Guns and African American Experiences
The Function of the Gun in the History of African Americans
African American history has been heavily influenced by guns. For many African Americans, guns were necessary in order to “answer aggression with corresponding force” (Johnson 2014: 17)
African American history has been heavily influenced by guns. For many African Americans, guns were necessary in order to “answer aggression with corresponding force” (Johnson 2014: 17)
- The function of the gun in the lives of Black people was to provide them the ability to have self defense;
- Members of NAACP received death threats;
- Slaves used guns as protection for when the trying to escape
Providing Self-Defense
Mary Fields was a well respected former slave. She always had a gun. She was considered privileged because, even though resources were scarce, she still owned a gun.
Escaping Slavery
Having a rifle while being a slave provided piece of mind in their times of vulnerability.
Having a rifle while being a slave provided piece of mind in their times of vulnerability.
National African American Gun Association (NAAGA)
History
The history of Gun ownership in the United States was dramatically different for African Americans. Since the beginning of the birth of the United States all citizens have had the option to exercise their free will in purchasing or not purchasing a gun for self defense and/or hunting. The exception to that rule were African Americans. Black Codes or laws were put into place in just about every State preventing African Americans to legally own any type of Firearm or weapon. These laws were used to oppress and control African American populations especially in the Southern States.
The Purpose of Guns in America for African Americans
- Officially started and launched on February 28, 2015 in Honor of Black History Month.
- Philip Smith is the founder and the president of the NAAGA. He is an African- American Gun enthusiast and grad of the University of California. “He founded and started NAAG with the primary goal to expose, educate, and motivate as many African American men and women to go out and purchase a Firearm for Self- Defense and to take training on proper gun use.”
History
The history of Gun ownership in the United States was dramatically different for African Americans. Since the beginning of the birth of the United States all citizens have had the option to exercise their free will in purchasing or not purchasing a gun for self defense and/or hunting. The exception to that rule were African Americans. Black Codes or laws were put into place in just about every State preventing African Americans to legally own any type of Firearm or weapon. These laws were used to oppress and control African American populations especially in the Southern States.
The Purpose of Guns in America for African Americans
- The black tradition of arms evolved through a long period where, at least racial conflicts, the law was hostile to negro self defense.
- Individuals like W.E.B. Dubois argue that self defense is an important part of rights but shouldn't be utilized as a political strategy.
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African American and guns
( The present) Tamir Rice “ A perfect storm of human error” •https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSCftESyKyU • The three officers that were responsible for this divisive case are Timothy Loehmann, Frank Garmback and William Cunningham. •City internal investigators said they were able to find fault that met the burden of proof needed to impose discipline. At the same time, these same actions did not meet the burden of proof that Cuyahoga County prosecutors said they needed in their decision not to file criminal charges. •A man called 911 to report that a "guy with a gun" is pointing it at people at Cudell Recreation Center. •The man was calm and told dispatcher Constance Hollinger that the person pointing the gun was "probably a juvenile" and that the gun is "probably fake.“ •As soon as the officers appeared on the crime scene, Loehmann got out of the cruiser and fired his service weapon twice at close range. Loehmann said he shouted warnings to Tamir to drop his firearm, but the whole interaction lasted less than two seconds. |
Trayvon Martin
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKezTT7qvwY
•the killing that has left the nation both fascinated and repulsed, touching on all sorts of cultural and racial issues
• George Zimmerman (the shooter) called 911 to report "a real suspicious guy," a "black male" walking around.
•Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying a can of iced tea, a bag of Skittles, and his cellphone. Zimmerman followed Martin, and the two engaged in some sort of altercation.
•One of the two men cried for help before Zimmerman fired one shot into Martin's chest. Zimmerman was brought to the police station, pleaded self-defense, and has remained free since.
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKezTT7qvwY
•the killing that has left the nation both fascinated and repulsed, touching on all sorts of cultural and racial issues
• George Zimmerman (the shooter) called 911 to report "a real suspicious guy," a "black male" walking around.
•Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying a can of iced tea, a bag of Skittles, and his cellphone. Zimmerman followed Martin, and the two engaged in some sort of altercation.
•One of the two men cried for help before Zimmerman fired one shot into Martin's chest. Zimmerman was brought to the police station, pleaded self-defense, and has remained free since.
Kimani Gray
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLl8_GW2NwQ
•Two plainclothes police officers shot and killed a teenage boy late Saturday night on a Brooklyn street
•The police officers lied and said kimani pointed his gun and attempted to aim, just to justify their wrongs but Mr. Gray did not fire the handgun, which was recovered at the scene.
•Mr. Gray’s sister, Mahnefah Gray, 19, said that a witness to the shooting told her that her brother had been fixing his belt when he was shot.
•As kimani laid down on the ground after receiving several shots, as the officers clutch his stomach he begged the officers “Please don’t let me die”.
• One of the officers, replied: “Stay down, or we’ll shoot you again.”
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLl8_GW2NwQ
•Two plainclothes police officers shot and killed a teenage boy late Saturday night on a Brooklyn street
•The police officers lied and said kimani pointed his gun and attempted to aim, just to justify their wrongs but Mr. Gray did not fire the handgun, which was recovered at the scene.
•Mr. Gray’s sister, Mahnefah Gray, 19, said that a witness to the shooting told her that her brother had been fixing his belt when he was shot.
•As kimani laid down on the ground after receiving several shots, as the officers clutch his stomach he begged the officers “Please don’t let me die”.
• One of the officers, replied: “Stay down, or we’ll shoot you again.”
Eric Garner
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpGxagKOkv8
•Confronted by police trying to arrest him for allegedly selling illegal cigarettes, Eric Garner raised both hands in the air and, with passive defiance, told the officers not to touch him. Seconds later, a video shows the officer behind him grab the 350-pound man in a chokehold and pull him to the sidewalk, rolling him onto his stomach.
•The Staten Island man lying on the ground motionless after the incident. An asthmatic, Garner was later declared dead at a nearby hospital.
•Police said he suffered a heart attack and died in route to the hospital.
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpGxagKOkv8
•Confronted by police trying to arrest him for allegedly selling illegal cigarettes, Eric Garner raised both hands in the air and, with passive defiance, told the officers not to touch him. Seconds later, a video shows the officer behind him grab the 350-pound man in a chokehold and pull him to the sidewalk, rolling him onto his stomach.
•The Staten Island man lying on the ground motionless after the incident. An asthmatic, Garner was later declared dead at a nearby hospital.
•Police said he suffered a heart attack and died in route to the hospital.
Sean Bell
•Sean Bell was killed on the morning of his wedding day at a strip club in queens. After leaving the nightclub, Bell and his friends were confronted by a plainclothes undercover officer who did not identify himself. When Bell sped off the officer along with his back up, let off 50 rounds into Bell’s vehicle, killing him and severely injuring his friends.
•Although nobody in the car was found with a gun, police continued to smear Bell’s character after the incident as if Bell and his friends were under investigation and not the police officers. The officers were charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and assault but we’re all acquitted. Protests erupted all over New York and Al Sharpton was arrested.
•Sean Bell was killed on the morning of his wedding day at a strip club in queens. After leaving the nightclub, Bell and his friends were confronted by a plainclothes undercover officer who did not identify himself. When Bell sped off the officer along with his back up, let off 50 rounds into Bell’s vehicle, killing him and severely injuring his friends.
•Although nobody in the car was found with a gun, police continued to smear Bell’s character after the incident as if Bell and his friends were under investigation and not the police officers. The officers were charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and assault but we’re all acquitted. Protests erupted all over New York and Al Sharpton was arrested.
•Police killed at least 102 unarmed black people in 2015, nearly twice each week.
•Nearly 1 in 3 black people killed by police in 2015 were identified as unarmed, though the actual number is likely higher due to undereporting
•37% of unarmed people killed by police were black in 2015 despite black people being only 13% of the U.S. population
•Unarmed black people were killed at 5x the rate of unarmed whites in 2015
•Only 10 of the 102 cases in 2015 where an unarmed black person was killed by police resulted in officer(s) being charged with a crime, and only 2 of these deaths (Matthew Ajibade and Eric Harris) resulted in convictions of officers involved.
•Nearly 1 in 3 black people killed by police in 2015 were identified as unarmed, though the actual number is likely higher due to undereporting
•37% of unarmed people killed by police were black in 2015 despite black people being only 13% of the U.S. population
•Unarmed black people were killed at 5x the rate of unarmed whites in 2015
•Only 10 of the 102 cases in 2015 where an unarmed black person was killed by police resulted in officer(s) being charged with a crime, and only 2 of these deaths (Matthew Ajibade and Eric Harris) resulted in convictions of officers involved.
