Ciara Brown

Mrs. Campbell

January 23, 2015

AFR on “Why Black Folks Can’t Breathe”

The main point that Jason Whitlock is trying to say in this article, has to do with the title, “Why Black Folks Can’t Breathe.” In thinking about this title, you come to realize the main point that Whitlock later states, which is, “SBI is why black and brown folks feel they can’t breathe.” SBI is segregation by incarceration which is what Whitlock feels is a huge problem in America, today.

His first point is on page 3 when he says, “SBI fertilized the cultural rot that makes us believe prison culture is African-American culture.” He supports this statement by qualifying his claim by talking about his persona experience with police brutality. Having a real and personal experience on the subject, gives him validity. He has first-hand experience because a member of his family was tasered and killed.

When Whitlock refers to the tension between the police and minorities, he refers to it by saying, “The tension is thick, palpable and suffocating.” These are words that are associated with not being able to breathe. This just connects with the title, and furthers his evidence on “Why Black Folks Can’t Breathe.” He is talking about this huge problem that we face in America, and how we worked so hard to fight against segregation, racism, and Jim Crow laws, but now we are reverting back to the old ways, but we are modernizing these ideas. Whitlock says that “citizens are stopped, frisked, followed, profiled and made to feel as inmates locked in their own neighborhoods by a heavily armed occupying force.” Whitlock wants it to be known that this is what is causing the tension, and this is the reason that African-Americans “can’t breathe.” They are being locked into their identities, and constantly being accused and profiled, and seen as bad guys. This part can also be seen in Crash when Christine and Cameron were stopped and frisked by the officers. This is a problem that occurs in America so often, and Whitlock is showing that without us realizing it, it’s racial.

Whitlock also wants it to be known that we, as Americans, are being misguided by the media, and we don’t see the actual problem nor do we find actual solutions. We are blind to what is actually going on, and it needs to change. On the other hand, we are not bind to color. Whitlock ends the article by saying, “Justice is blind. America is not.” This poses the idea that there is something seriously wrong, and it needs to be changed. It is up to us to change these stereotypes.