Internalized racism is a term used to describe internal oppression, that is so severe it causes an individual to accept racial hierarchy. Adaptation of White cultural norms, acceptance as a “subordinate” race, and even hate is brewed from it. Self hate is slowly developed, and some have argued that Wauwatosa Officer Joseph Mensah who is black is internally oppressed.
Since 2015 Mensah has been at the center of 3 fatal shootings, all of men of color. He was ruled to have been acting in self defense in two of the cases, despite one of them involved shooting Jay Anderson 6 times as he slept in his car. These facts have sparked outrage over the years, but have finally reached a boiling point as the country is in unrest. Protestors have taken over Mayfair mall, Wauwatosa city hall in efforts to have Mensah fired. The situation is so extreme it has garnered national attention, from Rapper Jay Z and his Roc Nation group, calling for his firing as well, in a letter to the District Attorney. He is the second nationally known rapper to get involved in Wisconsin’s highly publicized issues, as rapper “TI” Clifford Harris, via Instagram asked to be in contact with Chrystul Kizer to help her in her legal battle. She is a Milwaukee native who was locked up for murder of the very person who was forcing her into sex trafficking.
In these unprecedented times outside support is more then welcome, as the battle for equality and justice ensues.
More to come.