By Godfree Matthew Esq.
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ABSTRACT
America has a history of racism against the Black Americans. This development started having its roots from after American civil war in the 19th century. After that subsequent policies like Jim Crow and Black Code justified discrimination and marginalization of the Blacks. Since then Blacks have been killed over the years in America in various ways. Of recent the killings of Blacks that attracted public attention most was the police brutality. Just within the spate of 5 months in 2020, 3 Black Americans were killed by police. The extra judicial killings by U.S Police have led to recent development which led to the death of George Floyd. The death led to protest across the globe. Despite the COVID 19 pandemic many people marched out to protest this injustice. This means that humanity fears the virus of racism over COVID 19. In the light of this, the Black people across the world demonstrated. People of all race joined them in the demonstration. In Africa, United States embassies were used as demonstration ground. However, the reason for this paper is to inquire whether Africa is free from some of the circumstances that led to the death of George Floyd. It is also the aspiration of this paper to point out that racism and extra judicial killings are ‘dividends’ of bad leadership which was the case in US and also in Africa. In the course of this work, the writer established that Black race had laid down the foundation of killing its people to the extent that Black lives didn’t matter. It is also the finding of this work that the manner by which American and civil society approach George Floyd’s saga is commendable. The writer relied on the use of books, journals and statistics in the course of this work. It was the hope of this writer that this work will be of great enlightenment in the campaign against racism.
INTRODUCTION
Human life is so sacrosanct that even when it is taken in the course of warfare respect is usually accorded to it. It is true that no life is useless and killing of human life is deemed anti human. However, when the living mourns the dead, they do so with sober reflections. In their reflective mood they are prompt to think on what causes the demise of the deceased and how can it be averted. It is during this reflective mood that certain measures are taken to prevent the recurrence of such death.
This work is structured into two parts. The first part deals with crux of the matter where the instances of assassinations of Black men by fellow Black people are examined. The reflections of extra judicial killings worse than that of George Floyd under African leaders are discussed. This part of the work heavily employs the use of rhetoric questions to buttress the certain points. The work also commended the Approach of the US civil society and Police, and urged Africans to emulate that approach in their democratic engagements.
THE CRUX OF THE MATTER
The murder of American Rapper, George Floyd sent many into deep retrospections about police brutality on Black people in the US. This is because George Floyd was the Third Afro-American that was killed by the Police in 2020. The other two are Ahmaud Arberry and Breonna Taylor. The reflection over the dead of George Floyd became more solemn due to the solitary confinement humanity is, courtesy of COVID-19.
There are two things inspired this writing. The first is the transparent and honest disposition of American society in acknowledging their fault. Akin to this is the admission of wrong doing by parties involved and their resolution to take responsibility to ensure justice is done. This act is appeasing to both emotions and intellects.
The second inspiration for this writing is the norm of aspersions cast on the West and America (with Donald Trump as the main target) by the black community and their sympathizers across the globe. The social media is agog with this trend- casting vituperations and venoms on the West. Suddenly Africans have become anti- extra judicial killing. African intellectuals with an already inbuilt (Marxist cynicism) started casting all form of strictures on the West and the US. Thus, will it not be out of point to say that at death of George Floyd all ‘Africans are united.’ If this is true, then the late Bob Marley will really be happy in his grave.
But how long will it take the Blacks to be united in opposing incidents that took away the life of George Floyd? What is the sincerity of Black people in sympathizing with George Floyd? Is the sympathy a mere emotional show or is it something that provokes a genuine sense of responsibility among the Black race? If the extrajudicial killing of George Floyd is a sin, how can the Black nations cast the first stone against Derek Chauvin? Are the police forces in black nations more pious than Derek Chauvin? While expression of sympathy is a solemn gesture that is normal when losing a love one, including animals. However, it is not expression of the emotion that matters. What matters most should be the aftermaths of the incidents that provoke the sympathy
Will Africa be able to address the above questions in the positive? It is only when Black race is able to value the life of its members with dignity; that humanity will cease to belief the anthropological view of Africans as a pariah race, even in this 21st century. It was in Africa that fellow Blacks are killing their compatriots while tagging them as cockroaches. It is in the same Africa where Hollywood has resourceful sceneries for acting movies like Hotel Rwanda, Black Hawk Down, Idi Amin, Beasts of No Nation, Blood Diamond and Sometimes in April. All these movies are not glorifying African leadership and those in authorities rather; they are satire of the inhuman treatments of Africans on Africans. It is also pathetic to know that some of the primordial sinister acts like desertion of twins, ritual killings and cannibalism in war situation still persist.[1] The sinister list proliferates daily.
A further concern with the Black race is that why do we delight in killing ourselves and yet we are mad at other race when they incidentally did the same? Are we really expressing our dissatisfaction at such acts or we are just seeing other people trying to encroach in our culture of fratricide? The world is happy that the person who killed George Floyd is currently facing the American justice system. Let us interrogate the death of Blacks in the entertainment industry- the social constituency of the late George Floyd. After that let’s asked ourselves ‘Whats up’. Thus, let’s inquire who killed Marvin Gaye? Was it a Whiteman? Who killed La Scott? Was it a Whiteman? Who killed Lashena Parish Crooks a.k.a Tupac Sharkur? Was it a Whiteman that killed Tupac Shakur? What happened to the killer of Tupac Shakur? Was there ever any arrest or prosecution? Despite the arrest of Orlando Baby Lane and the confession his uncle Duan Keefe D, the the death of Tupac Shakur ended up been captured as one of the mysterious murders in the history of the world.[2] We hope that one day this mystery will be demystified. History proves that most Black artistes in Pop and Hip Hop artistes are murdered by fellow their Blacks. [3] Thus, the question ‘what is wrong with being Black?’
Next was the death of Christopher Wallace a.k.a Notorious B.I.G. was he murdered by Whiteman? Extend the frontiers of this question down to Africa and asked who killed Lucky Dube? This writer is in solidarity with the music world that embarked on ‘Tuesday Black Out’ on 2nd June, 2020 to protest the death of George Floyd.[4] However, the black community in music industry has to address the mystery on why is it that almost all the blacks in Hip Hop are killed by Fellow Black? May be one may think that the series of intra black killing is only restricted to entertainment community. The answer is capital no. Let us explore the political terrain.
The history of political leadership in Black race is another sphere of life that is filled with fratricide carnage. The assassination of Afro-Americans in US is so pathetic that one wonders whether Black people meant well for themselves. The case of Malcolm X is a typical example. Despite his outrageous campaign against the White Supremacist, he was not killed by the Whites but was killed by his fellow Black Muslim.[5] The fellow Blacks and Muslims who killed Malcolm X were Mujahid Abdul Halim, who was also called the names of Thomas Hagan and Talmadge X Hayer. Other conspirators linked to the assassination of Malcom X were also blacks and fellow Muslims. The two are named Mr William who later changed his name to Al Mustafa Shabbaz and Mr Muhammad Abdul Aziz (who still maintained his innocence).[6]
Just like Malcolm X, the mother of Martin Luther king was also assassinated by a ‘black bullet.’ Mrs Alberta Christine Williams King was shot by a Black man, Marcus Wayne Chenault- a member of Black Hebrew Israelites. She was killed inside the church.[7]
In Africa, political fratricides are usually executed by fellow Blacks through coups and political assassinations. And by doing so, Africa killed its prophets. It was through the conspiracy of the fellow Blacks and compatriots that led to the dead of Patrice Emire Lumba. The feud between Partrice Lummumba and Moise Tshombe led to the latter’s attempt to secede from Congo and carved his own Katanga Republic. This feud ultimately led to the betrayal of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba by President Joseph Kasavubu, Late Mobutu Sessekou, Moise Tshombe and others.[8]
Thomas Sankara who was one of the promising leaders of the continent also had his own share of Africa’s machinery of treachery. His visionary and demotic leadership style was aborted by his fellow Burkinabes. Later revelation indicates that his friend and trusted ally Blaisse Campore was behind his death.[9]
Amilcar Carbral was another African nationalist who was murdered by a fellow Africans. He was a devoted nationalist who was seriously involved in the anti-colonial struggle for the independence of Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau. When hopes are green that political independence of Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau is around the corner, Amilcar Cabril was killed by a fellow compatriot- Inoĉencio Kani.[10] The reason was political rivalry. Unfortunately, Amilcar Carbril did not live to witness the independence he fought for his country.
The deaths of Presidents Juvenal Habyarimana of Rwanda and that of Cyprian Ntaryamira are witness to the history of how Africa killed its own.[11] The role of body guards (security men) as henchmen in political assassination is worrisome in Africa. Both Muhammad Anwar al- Saddat of Egypt and Laurent Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo were killed by the bullets of men who were supposed to protect them. Brutality of citizens by security men in Nigeria is disastrous. Incidences like Odi massacre, Zaki Biam massacre, Baga massacre, Kadarko massacre and the Apo 6 are some of the examples of extrajudicial killings in Nigeria.
The most distressing hypocrisy of the death of George Floyd is the political angle given to it. The Black nations are known to be highest violators of human rights in the world. According to Human Rights Index from 2009 to 2019 no African country was included among the 45 countries in the global ranking where personal safeties of citizens are guaranteed.[12] The world got to know about the plight and peril of Brother George Floyd because he is an American – a society that respects human rights better than Africa. How many of the likes of George Floyd are perishing because of extrajudicial killings in Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroun, Angola and other African Countries and nothing is heard about them?
It is heroic to watch the whole of American Police kneeling down in apology to the civil society over the death of George Floyd. It is also a delight to watch a sense of maturity displayed by the White community who visited the Black community and knelt down to apologize. What a display of sense of patriotism. However, can these incidents that happened be replicated in African Society? The answer is simple not now but may be later. We still have time to amend our ways. It is the wish of this writer that the whole of Africa will one day attain such degree of civility, maturity and patriotism.
In Africa, extrajudicial killing matter less to the government and even the civil society. The prototype exhibited by Americans in the aftermaths of George Floyd will be experienced in the opposite direction, if it is in Africa. The government will first denied the extrajudicial killings of George Floyd and later admit it. After a Committee will be set up for inquiry and the dilatory nature of the committee will leave much to be desired.
Also, in Africa, there will be seldom an apology to the members of the civil society after extrajudicial killings. Rather the person who committed such acts will be transferred and his gun will be withdrawn to truncate evidence. A sheer instance of how state condoned extrajudicial killing is the reality of African States.[13]
Another question is that can tribal or religious communities in Africa be humble and honest to visit another community and kneel down to beg for forgiveness of the fellows they have offended? Even when there is a killing like George Floyd’s case, will the particular tribe or the religion of the culprit accept responsibility and blame their member as was done by the Whites in America? Since the series of religious and inter-tribal crises in Africa, there are rare, if ever, an occasion where Christians and Muslims came together in unity to protest and condemn terrorism and other barbaric acts. Neither were there any instances where the criminals from other religions or tribes censured by the authorities in that religion. Rather they are canonized as tribal warlords or promoters of their faith. Even if, they were arrested by security officials, it only takes ‘Mr Corruption’ to release them either through suppression of evidence or prison escape scenario. In nutshell, in some countries of Africa, the criminal got rewarded for breaking the law through amnesty in the guise of the promotion of peace and unity, while the victims of their criminal acts are not even compensated or rehabilitated. That is the situation in the continent where George Floyd had his roots. Thus, the question, will George Floyd’s saga be better if he is killed in Africa by African Police?
Even though there are bad eggs among the Whites just like we have with the Blacks. But it is fair to state that the American spirit in handling George Floyd’s saga is commendable. In America, biological make up divides the Americans into two colours as Blacks and Whites. Yet both Blacks and Whites are united against police brutality of citizens and paucity of executive knack in handling sensitivity of this case.
Similarly, the Police identified with the civilian protesters and knelt in solidarity with protesters. The American police are united in condemning the unprofessional act of their colleague- Derek Chauvin and admit responsibility. [14]When President Donald Trump threatened to use national Guards to quell the process, the US Defence Secretary turned down the proposals by saying that the situation does not warrant the intervention of the military.[15] Yet Donald Trump did not sack the US Secretary of defense.
If the above development is in Africa the story will be different ball game. It will be an opportunity for vendetta. A particular tribe or religion in charge of national security will used that as a chance to perpetuate ethnic or religious cleansing. The protesters will be termed as terrorists. The Chief security personnel will not dare opposed the President publicly. The used of state security apparatus for ethnic cleansing and extrajudicial killings abounds in the records of African tyrants like Idi Amin of Uganda, Francais Marcias Nguema of Guinea and Jean Jaddel Bokassa of Equatorial Guinea.[16]
Moreover, in Africa, Africans naturally shares common colour of Black (except the Berbers and Arabs of the Maghreb), yet one cannot find such social cohesion in the interest of patriotism as displayed by Americans. Rather, Africans are divided by negative ideological differences that tilted more towards division. To Africans, primordial prejudices like tribe, religions, sectarian, political and other factors negatively affect the desire to promote the common interest of humanity. One will not be surprised to notice that if George Floyd is killed in Africa, there will be two groups: one protesting the killings and other groups supporting it. When police in South Africa brutalized other Africans (Blacks), Africans are divided into two camps: (a) one camp supported the South African Police and (b) and the other opposed the act of the Police.[17]
Therefore, the impression of that race or colour of skin is a unifying factor in humanity is a farce. Because if this is the case, Africa would have been more united that any other continent; being a continent whose race experienced the most denigrating and sinister aspect of humanity in history- slavery. Yet that wound has not created the notion of class consciousness in Africa towards love and national unity. While the Romans destruction of Jerusalem Temple in A.D 70, the Spanish Inquisition, the Holocaust and others persecution of the Jews has inspired a sense of patriotism and love for fellow Jews. However, in Africa the nasty experience of history is yet to teach us a lesson towards love and unity.
Also, even the Whites are not absolutely united due to the composition of their skin. They are divided by their ideological worldviews such as liberals, conservatives, pro and anti-gays, pro and anti-abortionist, Christians, atheist and other differences. It may be possible that it is not all whites that may like Black, but they have to join the protest because they either hate Donald Trump’s ideology or they don’t’ like him. The protest against the killing of George Floyd might only be a smokescreen to resume an already nursed grudge against President Trump that was suspended by COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, all anti-Trump Americans have another opportunity to strike again, and this strike may be strategic considering Americans are some months into the election.
Lastly, as we remember the George Floyd by protesting the situation that led to his departure, let us purge ourselves of those same acts. Africans and Blacks in particular are known for fratricides to the extent that it is the Whites that sometimes come to our rescue, especially in Rwanda and Somalia.[18] It is also important to note that George Floyd died in an era where COVID 19 is pointing to us the common thing that binds us together as men. While we see ourselves as Black and White, Asian European and Americans, COVID 19 sees humanity as prey. Therefore, it is high time that human beings should unite against racism.
Black people must be deliberate in addressing the internal killings and wrangling among them. America’s response to the George Floyd’s saga, excluding President Trump’s verbal incident, has shown that America is indeed a paradigm of democracy and civility. Therefore, even in death George Floyd may leave this instruction to Africans that we have a lot to learn from the Black Community in America, the White Community and superlatively, the American Police. The US Security officer who opposed Trump’s suggestion is model for other top security officers to the global community to emulate. In all these assertions, the writer’s remark is God Bless America and Rest in Peace George Floyd.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, racism is not a yardstick to determine the commonness of humanity. It is a divisive tool and the greatest foe of humanity. Whether one is Black or White, the sanctity of human life is supreme. Thus, every life must be respected. Life is of utmost sanctity to man to the extent that, even in the present state of his existence, man is already preoccupied with the notion of how to secure another life in peace and tranquility -when this present life is over. This is the same destination where many people are wishing George Floyd, because his faith believes in life after death. Thus, in respecting George Floyd we fondly say may his soul rest in peace.
[1]1. In the Geneva Conventions the rights to life of the wounded, the sick and the shipwrecked is protected. Even the corpse of fallen heroes as retreated with respect after their death. In Nigeria, section 51 (a) – (c) of Armed Forces Act, CAP A 20 provides for the rights and respects of the dead and wounded in warfare.
[2]2.Mellisa Chan, ”The 6 Most Mysterious Unsolved Murders of All Time”, May 30, 2017, Times, @https://time.com>unresolved-mu..<accessed on June 9,2020>
[3]3.Please see Wikipedia, “Category: Murdered rappers-Wikipedia” @https://en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki <accessed on June 9,2020>
[4]4.SkyNews, George Floyd death: Music Industry blackout announced in protest over killing” June 1, 2020@https://news.sky.com>story..<accessed on June 9,2020>
[5]5.John Leland, ”Who Really Killed Malcolm X?”,The New York Times, February 6, 2020 @ https://www.nytimes.com>mal…<accessed on June 9, 2020>
[6]6.Ibid
[7]7.Simon Winchester, “From the Archive, 1 July 1974: Martin Luther King’s mother slain in church”,1July,2014,The Guardian, @https://www.theguardian.com<accessed on June 10 ,2020>
[8]8. Martin Meredith, ”The States of Africa” (Simon & Schuster, London, 2011) Pp. 98-110
[9]9.Leo Zeilig, “October 15. 1987: The Murder of Thomas Sankara”@https://africasacountry.com>201510 <accessed on June9, 2020>
[10].Lucy Burnett, AMILCAR LOPES CABRAL (1924-1973), AUGUST 10 2009,BLACKPAST@https://www.blackpast.org>cabral-a…..<accessed on June 9,2020>
[11]11.Raymond Bonner, “Unresolved Rwanda Mystery: The President’s Plane Crash”,12 November, @https://www.nytimes.com>world…<accessed on June 9,2020>
[12]12.Please see the Human Rights Indexes of the 2011 to 2020. For about a decade, on the issue of human rights and personal safety of citizens , no African country was mentioned among the 45 countries as a haven for the personal safety.
[13]13. Center of Governance and Human Rights, ”Unlawful Killings in Africa”, University of Cambridge@www.cghr.polis.cam.ac.uk.<accessed on June 9,2020>
[14]14.Caitlin O’Kane, ”Police Officers Kneel in Solidarity with protesters in several U.S. Cities”, CBS News, June 1,2020 @Https://www.cbsnews.com.<accessed on June 9,2020>
[15]15.Julian Borger, ”Pentagon Chief Opposes Trump’s Threat to deploy military at protests”, The Guardian, June 3, 2020,@https://www.theguardian.com>.<accessed on June 9,2020>
[16]. Martin Meredith, Op. Cit @Pp.223 to 243. Again, see Alejandro Artucio, “The Trial of Macias in Equatorial Guinea: The story of a Dictatorship” (International Commission of Jurist and the University Exchange Fund, Geneva, 1979) Pp. 6, 7,8 and 9.
[17]17.Tara Polzer and Khathryn Takabvirwa, ”‘Just Crime’? Violence, Xenophobia and Crime: discourse and practice”, Pp.3,4 and 6@https://www. ajol. info>view file PDF..<accessed on June 9, 2020>
[18]17.Taylr B. Seybolt, “HumanitarianMilitaryInterventiontheConditionsForSuccessandFailure”(Oxford University Press,2008)Pp.151 to 156
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