Please Don't Let Him Be Black

Please don't let him be Black, Please don't let him be Black, Oh God I hope he's not Black, God please don't let the bad guy be Black....

Yes... early on my first thoughts were for the victim, hoping that she would be found safe. But my secondary thoughts, especially after knowing her tragic end, were centered around the identity of the suspect. (See Story).

And now the girlfriend has come forward with her creepy stories.

It's amazing how these guys always seem to have girlfriends.

But I find myself going through this sort of routine whenever there is a big crime story...and the suspect isn't known for quite a while.

Of course Blacks do more damage to the image of Black people than any other group, especially for those who happen to be Black and male....and I blame Black culture and Black media for most of that. But these big news stories are worrisome because they often fit stereotypes.... stereotypes that make life torture for me (at times)....only because i'm sometimes more self conscious than I perhaps should be; even though I don't fit the stereotypes.

I felt the same way about the UNC student who was murdered a while back.

But I know i'm not the only Black person or "minority" who has a knot in his/her stomach whenever these stories come up....mainly for the victim and because of the nature of the crimes....but also because of the unknown ID of the suspect...and the stereotypes and racial fallout (and embarrassment) that often comes with it.