Black Love and Tyre Nichols
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First of all, I want to acknowledge the pain and trauma caused by the violent death of Tyre Nichols. Yet again, the unhealed wounds caused by injustice are wide open. Our wounds are exposed, swollen, and oozing the blood of yet another Black male. While the beating death of Tyre Nichols happened more than 600 miles away, it feels too close for comfort. Could it be because the emotional trauma felt here in our city after the killing of Patrick Lyoya is still so new? Is it because those wounds have not been treated properly, and we fear infection? Could it be that we feel the pain of parasites, cannibals, even those who look like us, feeding on Black men in America? Whatever you are feeling, please take a moment, name it, acknowledge it, spend some time with it and then decide what you are going to do about it.
In case you don't know what I'm talking about, let me get you up to speed. Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten by five African American police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 7th. He died in the hospital three days later. Recordings of the horrendous beating were released on Friday, January 27th, 2023, and the lack of humanity in handling and treating Tyre is shocking. Tyre's cause of death is said to be extensive bleeding caused by severe beating. All of the men involved in his beating have been arrested and charged.
The emotion I feel the most behind the death of Trye Nichols is sadness. The police officers showed no mercy in their attack on this young man. I have so many questions. How could they treat another human this way? In fact, as you know, I have been writing about Black love, and since Tyre and the officers involved were also Black, where was the love? How did we get here? I don't think these officers would have done this to a White man, nor should they, but my heart breaks because the hate we often have for each other is on full display in the beating of Tyre. When we see Black officers treat Black people worse than they treat others, it's often deep-seated hate. I am reminded of the powerful scene in Boyz in the Hood when the police stopped Tre and Ricky as Tre was driving; a Black police officer put a gun to Tre's neck and told him he hated n-words. So, I not only grieve and feel sorrow over the death of this human being, but I also mourn the ever presence of self-hate.
While I feel overwhelming sadness, I also sense the love between Tyre Nichols and his mother RowVaughn Wells. The bonds between mothers and sons are special. This is evident because, time after time, we see men calling out for their mothers in times of direst. Since every person on this Earth is born of a woman, and since I have a son, I felt it when I heard Tyre call out to his mother. I can't even imagine Mrs. Wells's torment upon learning that her son called out to her. In the interviews I've seen her in, she indicated that she had not watched the video of her son's beating. Perhaps it's because she knows how much it will add to her pain. I believe the love between mother and child is where humanity start so it is also where Black love starts.
I end this here and tell you to love your kids, model, and teach them how to love others and themselves. Our futures depend on it.
Sophia Brewer (M.L.I.S.) is Collection Development and Serials Librarian, Grand Rapids Community College; Co-President of the Greater Grand Rapids History Council; member of the Grand Rapids Study Club and serves on the Grand Rapids Public Library, Board of Library Commissioners (Elected 2016-2021). She is a former Head of Programs, Grand Rapids Public Library and former Branch Manager, Madison Square Branch, Grand Rapids Public Library Congresswoman
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