Grace and Hypocrisy in the Black Community

The African American community is very hypocritical.  I’m sure you’ve seen the video of the woman that licked the ice cream at Walmart and put in back and left the store.  Yes, it’s nasty and childish and she is facing criminal consequences for food tampering.  But I think that the social media drama is another example of fake outrage and an on line lynch mob.

Black Americans are very forgiving and protective of Black men.  No matter what Black men do they will find grace within the Black community.  Pictures were released of pop star Rihanna’s face after being severely beaten by Chris Brown and continued to have successful recording career.  Marion Barry was caught on video tape smoking crack while he was the mayor of Washington D.C.

He served time in jail for his crime.  Got re elected to the city council, ran for mayor of D.C. and was re elected.  There was a video tape of R. Kelly involved in sex acts with young girls.  He went on trial for the crime beat the charge and came out with another album which became legendary.  African Americans forgave and supported all of these men after they were caught red handed committing serious crimes.

Those are high profile examples of the grace that Black Americans extend Black men but it happens among people that are out of the public eye as well.  We see it on the news when a young man is accused of pulling a drive by or robbing a liquor store.  His family defends him on the news and says that he is really a nice guy.  Excuses are made for such behavior by saying that he was trying to survive or he had a tough upbringing.  So be it.  But do people want to crucify this girl in Texas for licking ice cream?

I get it, it’s gross.  But did anybody die?  Can germs even survive on a cold surface in a freezer?  First off I think that the criminal justice system in the US is a prime example of government over reach.  I think it’s a gross injustice that people spend time in jail over traffic violations and unpaid parking tickets.  The parole system in America is a set up.  It sounds to me that being on parole is like walking a tight rope unless the parolee has strong support system around them.

The justice system targets and is particularly heavy handed when African Americans are involved.  The criminal justice system has done a lot to hinder Black American progress and destroy Black families.  Yet, this week in 2019 Black people are all over social media crucifying a teenager in Texas and rallying for her to get twenty years in prison for licking ice cream and putting it back.  It’s Black women that are leading the lynch mob on Black social media outlets.  Where is the grace and forgiveness for her?  Why do boys that pull drive bys get sympathy but girls that lick ice cream don’t?

Granted, I don’t see this ice cream licking as my problem.  I don’t live in Texas.  I don’t buy ice cream often.  I avoid Walmart.  And the flavor she licked doesn’t look like something I would choose.  And I think that I would notice if I bought a tub of ice cream and it had been licked.  That girl’s prank doesn’t affect me in the least.  But I’m empathetic so I can put myself in the shoes of the ice cream buying public.  This doesn’t warrant twenty years in jail or even six months.  At most she should have to do community service for the weekend.

Give the girl a break.  Ice cream licking isn’t an epidemic like gang violence or drug trafficking is.  This is a one off which is why it is shocking (or funny) to people.  She did not commit a violent crime.  At worst she committed a property crime worth about $3.99.  The punishment needs to fit the crime and the crime is insignificant.