Tomi Lahren, I cannot agree to disagree with you. Not at all.
For those of you who do not know, Tomi Lahren is a recent UNLV grad who is aspiring to go pro in political commentary. This woman has made it all over Facebook, and was even given the opportunity to host her own show through the company OAN. I have a hunch it is her radical nature that has brought her this “success," or as I’d say -- infamy.
In one of her recent videos regarding Justice Sotomayor, Tomi took it WAY too far.
She prevailed her ignorance to an absolutely new level. Just in case you want to catch a view before I fill in the blanks, you can find it on her Facebook, Tomi Lahren, and it is named, “Justice Sotomayor confirmed that even when it concerns a white person, it is still about a black person.”
In no specific order I am going to highlight some of Tomi’s claims, that I felt needed to be addressed.
1. This part of the video consists of Tomi commenting on Justice Sotomayor's statement that, “For generations, black and brown parents have given their children “the talk,” instructing them never to run down the street, always keep your hands where they can be seen, do not even think of talking back to a stranger -- all out of fear of how an officer with a gun will react to them” (Justice Sotomayor). With Tomi’s response to her being, “She reminded the world, as those liberaltypes do today, even when it's about a white person, it's about a black person.” Does anyone actually believe that those “liberal types” favor black people to white? I truly hope not. Justice Sotomayor was simply stating a fact. It has nothing to do with “bringing race into it." Her white privilege led her to take a little offense to the statement, but it was just a notion.
2. Also in response to Justice Sotomayor’s statement, “Excuse me Sonia, my parents taught me that too. It's called respect for authority.” See, when I heard those words come out of her mouth, all I heard was her defensive nature regarding her white privilege scream ignorance. Are you kidding me? No, it's not called respect for authority. As a “white person," You would be a liar, if you were going to try and say that while growing up, your parents told you how to treat and speak to cops in order for them TO NOT SHOOT YOU. “Sonia” was not referring to respecting authority. Justice Sotomayor was referring to the fear African American people have regarding police officers. If you have never been “stopped and frisked, or stopped for no reason," chances are you have white privilege. Do not take that lightly, and do not talk out of turn. As my boyfriend would say, white privilege is time traveling 60 years, and having a server waiting at your table.
3. “A social justice advancing the notion that black lives matter more.”
No. Justice Sotomayor was not advocating, nor preaching that black lives matter more. She was simply helping us understand the difference. The difference being, white parents do not have not the crippling fear that their children or their own interaction with police, will be their last one, while some black/brown families do. It is not that black lives matter MORE, it's that black lives MATTER.
4. “Freddy Gray, Eric Gardner and Sandra Bland all had arrest records before their infamous encounters with police.”
Are you kidding me? Sure. Perhaps, like all people these individuals had made a mistake, committed a crime, had a low point in life -- but is that justification for being killed? Freddy Gray, Eric Gardner and Sandra Bland had families, lives and had done absolutely nothing to deserve losing that. If you received a speeding ticket, would it justify your death in a horrible car accident? How would your family feel if on the news with your accident was your ticket history?
5.“If you think police officers put on that badge for an average of $45,000 a year to satisfy their pent-up racism, you are out of your mind.”
No. I believe as all people, the majority of cops are great. When I got into a horrible car accident, before the first responders even arrived, the police were there. I was having trouble breathing, and I could not feel my knees, but having them there made me feel safe. I don’t even know if comforting a traumatized teen is in their job description, but they hit it on the head. However, like ALL people, there exists some bad. I do not think these people “put on the badge” and accept a mediocre salary for the goal of releasing their racism on people, but rather for the crave and rush that comes with the title. Some people crave power, and perhaps that’s what leads them to wanting to be a cop. While cops must assume very much responsibility, they have an equal amount of power, thus making being a cop quite an attractive occupation for someone who craves that feeling of authority and ability. Perhaps, that is why when tested they are too quick to pull the trigger.