Frayed Relationship Between Police, Black Communities A Product Of Broken System
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- In black communities throughout America, and right here in the Bay Area, there's a sense of occupation of communities under siege.
In a series of reports, KCBS examines the symptoms of a broken system; including racism, the displacement history of urban neighborhoods, and the cycle of poverty.
But it will also highlight community successes that keep communities vibrant and exciting. What we're not going to focus on is the latest police shooting, because there's probably one happening right now.
"The war that's being waged on black life by law enforcement, that is just one aspect of a much larger issue that black people are facing in this country," Cat Brooks with Black Lives Matter said.
"These police killings are serving as modern-day lynchings," said Aliyah Dunn Salahuddin, African American Studies Chair at City College of San Francisco.
Amari D. Hamilton, known to his friends as Rico, is a counselor, mentor, and community activist with the Street Violence Intervention Program. As a youth he had his share of trouble doing some time in prison but he's turned his life around and has made it his mission to help other young men and women do the same.
"That's our ultimate goal for each day, is to save just one life," Hamilton said.
"I don't like them (police), they're racist, they don't go by the rules when it comes to, like, African Americans, like, Mexicans," Joe said.
Joe is a young resident in the Plaza East housing development in San Francisco's Western Addition, where there are few young African American males who haven't had an encounter with the police.
"I was just chilling out here, they bothering me, sweating me, and boom, hit me in the stomach, and then hit me again," Joe said.
"They have to do something. They can't keep getting away with stuff like, they're getting away with murder. Somthing need to change," Joe said.
Change. Hope and change. It's a mantra that, for many, feels stale.
