This is my entire post from the Rayon McIntosh thread...
This entire scenario is screwed. However I know what I would have done. I would have run. That's right, run. I'm 6'4" and about 265lbs or so and have no fear of physical harm from them and I would have run my black ass ALL the way to the back the minute I was attacked. If I saw them coming to the back to pursue me I would have run "OUT OF THE BUILDING". They would have had to catch me in the parking lot, which I doubt they were prepared to do. Yeah I would have been clowned the next day at work, yeah I would have had to hear the jokes about Usain Bolt the next day at work, yeah I would have even probably clowned myself the next day at work by doing the 'Running Man' dance of some shit BUT the operative words are 'THE NEXT DAY AT WORK'. Now he has no next day at work.
I'm a black man in America. I'm already wrong. 3 times wrong.
1. I'm black.
2. I'm a man.
3. I'm in a country that has a history of enslaving and killing black men with little remorse and for no reason in many instances.
Knowing this I understand completely the quote in American Gangster which is "It's not in my best interest to say this Frank, but quitting while you're ahead, is not the same as quitting." The only way that a black man in this country is ever even 'possibly' ahead is when he's done 'nothing' wrong.
I completely understand what this man's rationale was. He was being attacked. He wanted to defend himself. He's spent a decade of his life behind bars watching what prison guards do to quell prisoners. That's exactly what he did. In fact we can thank our lovely correctional system for teaching this man to be excessive in his defense. He wasn't out of control. In fact he had complete control over the situation. He was calm even while striking his assailants. He only struck when there was an attempt by one of them to get up. I get it. The ladies were wrong. I get that too. That being said, you have GOT to know what your situation is. It's not about them it's about you.
He KNOWS that he's a convicted felon.
He KNOWS that he's on parole.
He KNOWS that he's black.
He KNOWS that he's in America.
He KNOWS that he's in a country that has a history of enslaving and killing black men with little remorse and for no reason in many instances.
He KNOWS that he cannot win here.
He KNOWS these things. He he MUST behave as such. He cannot afford to be in ANY type of situation for he has no help. He is an endangered species as a matter of fact so self preservation for him is the avoidance of conflict at ALL COSTS. As a whole our society doesn't care about black men at all. Our society doesn't protect black men at all. Our society actually is 'against' black men. Knowing this should be enough to let you know that when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Run Forrest RUN!
It applies directly in this case as well.
