Don't ignore violence against women

I worry about "the verdict." I worry about the messages it sends.

I don't believe for a minute this is gonna do a single thing for black people, or move us toward justice for people of color or poor people. The man was rich, or it would have been another story. Don't kid yourself into believing otherwise.

I worry that the message is that police have to watch out when they're dealing with a rich guy -- even if he's black, and less protected by his money and power.

One good message is to be suspicious of police. The police have far too much power, and many abuse it -- especially when it comes to people of color, the poor and women.

It's terrible that anyone, especially a police officer, could be so blatantly racist. But it's no surprise to many of us.

People were outraged, and absolutely justified, by the use of racial slurs, by a cop, on the record.

But just last week from a Humanities hallway, I overheard some boys in a classroom saying, "once a bitch, always a bitch." Every day on the street I'm aware of how ready men are to use that word -- or worse. Yet too few people are appalled about violence against women, or talk about gender slurs or call misogynistic acts hate crimes.

Long stories in mainstream papers this week have focused on race. Almost none mention violence against women, and most make sweeping generalizations about people based on speculation. A black person who says "we" is not empowered to speak for all blacks, but reporters love it.

Andy Rooney, hardly qualified for social commentary, said Sunday, "Most whites think he's guilty." And a long page-one Sunday Examiner story written by three people and headlined, "Race relations on trial," made no mention of abuse -- Simpson's crimes nor domestic violence as an issue.

There's room and resources to fight oppression on all levels. Whenever we're forced to pick one to fight against or focus on, be suspicious.

O.J. is guilty of beating Nicole. But that's not why he was on trial. Still, things might be different if O.J. had suffered any consequences the times we know he beat her.

I have to believe those jurors acquitted O.J. because the defense introduced reasonable doubt. But what if he's guilty?

I worry we might have made a hero out of a wife-beater.

[ Golden Gater Online October 10, 1995 ]

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