Source: Cops and Kids sneaker meetup bridges the gap through a common interest (photos from SILIVE)
Less than a week ago in Memphis we had a U.S. Marshall kill a 20 year old man. That sentence is written to make a clear statement, the black community has unwritten rules about cops. Don’t talk to them, don’t engage them, don’t trust them and avoid them at all costs. While the shooting last week had extenuating circumstances, it was an additional straw adding weight on a fragile camel’s back.
In New York this is even more of an issue as it seems no one will ever forget names like Eric Garner (I can’t breathe.) or Amadou Diallo who had his wallet in his hand when he was shot 40 times. The narrative of cops and Blacks is told in blood on the pavement.
When you consider that Obsessive Sneaker Disorder’s Sean Williams is probably well aware of what happened with Ernest Sayon, a friend of the Wu Tang clan who was murdered by the police in Park Hill, he took a real chance of isolating himself by aligning with cops to build a bridge in the Stapleton Projects in NYC, home of the Wu-Tang Clan.
Ultimately it’s this type of bravery that is required to open the channels of discussion around cops and black kids and we at AHN commend him more for this event than his recent amazing presentation of sneaker culture with the port authority.
OSD Announces Historic Sneaker Exhibit in New York City with A Thousand Words
I ask you to take the time to click through and read about what could be an event that takes place in other cities. There has to be some connection made that allows cops to see black kids and human and not threats.
Kudos to OSD and the officers of the NYPD.
