*Sigh*
Amy, Amy, Amy. Where do I begin?
I won’t beat around the bush, girl, because your actions in that video clearly show that you know how to be intentional with your words.
I sort of understood some of the ways you may have felt in that moment.
Let’s be clear though, you were breaking the park rules of not having your dog on a leash, but who doesn’t follow a rule every now and then, right Amy? Okay, we have all been there.
Having someone recording you can feel like an invasion of privacy. No one, regardless of race, is happy when their privacy is invaded without the person’s permission.
So, your senses were probably heightened.
On top of that you, as a woman, had a man who is a stranger recording you.
You’re feeling even more uncomfortable. I understand.
But, girl, you lost every bit of “well I can see how…” or “maybe she just…” the moment you opened your mouth and said:
I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.
S.M.H.
Amy, allow me to be as direct as you were on that 911 call: You were deliberate and careful with your words and you spoke with intent. What you did has serious consequences, and you deserve every bit of them.
Your words had power, and you knew it.
Your “fear” had power, and you knew it.
Your helpless-fragile-white-woman persona had power, and you knew it.
And the fact that you would intentionally use these things to weaponize the police and even society to harm Christian Cooper is disgusting. And reckless.
That African American man could’ve lost his life! You’re not oblivious, Amy. You’ve seen the countless unarmed Black men and women who have been murdered by police and so-called vigilantes. In fact, George Floyd may have not been the only black man murdered that day had Christian Cooper not recorded your vicious attempt to use your racist rhetoric to harm him.
Amy, what you did is no different than Fannie Taylor lying and saying a black man assaulted her, causing black men and women to lose their lives in the Rosewood massacre .
It’s the same as Carolyn Bryant’s lies taking the life of 14-year-old Emmett Till.
American history has repeatedly shown the devaluing of black life under the guise of “I feared for my life.” I encourage you to reflect on this nation’s history as you look inside yourself. Recognize the privilege you have to “fear for your life” because if the tables had been turned, Christian Cooper wouldn’t have been afforded the same opportunity.
I know you’ve said this is destroying your life, girl.
You’ve lost your job.
You’ve lost your dog.
And you’ve probably lost respect from many people.
But if Christian Copper hadn’t recorded your intentional words, he could’ve lost something that can never be replaced.
Amy, let that sink in.
Photo Cred: Law.com