Saturday, July 13, 2019

Let's talk about right and wrong actions before we talk about race. Cukor Vs Michel

https://www.doorking.com

Unless you've been living under a rock, we've all heard the names. "Permit Patty", "Golfcart Gail", "Cornerstone Carol", "Dog Park Debbie", "BBQ Becky", just to name a few. All nomenclatures that were given to White women who have called the police on African-Americans for petty things. I typically roll my eyes about the unfortunate incidences. I always feel like I can end things cordially before they escalate. I always feel like there has to be some civil way or just...walk away. That's the way my parents reared me. 

Recently there was another incident. Christopher Cukor called the police on Wesley Michel, an African-American man, calling him a "trespasser" and that he was "tailgating" into an apartment complex. This whole situation should have ended when Cukor said, "Great. Could you please call your friend on the call box...?" Mr. Michel could have said, "Sure. Thanks for holding the door." or "She doesn't know I'm coming because it's a surprise." or "My bad. Wasn't trying to act all creepy by bypassing your security measures here." So, you're asking me, a resident who is paying to live in that apartment with that specific security measure in place to just let you walk in because I happen to make it convenient to do so by walking out at the same time you come up to the door???? When is it okay to bypass any security measure or protocol when walking into a building? If I am a resident of a building that has certain security measures in place for me and my family's protection, I don't want ANYONE to bypass them, not friends or other family members. The call box is there for a reason. So, yes! "Tee-Tee", "Big Momma", "Uncle" and "Grandaddy" HAVE TO use that call box! (And having a southern Mother, etiquette would dictate that any gentleman caller would need to speak to me prior to arriving on my doorstep.)

If Cukor hadn't been there at the time that Michel walked up, what was Michel going to do? Probably 1 of 3 things: Use the call box, call his friend via his smartphone or keep on walking down the street. This situation should never have escalated to this "viral" level. Groupthink caused people to react and immediately side with Wesley Michel because initially, it looks like another White man going after a Black man, however, if you do just little bit of critical thinking, it's obvious who was at fault if you ask yourself the question, "What made these two men happen to engage each other?" Cukor resides in the building. Cukor is walking out of his building (which is essentially like his front door) with his child. As he is walking out of a door that is locked 24/7, a man grabs the door before it can shut and starts to let himself in. At this point, the only adverse thing that is happening is that Wesley Michel is attempting to circumvent the security protocol of the apartment complex. This is the root of the problem. As a resident in the building, Cukor has the right to question any situation that goes against the security measures set for the building. Wesley Michel added insult to injury thinking that circumventing the security measure was okay. Why would a person think they have the right to circumvent the security measure that I'm paying for as a resident of this apartment complex? How about we talk about right and wrong before talking about race?
And the pleas of the little boy...so sad. The child is old enough to have seen or heard of far too many examples of "police + African-American man = not a good situation" and was attempting to diffuse it by begging his Father to leave. People want to fault Cukor for not acknowledging his son's pleas, but if a parent is thinking they are protecting you, they are going to protect you despite how you act or feel.


The Chronic Pain Chronicles, Part 11: A NEW Normal

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