Urban Studies

covers urban history and economics. reblog my posts, spread the word, follow me. Enjoy.

[sonofbaldwin]

Think about this for a second.

[krxs10]

Picture taken of scene where Sandra Bland allegedly “hung herself”, moments after the body was “found” was just released. And of course, no one is buying it.

Police are claiming that Sandra took the trash bag out and tied it to the partition on her shower, and then used it to hang herself with.

Problems with this explanation:

Trash bags/cans are not allowed in jail cells because any lose items are considered a danger to the inmates. If it’s not bolted down to the floor, it’s basically not allowed in a cell

If the police are right and the picture was “taken right after the body was found with no changes made to the scene” then why did they replace the trash bag?

The bag she allegedly used was a “black industrial sized” trash bag, which was not only unlike the white one shown above, but it wouldn’t have been strong enough to hold up her body

The partition she “hung herself” from is shorter than her. Sandra was a little over 6 ft, and the partition was about 5 ft.

There were no lacerations or bruises on her neck consistent with a hanging.

#StayWoke

[iwriteaboutfeminism]

Transcript of Sandra Bland arrest video [8:40-15:25]

FULL VIDEO

Cop: Ok, Ma’am. You ok?

SB: I’m waitin’ on you. This is your job. I’m waitin’ on you…

Cop: You seem very irritated.

SB: I am. I really am because I feel like what I’m getting a ticket for, I was getting out of your way. You were speeding up, tailing me, so I move over, and you stop me. So, yeah, I am a little irritated, but that doesn’t stop you from giving me a ticket.

Cop: Are you done?

SB: You asked me what was wrong and I told you. So now I’m done, yeah.

Cop: Ok. You mind putting out your cigarette, please?

SB: I’m in my car. Why do I have to put out my cigarette?

Cop: Well you can step on out now.

SB: I don’t have to step out of my car.

Cop: Step out of the car. [Cop opens the car door] Step out.

SB: No, you don’t have the right-

Cop: Step out of the car!

SB: You do not have the right to do that.

Cop: I do have the right. Now, step out or I will remove you.

SB: I refuse to talk to you other than to identify myself-

Cop: Step out or I will remove you.

SB: I am getting removed for a failure to-

Cop: Step out or I will remove you. I’m giving you a lawful order. Get out of the car now or I’m gonna remove you.

SB: I’m calling my-

Cop:[Cop reaches into the car] I’m gonna yank you out of here.

SB: Okay, you gonna yank me out of my car?

Cop: Get out.

SB: Ok. Alright. Let’s do this. Don’t touch me.

Cop: Get out of the car!

SB: Don’t touch me! I’m not under arrest. You don’t have the right to-

Cop: You ARE under arrest.

SB: I’m under arrest for what? For what? For what?

Cop: Get out of the car. Get out of the car! Now!

SB: Why am I being apprehended? Because you’re trying to give me a ticket for a failure-

Cop: I said get out of the car.

SB: Why am I being apprehended? You opened my car door-

Cop: I am gonna drag you outta here.

SB: So you’re threatening to drag me out of my own car?

Cop: Get out of the car!!

SB: And then you-

Cop: [Cop points his taser at her.] I will light you up!!

SB: Wow.

Cop: NOW!!

SB: Wow. [Sandra steps out of the car.]

Cop: Get out of the car!

SB: For a failure to signal, you’re doing all this. You’re doing all this for a failure to signal.

Cop: Get over there. [Cop points her over to the sidewalk, while pointing his taser at her.]

SB: Right. Yeah. Let’s take this to court. [Sandra continues to walk toward the sidewalk.] Let’s do this for a failure to signal. Yep, for a failure to signal. [Sandra is led out of the view of the dashcam video.]

Cop: Get off the phone.

SB: I’m not on the phone. I have a right to record-

Cop: Put your phone down.

SB: This is my property.

Cop: Put your phone down.

SB: Sir?

Cop: Put your phone down. Right now! Put your phone down.

SB: [Sandra puts her phone down on the trunk of her car.] For a fucking failure to signal, my goodness.

Cop: Come over here!

SB: Y’all are interesting. You feelin’ good about this whole thing?

Cop: Stand right here.

SB: You feelin’ good about yourself? For my failure to signal, you feel real good about yourself, don’t you?

Cop: Turn around.

SB: You feel good about yourself, don’t you?

Cop: Turn around. Turn around now. Put your hands-

SB: Why am I being arrested?

Cop: I’m giving you a lawful order. I will tell you-

SB: Why am I being arrested? Why can’t you tell me that part?

Cop: I’m giving you a lawful order. Turn around.

SB: Why will you not tell me what’s going on?

Cop: You are not compliant.

SB: I’m not compliant ‘cause you just pulled me outta my car.

Cop: Turn around!!

SB: Are you fucking kidding me? This is some bullshit.

Cop: Put your hands behind your back.

SB: Cause you know this is straight bullshit, and you full a shit. Full a straight shit. That’s why y’all are some scary fucking cops. South Carolina got all y’all bitch asses scared. That’s all it is. Fucking scared of a female.

Cop: If you would have just listened-

SB: I was tryin’ sign the fucking ticket. Whatever.

Cop: Stop movin’!

SB: Are you fucking serious?

Cop: Stop movin’.

SB: Oh, I can’t wait till we go to court.  OH, I can’t wait! I cannot WAIT ‘till we go to court! I can’t wait. OH, I can’t wait. You want me to sit down now?

Cop: No.

SB: Oh, you gonna throw me to the floor? That’ll make you feel better about yourself?

Cop: Knock it off.

SB: Ah, that’ll make you feel better about yourself? That make you feel real good, won’t it? Fucking ass. Fucking pussy. For a failure to signal, you doin’ all of this. In little ass Prairie View, Texas. My god. They must-

Cop: You were getting a warning, and now you’re going to jail.

SB: For what??

Cop: You can come read right- [Cop leads Sandra back over to the trunk of the car.]

SB: I’m getting a warning for what?

Cop: Stay right here.

SB: You just pointed me over there!

Cop: I said stay right here.

SB: Get your fucking mind right. OH, I swear on my life, y’all some pussies. A pussy ass cop pulls for a fucking signal, you’re takin’ me to jail. What a pussy. What a pussy. What a- you about to break my fucking wrist.

Cop: Stop movin’!

SB: I’m standin’ still! You keep movin’ me, goddamn it!

Cop: Stay right there.

SB: Don’t touch me. Fucking pussy, for a traffic ticket.

Cop: [Goes around the car and closes the front door. Walks back off screen to where Sandra is on the sidewalk.] Come read right over here. [He stands by the trunk of the car and shows her the written warning.] This right here says a warning. YOU started creating a problem. [Cop walks out of shot, toward Sandra.]

SB: You asked me what was wrong!

Cop: Do you have anything in your purse that’s illegal?

SB: Do I look like I have anything on me? This a fuckin’ maxi dress!

Cop: I’m removing  your glasses.

SB: This a maxi dress.

Cop: Come on over here.

SB: Fucking assholes. For a- you about to break my wrist! Can you STOP!? You are mother fuckin’ about to break my wrist! [Sandra makes sounds of pain.] STOOOPP!

Cop: [Sounds of struggle.] Stop! Now! Stop it!

Cop 2: Stop resisting, ma’am.

Cop: If you would stop then I would tell you!

SB: [In pain.] For a fucking traffic  ticket.

Cop: Now stop!

SB: [In pain.] You are such a pussy. You are such a pussy.

Cop 2: No, you are.

Cop: You were yankin’ around.

SB: [In pain.] For a traffic signal.

Cop: You were yankin’ around. When you pull away from me, you’re resisting arrest.

SB: This make you feel real good. This make you feel real good, don’t it? A female for a  traffic signal. For a traffic signal. I know that makes you feel good, officer.

Cop 2: I got her. I got her.

SB: I know it make you feel real good. You a real man now. You slam me, knock my head into the ground, I got epilepsy, you mother fucker.

Cop: Good. Good.

SB: I hope I-

Cop 2: You should have thought of that before you start resisting!

SB: Yeah, this is real good. Real good for a female. Yeah. Y’all strong, ooh. Y’all real strong.

Cop: I want you to wait right here. Wait right here.

SB: I can’t go nowhere with your fucking knee on my back. Duh.

Cop: [To Cop 2] I’m gonna open your door. [To man recording the brutality.] You need to leave. You need to leave. You need to leave.

SB: [inaudible] For a fucking traffic ticket.

Cop: For a warning. For a warning. You’re going to jail for resisting arrest. Stand up.

SB: If I could!

Cop: Roll over.

SB: I can’t even fuckin’ feel my arm!

Cop: Tuck your knee in.

SB: I can’t-

Cop: Listen, listen, you’re gonna sit up on your butt.

SB: You just slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that?

Cop 2: He’s telling you to getup.

SB: I can’t even hear!

Cop 2: Yes you can.

Cop: Sit on your butt.

SB: You slammed my head into the ground.

Cop: Sit up on your butt.

SB: He threw my fucking head to the ground. What the hell?

Cop: Now stand up.

SB: All this for a traffic signal. I swear to god. All of this for a traffic signal. [To witness.] Thank you for recording! Thank you! For a traffic signal. Slammed me into the ground and everything. Everything. I hope y’all feel good.

[christel-thoughts]

Remember when we kept telling y'all, white tumblr, that “know your rights” and all those videos of y'all talking to cops however you please was only for y'all? That it was white privilege? Yeah.

[nocturnmuse]

This is so incredibly sick. And they’re getting away with this AND more…

[asafo2020-deactivated20171024]

My thoughts exactly

[ushypocrisy]

“The system used the main nonviolent themes of Martin Luther King’s life to present a strategy designed to protect its own interests – imagine the most violent nation on earth, the heir of Indian and African genocide, the only nation ever to drop an atomic bomb on a civilian population, the world’s biggest arms dealer, the country that napalmed over 10 million people in Vietnam (to “save” it from communism), the world’s biggest jailer, waving the corpse of King, calling for nonviolence!” - Mumia Abu Jamal quoted from Live from Death Row.

[codesofthestreet]

Ugh this man. He's a genius

[luvyourselfsomeesteem-deactivat]

The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people’s expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn’t care if you are a white person who likes black people; it’s still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don’t look like you. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another. And so on. So while I agree with people who say no one is born racist, it remains a powerful system that we’re immediately born into. It’s like being born into air: you take it in as soon as you breathe. It’s not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It’s a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it’s hard work, but it’s the price you pay for owning everything.

Scott Wood (X)

he motherfucking dropped the truth.

(via ugh)

[sundarra-deactivated20191220]

This is so important to realize

[codesofthestreet]

Oh shit. calling out the entire system in under 140 characters.

[black--lamb-blog]

basically ever since I tweeted the first tweet… I’ve had to combat the most ignorant white souls on this planet… All of them using the same excuses.. All of them making it about themselves rather than admitting the injustices..All of them calling me racist for speaking the truth… The sad thing is for once I can say people on tumblr understand more than twitter…

It’s saddening and disgusting that they still attempt to remain blind.. It’s exhausting and I’m sick of educating the hopeless..

ALL of the facts and proof but you still bypass it all to say “NOT ALL WHITE PEOPLE” They care more about not looking racist than they do about the injustices that have occurred

[codesofthestreet]

These are so on point. I need to use them against racists.

[gifthetv]

"@ShaunKing: I’m sharing these horrific cases to press into your mind that a legal & practical precedent is being created for the ease of black death."

[thelingerieaddict-deactivated20]

Yes.

[stereoculturesociety]

CultureHISTORY: Faces Of #Ferguson - November 2014

Please keep #Ferguson in your thoughts.

#justiceformikebrown

[kateoplis]

Currently in NYC: Solidarity w/ Ferguson

[vandenblave]

In México, we are all fighting against a president who can’t even keep us safe. 43 students from a rural university, between the ages of 18-30, were abducted and then murdered when they were on their way to a pacific event. Bullets came from municipal cops, and the order of shooting came directly from the governor of that particular region. Federal authorities have been covering their asses and the families of the students have no information about their people. Not even the dead bodies have been retrieved to them.

That’s why several universities from all the country have taken action. 

We support the families and their claim for justice and peace. 

Their anger is ours.

[land-of-propaganda]

#Ferguson #MikeBrown

Mike Brown’s Mom Is Taking Her Son’s Case to the UN in Geneva

Lesley McSpadden, the mother of the 18-year-old boy whose death at the hands of a Ferguson police officer in August sparked weeks of protests, is going to Geneva, Switzerland next month to speak about her son and other victims of police brutality in front of the United Nations.

The trip — which was recently made public by organizers and promoted under the tagline “Ferguson to Geneva” — is meant to make a case, to as wide an audience as possible, that both Brown’s killing and the militarized police response to protesters demanding justice for him, are a matter of human rights.

(Read more here)

(11/01)

[revolutionarykoolaid]

Today in #FergusonOctober (10.22.14): Day 75 and the resistance continues. After being denied entrance to a public meeting, protesters in St Louis occupy the county police headquarters, demanding justice for Mike Brown and for their constitutional right to assemble peacefully AND their rights as citizens to attend/participate in local government. This is power in action. This is a movement. #staywoke #farfromover

[revolutionarykoolaid]

Seriously, the image of bdoulaoblongata is one of the most powerful I’ve ever seen. It’s been 75 days. Where has there even been a glimmer of justice in Ferguson? The pain is real.

[fnhfal-deactivated20180216]

Ferguson -2014

[9secretsigns]

I blinked one day and when I opened my eyes, it was normal to have an American army battling Americans on American streets. No one even calls it a war. But it is.

[mentalalchemy]

Don’t forget this crazy shit actually happened.

[fogo-av]

Don’t forget this shit is STILL happening

[blackourstory]

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BLACK TULSA? IF NOT… WHY NOT?

This horrific incident has been well documented, everywhere: from YouTube videos of survivor interviews to PBS Lesson Plans for school teachers. Please do your Google diligence:

From May 30 to June 1, 1921, white citizens of Tulsa bombed burned and shot up the “Little Africa” section of Tulsa FOR 18 HOURS STRAIGHT

Why would they do that? That same old lame excuse, a Black man supposedly did something to a white woman. But the real reason was ECONOMIC JEALOUSY. Whites may have called it Little Africa derisively, but there is a reason that Black Tulsa is known as Black Wall Street

In addition to the 300 Blacks killed, and over 1,000 residential homes burned to the ground, also destroyed were:

The Mt. Zion Baptist Church and five other churches; the Gurley Hotel, Red Wing Hotel, and Midway Hotel; the Tulsa Star and Oklahoma Sun newspaper offices; Dunbar Elementary School; Osborne Monroe’s Roller-Skating Rink; the East End Feed Store; the Y.M.C.A. Cleaners; the Dreamland Theater; a drug store, barbershop, banquet hall, several grocery stores, dentists, lawyers, doctors, and realtors offices; a U.S. Post Office Substation, as well the all-black Frissell Memorial Hospital. All told, marauding gangs of savage whites destroyed 40-square-blocks of Black economic and entrepreneurial prosperity!

64 years after the first bombing of an American city was committed against the Black residents of Tulsa… the second bombing of an American city took place in Philadelphia when the city bombed the black members of the MOVE organization. (see the blackourstory archive for details). 

Isn’t it a shame that 76 after the bombing of Tulsa, when Timothy McVeigh blew up the Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City, most historically illiterate Americans - including American “journalists” - responded as if it were the first time such a horror had been visited on Oklahoma. If only we knew.

While there are many lessons to be drawn from this, a few questions that stick out to me are these:

If the answer to Black second-class treatment from whites in America is supposedly to become the ultimate American capitalists…the ‘model minorities’… how do you explain Tulsa 1921?

For those Black folk who think that the sole answer to Black people’s problems is simply more Blacks becoming business owners and more Blacks spending money with other Blacks… how did that work out for our people in Tulsa in ‘21?

Considering not only Tulsa, but Rosewood, Florida, and many other thriving all-Black towns that you may know of that all met the same fate at the hands of murderous, envious, lazy crackers… WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TAKE SERIOUSLY THE IDEA THAT BLACK WEALTH (ESPECIALLY ALL-BLACK WEALTH) WILL NEED TO BE PROTECTED WITH PHYSICAL FORCE?

There is a reason that Marcus Garvey AND Elijah Muhammad had armies of trained Black men as a huge part of their organizations. Many of us Black folk took those great men as jokes, yet NO BLACK LEADERS SINCE THOSE TWO have reached the same heights of economic and ideological success and unity of Black people. 

Not only do we need to LEARN THIS HISTORY, we need to start taking these events men and movements MORE SERIOUSLY, and doing some CRITICAL HISTORICAL ANALYSIS if we are ever to stop being on the bottom rung of every metric in American life. Not just some casual or accidental reading of history; some CRITICAL. HISTORICAL. ANALYSIS.

TULSA 1921 was real. PHILLY 1985 was real. Will it happen again?

[slinkster-cool]

HOLY SHIT! I was literally raised in Oklahoma and I have NEVER heard about this! OUTRAGEOUS!

[onlyblackgirl]

Indigenous People’s Day Photo Project 2013

"Dear Columbus…"

Photo Credit: Andrew Burlingham

South Puget Sound Community College’s Diversity & Equity Center

Olympia, WA 

[garbagecreature-deactivated2017]

Yes. YES. Fuck Columbus forever. I’ll always distinctly remember being a -child-, maybe 7? and even then being so horribly angry about Columbus. I was originally vocal about it. The real kicker? I quickly learned to shut up about how I felt. I tried to talk about how infuriating it was to learn how Columbus invaded and destroyed an entire native people. And every adult I talked to tried to convince me everything Columbus did was totally okay. Apparently children aren’t supposed to learn about Columbus and find him to be anything but ~brave~ and ~adventurous~ or some shit. I’m still, even now, fucking appalled anyone, ANYONE, could so easily and thoughtlessly try to indoctrinate a small child into accepting genocide of native people. It’s …disgusting, and so extremely telling of how far our culture will go in its dehumanization and erasure of the violence native people endured and continue to endure at our hands.

So. Yes. Fuck Columbus. I hope someday we all celebrate Indigenous People Day and only remember Columbus for his crimes against humanity.