I Run with Maud.
Originally posted on May 7, 2020.
I’m angry and will not pretend to be otherwise. The killing of Ahmaud Arbery is infuriating. As a human being, black man, avid runner, psychologist, and did I mention human being, I am furious that this hatred continues on a daily basis. Yes, daily. The unjust killing of Ahmaud Arbery is a humanitarian crisis by definition, which is exacerbated by a complicit society.
I will address two things. First, I will simply ask the question “Are you furious?” Then I will address some of the potential arguments from those who will advocate that we need to “learn more” about Ahmaud’s “character”.
If you’re a gun rights advocate and see how these two individuals abused their rights to be vigilantes in the name of a citizen’s arrest; are you furious? As a gun owner I am appalled. I’m appalled that these two men allegedly got into a truck, chased after an unarmed man, attempted to stop him multiple times (with no authority to do so), parked in front of him, exited the vehicle with a shotgun, were surprised when he fought for his life, and killed him…have never been arrested. There are so many problems with this situation regarding public safety laws that govern citizens arrest. Especially the nonsensical escalation of force that can be seen in the video. Here is the link that gives a brief description of citizens arrest in the State of Georgia: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-17/chapter-4/article-4/17-4-60/?fbclid=IwAR1GmhkC19Z8onXVqHsmUmbBnMoIz0sVQFYv8KGwTL-zA20ruYIyjgnTLIU
If you’re an All Lives Matter advocate are you furious? If so, I can’t hear you and Ahmaud can’t breathe.
If you’re a Black Lives Matter advocate are you furious that political parties use our brothers' and sisters' deaths as talking points rather than the humanitarian crisis that it is?
If you’re a Blue Lives Matter advocate are you furious that two men took it upon themselves to do the job of our beloved and well-trained police communities that have sworn to serve and protect us?
If you’re a Christian and purport to follow the teachings of Jesus; are you furious? Can I ask my Christian community an additional question? Do you ever wonder what Jesus meant when he said blessed are the peacemakers? Do you ever wonder why Jesus talked about the oppressed so much? Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be more concerned about a Rated-R reality than a Rated-R movie?
If you’re a human being, are you furious? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Let his words sit in our silent, composed, and complicit souls.
Dr. Williams, where is your research on this matter? Research is conducted to serve lived experience, not lived experience to serve research. My experience of racism is through being a black male for 36 years. My experience of use of force and weapons is from being an Infantry soldier for 18+ years. My experience of human suffering and behavior has been forged through earning a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. My experience of fear is knowing that when I leave for a jog in my neighborhood, I will think about surviving an environment that I simultaneously serve and fear. In my opinion, my lived experience of holding these identities is more reliable and valid to my survival than any research article that will be published.
Shouldn’t we wait to see if Ahmaud Arbery was a suspect in the local robbing spree? No. That is irrelevant to him being killed in the middle of the street. These individuals took the law into their own hands and killed an innocent human being. They have been conditioned and embolden to do so by a racist system that repeatedly communicates that a black life does not hold the same value in this society.
How do you know this is about race? I strongly believe that if two armed black men chased after an unarmed white man, attempted to stop him multiple times (with no authority to do so), parked in front of him, exited the vehicle with a shotgun and killed him, there is no question… that they would have at least been arrested. These types of systemic inconsistencies between groups is what makes this a race issue.
Shouldn’t we wait to respond and advocate on this issue? No. I do not consider myself a reactive person. I’m a researcher who gathers information about these injustices and seeks out ways to advocate for change. If you cannot recognize that this situation demands advocacy, I will not try to attempt to convince you.
But, I’m not an activist what am I supposed to do about this? I cannot tell you what to do. But maybe:
Call the congressman in that area and demand justice.
Seek out ways to financially support the legal fees for Ahmaud’s family.
Talk to your children about racism. https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Childrens-Prejudice-Racism/zgbs/books/3135
Ask family and friends of color about this situation.
Watch the video. https://twitter.com/MeritLaw/status/1257740136168722434
Talk about this issue on social media.
Don’t be complicity silent.
I run with Maud.
I run with Maud because we can do better than this.
I run with Maud because I will run tomorrow, the day after, and many more days with Maud in mind.
Dr. Cedric Williams
Founder + CEO
Legacy Consulting & Research Group LLC
