I live in BedStuy Brooklyn. On a daily basis I am reminded of the rich political and cultural history that is embedded in the neighborhood in which I live. There are murals of Biggie,Malcolm X and ODB amongst restaurants, and shops that pay homage to the Caribbean ancestry of most of my neighbors. BedStuy is also filled with Bodegas, in fact with no scientific data to back this up, I would go so far as to say one on every other corner, crack heads, and garbage. There is also an abundance of police officers who never appear to be hip to or harassing the young men and women who push all types of illegal narcotics through our community. So, imagine my disbelief when I saw four police officers cornering one man for, of all things riding his bike on the sidewalk. It has become a common practice of mine to make sure that when I see cops in my neighborhood that they are acting appropriately, I have seen cops take down the names and ID numbers of old men hanging out with their old men friends for hanging out in one spot for too long, I have seen cops poke at homeless people with their night sticks, and now I have seen four cops give one man a ticket for riding his bike on the street, it's great to know that we are eradicating crime, one hardened criminal after another. I have used the word cop several times over in this piece to convey a point. I have no problem with the civil servants who wear blue, and fight to keep my neighborhood safe and clean for children to do as they are supposed to;run and play. I have a problem with the men and women who harass the good people of my neighborhood for no apparent rhyme or reason. Fight the Power.
Fresh.
