to live in but segregation isn't an option. This isn't former South Africa!
No one should be knelt upon until he is dead or shot in their house while sleeping peacefully!
Workitinurfava, BSN, RN
1,160 Posts
What is your point? I think you mistook my point. I said more blk cops kill blk people than white cops. Of course no one seems to care.