MAKING THINGS RIGHT

Say you're a white cop on patrol. You notice the car in front of you is weaving a little, maybe something wrong with their taillights or license plate.

Okay, here we go: light 'em up and make a traffic stop!

But when you walk up on the car, you notice there are only black folks inside.
You hand the driver a $1000 bill and wish him or her a fine evening.

Back in your patrol car, you document the incident and radio the guy's plate to the department, lest anyone else notice something awry and pull the car over.

All in all, cheaper in the end.

For the next few years, at least, white cops should probably refrain from interacting with black folks. If it looks like a serious matter, get on the radio and alert the black cops, let them handle it.

Of course, if nothing else happens (new equipment or procedures), it won't be too long before even black cops will have to back off trying to arrest black folks.

Too likely to end in the alleged perp's death by gunshot.

Since Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts of killing George Floyd, more black folks have been shot dead by white police. It's never ending.

Maybe there will be police reform enacted by Congress. And maybe it will help.

But if it does help, I got a feeling it might be an illusion.

Nobody is looking at the real problem, so any solution that seems to work is likely to be wishful thinking.

Will the bill prohibit white cops from attempting to arrest black people? If not, I see little chance for real progress. Black folks will continue to be shot dead. It's inevitable.

Outlawing choke holds on a federal level might be a start, but it won't do much good if every action that brings a cop's hand even near a black neck continues to be called a choke hold by bystanders and TV news programs.

Until cops have the technology to subdue perps without killing—or touching—them, matters will continue to look pretty much as they do right now.

Maybe we should just declare a One Hundred Year Purge for black folks, let 'em do whatever they please without interference.

Call it Reparations and be done with it.

I think a case could be made for something like this.

White folks will howl, of course. Nothing new there.