Leading Questions 7. Black Silence | White Silence - 9:23:16, 9.18 AM
Our Panelists:
Deandre McDay, David Phillips, Ned Staebler, Billy Strawter—in studio
Adam Thomason—Skype line
Black Silence/White Silence
1. When police brutality happens or when unarmed black people are shot and killed, the black community rightly protests. But when an officer is killed in the line of duty, the black community is generally silent. Why do you think that is?
2. Do you believe that silence from protest groups is tacit endorsement of an action or issue (i.e. Silence in the wake of a police shooting is the condoning of shooting police officers.)
3. Last week we discussed Colin Kaepernick's protest. The critique of his form of protest—refusing to stand for the National Anthem—was loud, swift, and sometimes mean-spirited. However, in light of the two police shootings in the last few days, his most vocal critics have been noticeably silent. Why do you think that is?
4. What forms of protest are acceptable? What are the gains and what are the losses?
5. Would it make sense for the black community to admit when police shootings are warranted, such as in the case in Charlotte where the shooter is said to have had a gun? (There are differing stories on whether he was armed with a gun or sitting in his car reading a book.)
6. Would it make sense for the white/police community to admit when a shoot is (or appears) bad?
7. What is race baiting and what role might it play in these kinds of instances?
8. Is there some universal standard people can appeal to in order to gather under a common banner or umbrella? (i.e. a flag, a religious worldview, a government program, etc.)
9. What are some ways that both the black community and the police community or white community come to a consensus and move forward? Or do you feel we’re hopelessly doomed to repeat this cycle every few weeks or months?