Reflection on Social Media Case 6: Basketball Cop
The relationship between law
enforcement and minority communities has been tarnished for years. Many people in
these communities flee as soon as they see a cop pull up, not because they’re
guilty but because cops in the past have abused their authority. Kids in the
black community are taught to fear the police. When cops pull over or arrested
members of these communities just based on racial profiling, they are
perpetuating this tarnished relationship. The news is normally littered with
stories about violence between minorities and police officers. Campaigns like
#BlackLivesMatter were created to give a voice those in minority communities
that don’t have the opportunity to speak out. With so much negative news
coverage about police brutality, we rarely hear about situations where cops responded
positively to members on minority communities.
The story
of the Basketball Cop is so refreshing because it shows there are still good
police officers that want to create positive relationships within their communities.
Officer Bobby White had no intention of starting a national campaign just by
playing basketball with a group of young kids but that’s exactly what happened.
After the video of him playing basketball with the kids in the street went
viral, people were eager to get involved. That’s when Officer White issued the
hashtag #HoopsNotCrime and started the Basketball
Cop Foundation. Shaquille O’Neal also got involved and joined a game of
basketball with the group of kids that Officer White had originally played
with. O’Neal also arranged for the kids to go to an Orlando Magic game.
Officer White could have just played
a game of basketball with these kids and continued the reset of his shift, but
he didn’t. He used this situation to effect change within his community. This article
describes the lengths that Officer White went to in altering the way the
relationship between the police and Black and Hispanic communities are viewed.
I have observed in my life that people want to be a part of good and wholesome
things like the Basketball Cop Foundation and #HoopsNotCrime. It takes one
person to make a difference.
I really like how you talk about the effect that his action had on the community, not just one the teens involved.
ReplyDeleteI love how positive this post is. It is so fun to see the positive uses of social media. Great job!
ReplyDeleteLibby, this is an awesome and inspiring post! I love that you brought up the Black Lives Matter movement and how it gives a voice to minority voices, who often don't even get the chance to speak out. I love your point that there is so much media coverage on the police reacting negatively, that we rarely see any positive action taken by law enforcement. Your last line is golden: "It takes one person to make a difference." Well said!
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