During this trial some engaged in classic blame-the-victim rhetoric. It was argued that because Moore admitted that he was in the Howard Beach community, which is notoriously symbolized with racism, to steal a car, that somehow he deserved to be clubbed. This kind of thinking is preposterous.
(Minucci, shown right, won’t be bashing anyone where he’s going)
So, Nicholas Minucci is off to jail for 15 years. Good.
He deserves it. Minucci was found guilty of assaulting Glenn Moore with a bat in a hate crime, because before using Moore’s head like a baseball, Minucci spewed out the most favored word in the American racial lexicon: “nigger!�
Then, because he was caught he had the gall to claim that he wasn’t being racist, but was using the word as a greeting. Fortunately, for us the jury didn’t by this fallacious ridiculous claim.
However, the case opened up superficially healed wounds regarding the continued use of the word, not only by racist whites but also by Blacks. Currently, there is a movement to eradicate the acceptability of this word among Blacks. Not a bad idea. Yet, this movement will not work unless the hate that has been internalized by our people is addressed. For, we cannot ignore all the negative statistics of internecine violence that ravage our communities. Yes, institutional racism is still alive and well, but we must find a way to reduce our self-inflicted wounds. Because if we can’t do that how can we effectively fight the larger societal structure that constricts the successful flourishing of our lives?
During this trial some engaged in classic blame-the-victim rhetoric. It was argued that because Moore admitted that he was in the Howard Beach community, which is notoriously symbolized with racism, to steal a car, that somehow he deserved to be clubbed. This kind of thinking is preposterous. No one deserves to be beaten because someone thinks that they are about to commit a crime.
However, there is another question here: the lack of sensitivity regarding the issue of equal opportunities for Blacks that handcuffs many down the path that Mr. Moore walked. In New York, we hear time and again that the unemployment rate stands at fifty percent. Fifty percent! And yet there is no large hue and cry on this social scandal. Some may moralize and say that this reality doesn’t justify the criminality of Moore’s behavior. But we should all know by now that there’s a direct line between unemployment and crime. Do you think it’s an accident that half of the two million people in America’s prisons are Black?
In the end, this case should make us think long and hard about the effects of internalized racism upon us. And we need to expunge the self-hate so prevalent among our people. Let’s start by refraining from using language that abuse and debase us.
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