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First Him, Now Her

10/14/2019

 
Picture
Picture
When cops kill.

First, Botham Jean was killed by a white female police officer in his own home. He was eating ice cream. He wasn't a threat to anyone. Suddenly, under the notion that she was in the wrong apartment, Amber Guyger shot him to death. She said she feared for her life; claimed he was an intruder in her home since their apartments in which they lived mirrored each other from floor to floor.

Now, Atatiana Jefferson is dead. She, too, was killed by a white police officer. This time, male. In her own home. She was playing video games with her 8-year old nephew. She wasn't a threat to anyone.

There are a number of things the two of these young people had in common. Both were professionals in their respective fields with promising futures to excel--one an accountant; the other, a medical salesperson.

They were both black. They were both killed in their homes. Neither was a criminal. What could justify killing Botham and Atatiana? Absolutely nothing. Nevertheless, I don't believe that their murders had anything to do with race, but more to do with perspectives and experiences, or lack thereof, by white cops who don't know the cultural habits of people of color. Had the white officer known that people of color open their doors when it's nice outside, maybe he would have approached the home less defensively. Who knows...
Read the blog post above in its entirety. Consider it, then comment intelligently, academically and with fidelity on this question: To what extent do cultural traditions effect how people interact with each other?

1. INCLUDE: First initial AND last name AND class period.

2. Respond in no more than 10 sentences and no less than five.


3. You MUST respond to at least TWO other posts from any student. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.


CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.


Due Friday, October 18, 2019 11:59 p.m. CST​​​

If you would like to submit a topic for discussion, submit it here.
Autumn againes 6th pd
10/18/2019 03:03:43 pm

Truely, this is a disgrace! Killing someone based on generalizations and the ignorance of our culture. Often targeted, black race is often a targeted race when it comes to negative connotations. Open firing into someone’s home is definitely wrong. Another reason, In my opinion, for the reason black people are dying left to right, racism! Racism is still apart of us! Both the victims were African Americans, both convicts were white! Coincidence!

D.E 2nd
10/25/2019 09:34:14 am

I agree, Because if they where white do you think it would have played out the same way? We got our freedom and our rights but we still live in a world of racism.

A.Felix 6thPd
10/25/2019 08:25:07 pm

I agree too, the racism rate in our world shows a lot today rather us people believe or see it. The justice system isn’t necessarily “fair” to the African Americans. If it was the other way around they both would’ve gotten the worse or somewhat the worse punishment. The scenery would’ve been different, the arrest would’ve been different, and the ruling would’ve gone different.

A.Felix
10/25/2019 07:06:30 pm

I agree there’s not enough excuses for why so many black people are getting murder in the innocent of there self. For example, the Botham case, not only did she walk into his house and shoot him, she didn’t even try to recessive tate him nor call the police first and she only got 10 years. He was innocent nor harming anybody, just minding his business. Now the outcome to this is not only is she not going to do the whole 10 years, she’s basically getting away with murder. I guess the little common saying” life isn’t fair” is a big image on how the world is today.

L.Johnson
10/25/2019 09:26:30 am

I don’t feel like the shootings were on purpose. I do feel like it’s was a lack of knowledge of knowing surroundings or culture. It is sad that things like this happen but it’s really based off lack of training , or a lack of knowing someones culture. I feel like it’s racist blacks and whites. I really do think it’s how when it’s black on black crimes no one is this outraged. I feel like if respected our own culture, then others would we respect us.

D.E 2nd
10/25/2019 09:36:26 am

I disagree, Because a gun is not the only thing she had on her belt she has maze and a taser. But I do feel as if lack of training plays apart.

Jordan Taylor 3rd
10/25/2019 10:29:29 am

Yes I agree what are they learning in the police academy ? Shoot first and talk later or what .But this is a disgrace to the human culture overall not just blacks . Seem as if the first key to every option is a gun . Honestly I feel like if there were more black cops at least 40% or the police brutality would go down

J.Aragon
10/25/2019 10:38:33 am

I agree she had other things to defend her self with so why not use them?

J Sweat 2nd period
10/25/2019 09:43:50 am

I Truly believe that police’s is getting away with murder because they are white cops also they killing black peoples that’s minding their own business in they own house not doing anything wrong. They got justice for John so now they need to get justice for Atatiana

Autumn Gaines 6th period
10/26/2019 12:10:25 am

I agree, police are the people who “don’t have to answer to anyone, they walk around like they’re untouchable, furious...but they’re people as we are. Innocent lives have been taken, this is sad!

K. Bryant
10/25/2019 09:45:23 am

I strongly disagree because I feel as if the shooting was on purpose because they saw everything that was in the house as well as looking through the window to see where and when to shoot to hit a target.

Chyna Henderson 3rd
10/26/2019 11:13:16 am

I understand what you are saying, though, in the video the crooked cop searched and went off alone which was against protocol. After she didn’t follow procedures maybe he was frightened or who knows what went through his mind the first thing he did was pull the trigger... not justifying or saying it was okay but it didn’t seem like it had anything to do with racism

Autumn againes 6th pd
10/26/2019 12:08:45 am

I do, ignorance does play a major part, but someone with ranking and has the title “police” should know and understand boundaries! Should never cross them, so I disagree strongly!

D.E 2nd
10/25/2019 09:28:58 am

It’s a disgrace to live in this country!To where you can get killed for sitting in your home. It’s not even about cultural traditions the white people are scared of black people because they know we were meant to have more power. You don’t see black officers walking in white peoples residences and shooting them because they thought they had an intruder in his/her home it just doesn’t justify why you had to shoot where was your taser or maze. We never gave the white people a real reason for them to feel like when can take everything from them to where they have to kill us to protect there future or there lifeline!

K. Bryant 2nd
10/25/2019 09:43:03 am

I agree because I feel they we should feel as we are protected at all times instead of feeling as we are being hunted like animals.

J Sweat 2nd period
10/25/2019 09:48:35 am

I think White police officers like killing blacks because if u in your own home and they get a call saying go to your house and it’s not a problem they will still kill you because of your race you can’t just sit at your house peacefully and not get killed or not get shot for something u didn’t do. I think we should protest and put a stop into this

J.Aragon
10/25/2019 10:42:17 am

I disagree because not all white cops like killing people its just the untrained short minded ones but I believe situations like this can change if only the system can train more there officers

E.V 3rd
10/25/2019 10:26:35 am

I totally agree there were other routes she could've taken. Him being an african American her being a caucasian female in what she believed was her home she was terrified in which she just jumped to the gun. She could've told him to stop or just looked at the damn door #.

Chyna Henderson 3
10/26/2019 11:10:04 am

Exactly! It’s like just walk on by its an inheritance that’s been going on since before we were long thought of. We don’t give them reasons to be afraid yet the first thing that comes about is fight or flight and 9/10 people of color are the casualty of a white mans world. I think it’s unfair and something should be done about this disturbing matter.

J Sweat
10/25/2019 09:39:05 am

I think it’s not fair if Botham got justice now Jefferson need justice because that’s not right because she was a innocent person at her own home playing with her nephew minding her own business so I think everyone should protest and get justice for her because she did nothing wrong he didn’t command her to do anything he seen her looking out her window and he just shot her her family need justice

A.Montalban
10/25/2019 09:47:42 am

I agree she needs justice another innocent person gone at the hands of cops!!

Derrick Sasser 2nd
10/25/2019 09:52:10 am

Yeah the whole situation was insane.

C Taylor
10/25/2019 11:28:43 am

I agree also because both were killed in there own homes were you would think that you are safe at

Taylor-Marie Lee
10/25/2019 11:48:48 pm

I agree with this comment, your home is somewhere that you feel safe in and people are losing their lives in their homes. It’s truly very sad.

K. Bryant 2nd
10/25/2019 09:41:09 am

To be honest I feel like the shootings was on purpose. I say that because all cops are trained the same and have responsibility and steps before entering an investigation. Which means they should let anyone and everyone on the scene know that they have arrived in both cases. At the same time I feel like it was because of race because I feel that any race with power feels as if they could get away with anything under the table. At the end of the day they know they was in the wrong but they'll do anything to have a body under their belt/name. As it all comes down to there should be no free willing they should be charged as if they where in our shoes.

A.Montalban
10/25/2019 09:50:47 am

I agree , race takes a big part in this situation if it was the other way around it would most likely be a different outcome.

A Griffin 4th
10/25/2019 11:20:21 am

I agree , i feel the shooting were on purpose but not only that , i feel as if the government paid these 2 people to do this ! That the government planned it to distract from something else

Derrick Sasser 2nd period
10/25/2019 09:50:16 am

I agree with the teacher, as she believes that the situation isn't because of discrimination. However, they do show that they lack experience. I also believe that they should be disciplined for their actions. The whole situation could have been handled so differently in a way that no one could get injured or dying.

Taylor-Marie Lee
10/25/2019 11:54:31 pm

I agree with this, if they had the proper training skills then I am sure that all of this could’ve been easily avoided.

E.V 3rd
10/25/2019 10:21:51 am

It really depends on the situation. Im not taking sides but when you have a low experience cop your most likely going to have some issues and confusion along with it. Now, he was wrong for what he did, as always you should address yourself of who you are for any reason if going on to someone else's property.

Jordan Taylor 3rd
10/25/2019 10:33:28 am

Yes but if he low experience why send him on a call so complex which really wasn’t that complex to begin with but still he had to go through training I feel like race is a big part in all of this let’s be honest and thing about REALITY not nothing but real world situations . If that was a white man he would not be dead and you know it can we wake up a little bit and just face the fact that white police are killing blacks when they want and how they want and getting away with it .!

J.Aragon
10/25/2019 10:35:46 am

I believe that the situations could’ve turned out differently but because of lack of experience it caused the death of two innocent people.If situations like this keep happening why not stop it?

Jordan Taylor 3rd
10/25/2019 10:37:43 am

If the cultural differences are so far apart that we are killing eachother mabye it’s time to think about bring them together for once because the killing one another is really getting out of hand. This is literally a race war against the same and different .

A Griffin 4th
10/25/2019 11:19:06 am

I disagree , black people cant come together , it’s always something , a get together can last for about 2 hours but a little after there will be fighting and violence ! Same thing if we tried it through law , not everyone will agree with everyone !

A Griffin 4th
10/25/2019 11:17:38 am

I disagree about the police maybe would’ve have entered less defensive , just because White people are afraid of black people. Black people are seen as strong , muggers , robbers, and rapist. The officer that killed the woman knew the neighborhood they were coming in. He knew it was populated by African America people, I feel like he just wanted to go snoop around and was bored. He saw about the Amber G. Court Case and see how easy she got away with it. TEN YEARS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HER!! Her lawyers and team are already working on getting her out as we speak. He thought nothing would happen and he would far mo consequences and stuff. Honestly both of the situations are cruel and wrong. Both of them should’ve been executed , by electric chair !

Taylor-Marie Lee
10/25/2019 11:46:17 pm

I agree with what Mrs. Dee, said. I don’t think they were both shot because of there race but like she said both police officers were in fear and were not familiar with their environments. They were both practicality rookies while serving but never the less I am not defending the killing of Botham Jean and Atatiana Jefferson, neither one of them deserved to die the way that did.

Chyna Henderson
10/26/2019 11:05:51 am

These killings were sad and discouraging because these are not the first victims this has been going on for centuries it makes you wonder where are you ever safe? If not your own home. You get killed in your own comfort zone, you get killed on the streets, in vehicles it’s never ending. The police department sometimes abuse their authority and wonder why people are afraid or dislike cops. Like mentioned in the articled I do agree it wasn’t purposely they just abuse their authority. It’s almost like we can’t trust them to protect us when that’s their priority it’s in their job description. May those who were killed by the law enforcement Rest In Peace.

D ford 3rd
10/27/2019 03:53:01 pm

It is a disgrace to live in this type of world because we people of color are superior to the white in any situation.I feel as if both of the cases were cruel and wrong doing nevertheless to say they both were in the comfort of their home.Is it safe to have a house party or stand in front of your home or we getting shot for that too? Police officers jobs are to serve and protect us but are they really?I feel it is beyond the reach of the police department to teach these officers on how to handle a situation in a black predominant community.


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