Think!

By Rez Blackman

Think! is a book written from the perspective of some of the Black men in this country on a range of topics such as love, politics, history, and more. Based on the thoughts and life experiences of the author, Rez Blackman, the book is geared to engage the reader's willingness to challenge what they see in everyday society, and although controversial, written from a factual basis. The author boldly explores the meaning of "black experience in America" in an authentic way tackling themes like the importance of nature and science and our individual and collective responsibility to our communities. A must-read for those willing to expand their perception!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667803098

Book preview

Introduction

Question—What is wrong with thinking? Just sit-ting down sometimes, clearing your mind of the day’s activities just to…THINK. Reflection, contemplation, meditation, deliberation…whichever pretty sounding word you wish to choose, it still boils down to just good, old-fashioned THINKING. What’s the harm? Honestly, nothing. In fact, there is a tremendous benefit to thinking, but we rarely find the time in the day. In fact, the capability of thought and reason separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. The thoughts we have of our family, our lives, our future, our destiny…what are they worth? How much are they worth, if anything at all, being that they are just thoughts? Well, our thoughts are more valuable than you may think. Our thoughts are the building blocks to our lives. They determine how we raise our children, how we view society, how we interact with one another, how we process information. Our thoughts make us who we are. So, why shouldn’t we consider our thoughts important?

How we are perceived obviously affects what we think and how much time and attention we give any-thing; it is human nature. Has anyone ever called you jealous? How about deceptive, or a liar? What about crazy, ever heard that one before? Lazy? How did it make you feel? Did you run over to the person that said it and give them a gigantic hug or a ‘thank you’ for insulting your character? No, I don’t think you did, or would even consider doing it, for that matter. I bet you would feel disrespected, misunderstood, marginalized…you can add in some more pretty words if you like. The fact remains that critical information is going to affect how you think about a person maybe, your future interactions with that person, about your surroundings, etc.; bottom line, information is supposed to affect how you think. No matter how much we may want to deny it, it does have an impact and it should have.

If you turn on the tv, surf the internet, and/or read the newspaper, whichever your preference, it’s clear to see that the thoughts (not to mention the lives) of Black men are never taken into consideration in this society. There is no need to restate the obvious here, the history is the history; we cannot change that. We are here right now, reliving, and possibly re-creating our history at the same time. How does the country expect the Black man to feel about what he sees with his eyes every day? Is he supposed to feel good about the direction of his future in this country, of his destiny within this society? The future of his children…the destiny of his grandchildren…Where are we going? Do we even know? As Black people, Black men specifically, are we confident in our path and sure of our direction?

—Two days ago, a Caucasian man, 21, walked into a historic black church, killed 9 people and injured others, destroying the lives of countless families, all because he ‘wanted to kill black people’.

—In 2012, a young Black teen was walking home in the rain from the neighborhood corner store. It was raining so he had his hood on. An adult male, identifying as white, felt he looked ‘suspicious’ (whatever that means), and followed him. An altercation ensued, and the innocent boy was shot to death, murdered in cold blood. The adult white male was found not guilty in a jury trial and the homicide was ruled ‘justified’ because the man said he feared for his life. He ‘stood his ground’, murdered a child, and walked.

—In 2014, a black business owner standing in front of his store was being harassed by the police for selling loose cigarettes. After numerous incidents of harassment by the police, he asked the cops to leave him alone and let him run his business in peace. Using unlawful choking procedures, the cops assault him to the ground attempting to put him in custody. He is heard saying I can’t breathe. The cops respond by saying, Fuck your breath. Every minute is caught on videotape.  He dies minutes later. The coroner reports the cause of death as strangulation. The cops are never held responsible, and the police rule it as ‘justifiable homicide’.

—In 2014, a Black man is arrested, and while in po-lice custody he mysteriously suffers a broken spine and died from his injuries. The police department had no answers of how it happened. Protests ensued, riot tactics and national guard troops are dispatched to the city. 2 weeks of protest was the result, some of which ending in violence.

—One afternoon in 2011, an attempt was made to detain a Black man on the bus. He fled and a chase ensued. The man ended up being shot in the back by the police and eventually died. His crime? He tried to ditch on paying his $2 bus fare.

—This year, a police officer is recorded by an on-looker stopping a Black man suspected of ‘something’. Because of outstanding warrants, he attempts to flee. The officer does not attempt to chase him. Instead, he unholsters his gun, shoots the man in the back and he dies immediately after. The cop says he mistakenly grabbed his gun instead of his taser.

—In 2014, following an altercation at a neighbor-hood corner store, a college bound, young Black man was walking home with a friend. The young men encountered a policeman who was verbally disrespectful to the boys. After hearing a call over the scanner about a disturbance at the store from which the two young men just left, the policeman reverses and attempts to subdue the young men for questioning. After a struggle at the officer’s patrol car, the young men attempt to flee the scene. The officer pursues and shoots one of the fleeing ‘suspects’. The young man who was shot turns around, raises his hands in the air, and gets on his knees in sur-render. The officer executes him in broad daylight in front of many witnesses. The murder is ruled a ‘justifiable homicide’.

—This past summer at a neighborhood pool, two adult white females start a fight with a teenage Black girl. The cops are called. The responding officers immediately subdue and handcuff the young Black girl, roughing her up and a few other teens on the scene in the process. The Black girl is arrested, and the two Caucasian females are never questioned or detained.

—Last year, a Black standout high school athlete is found dead in the school’s gym in the middle of a rolled-up wrestling mat. The coroner ruled the death a suicide, although no valid explanation can be given on how he got himself into the center of the mat. Days later, it is discovered that some of his organs were removed and were replaced with newspaper and the incident was covered up by the local