First, this is my opinion concerning the atrocity committed by the five police officers charged with murder in Memphis.

I'm not here to pass judgment, nor speak on the case. I'm here to speak of memories I have from my childhood concerning police brutality against us as a race, and why I don't like or trust the justice system and the government.

It's time I spoke up, because I feel another positive movement coming along. I'm old enough now to participate however I can. I'm tired of watching this country regressing backwards over more than 70 or more years–

As I stated above, this was an atrocity. An atrocity committed by those who are supposed to protect and serve the communities. They never have, at least not ours.

The second sickening thing I find about this particular incident is that the five officers involved have the very same skin complexion as the victim. This sickens me.

What if this young man was their son? How would they feel if five officers that looked like them beat their son to death? 

I'm sure they've watched and observed their lighter complexion counterparts do the same to others like us. What were their views on those "murders?" I call them that because in my opinion, they are just that.

Too many of us have continuously been murdered by those so called "public servants." Who are they actually serving is my question?

They speak on stopping gang violence, yet commit the same crimes behind a badge. Again, my perception.

Yes, there are some who actually do their job, but where are they when these things occur? Do they speak out against their brethren? Oh, I forgot. The ones that have spoken up sometimes suffer consequences if they do. (Do your research.)

Do they believe they are going to receive the same lenient sentences and treatment as the others have? I doubt that. Again, my opinion. Ask the one who killed the lighter complexion woman up north? You don't hear about him. I wonder why. 

I'm done with that part. Now, the reason why I have this view of so called law enforcement.

As a small child growing up in the 1960's, we didn't have our own television, so we had to watch what the adults were watching.

I'd sit with them observing what was called the news. The news always came on in the evenings before our favorite shows aired.

On the news I would see people talking about a war in Vietnam. About people, both military and civilian being killed everyday. Everyday!

Also, on the news I would see footage of people who looked like me being hosed down with fire hoses, had dogs set upon them, beaten and shot dead by law enforcement. There were stories as I remember, everyday. Everyday.

I remember this type of thing happened when those people demanded civil rights. The right to eat in certain places. The right to use certain bathrooms. The right to a better education. The right for a decent job or wage to support their families. As a child, that left a very bad impression of law enforcement, law makers, and the government on me.

Most of those law enforcement officers were of the lighter complexion. I really don't remember any of them looking like me. I may have to dig deeper on that, or ask questions.

Anyhow, seeing this disturbed me. That's one reason I don't like law enforcement, or lawmakers. 

Another reason I don't like them, and then gained a distrust of them is the treatment and terroristic tactics they used against our civil rights leaders and groups organized to protect us.

I still remember when John F. Kennedy was killed. I was three years old. Yes, I still see the vision of the television in my grandmother's night stand. What was on it was film footage of a long black car and what I know now as a motorcade, proceeding down the street. 

When I was five, I remember seeing another famous man, a black man speaking on doing what's necessary to protect us. He was assassinated because he had too many people following him. 

They'll tell you he was instigating violence, but he was actually fighting to keep us safe. This was Malcolm X. This is how I perceived it, and after researching, came to this conclusion.

During this, I learned of another organization of darker complexion people. The things I heard about them and saw on the news, also what I was taught in school contradicts everything I learned doing my own research. They were the Black Panthers. They were also dissected from within by the government federal crime units. My perception. Do your research. Also, more evidence has come out from the same organization that destroyed t

I have never taken anyone's word for anything. I always wanted to learn for myself. That included my studies in school. 

We had history class but I always took a class about my people, and our history. It interested me more than regular history. It was about me.

Another reason, the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A peaceful, loving man who only wanted equal rights and justice for his people. That, too, is a questionable homicide. My opinion. Do your research. New evidence has come out.

So, now you know why I feel the way I do. 

Now…we have five of these officers who look like me charged in the beating death of a young man who also looks like me. WTF?

Read the history of how so-called officers came to be law enforcement. Then find out what word the word "officer" was derived from. It's in plain sight. 

Be careful and safe, my people. It's upon us.