Happy, but Heedful

In “A Treatise on Pessimism” from December, I said of a recent police murder: “The timing of this murder seems almost by design as if [the officer] and company wanted to reassure all who were drunk on the unrest and indignation that had become characteristic of 2020 that nothing had changed, and that he would still kill you.” So seems the timing of three more murders of Black Americans by police officers, all occurring during or following deliberations in the trial of George Floyd’s killer, Derek Chauvin.

Since the inception of the trial in early May, police officers across the country have killed at least two unarmed men—Daunte Wright in Minnesota and Andrew Brown in North Carolina—and a 16-year-old girl, Ma’Khia Bryant in Columbus, Ohio, who was killed by the same police department that killed Andre Hill, whose murder I referred to at the beginning of this article. It is as if police are responding to protests, cries to defund their departments, the odd anti-police assault, and other behavior they consider to be riotous by staging riots of their own. Meaning, of course, murdering more Americans.

As is often the case with American race relations, victories come at a cost, and the cost comes swiftly. The turnaround that ended with Bryant’s murder was instantaneous. The Associated Press reported that the murder “came within minutes” of the verdict of Chauvin’s trial, which found him guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. As Americans celebrated the issuing of justice, they were given yet another flouting of justice to brood over. Not everyone is brooding, though. Despite a 16-year-old Black girl’s murder and the other two morbid reminders of how much work is yet to be done, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi felt that it was appropriate to thank the late George Floyd for “sacrificing your life for justice,” as if he had a choice.

At the time of this writing, 48 hours haven’t passed since the delivery of the verdict, yet two different white women have answered my “How are you?” by telling me how happy they are about it. That’s nice. I’m happy they and so many others are happy, and I really don’t mean to rain on anyone’s justice parade with my opinions. Reality, however, is primed and ready to rain on any and every parade, tearing down streamers and upending tables in the process. I can’t deny that justice was served on April 20, 2021. But I also can’t deny that there are thousands of Derek Chauvins still free, still badged, and still armed.

United States Attorney General Merrick Garland said on the 21^st that the “verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis,” or anywhere, I would add. Though I take no issue with the celebration of minor victories, and especially now, when additional trauma seems to be waiting around every corner, I believe the Attorney General’s mindset is one we should all emulate. Have your parade, America. Notch one on the board for accountability and make room for more. But be careful not to get ahead of yourself, lest you stop moving so determinedly toward progress.