Every family member asks this question daily. I wonder how many leaders realize the gravity of that question for their officers. When they get up in the morning, they have quiet time with their family before embarking on, hopefully, another routine day at the office....
MAJOR BEN’S ARTICLES
Below is a list of articles by Major Ben Brooks that have appeared in the Times Herald.
Leaks
A leak is an unintended hole, crack, or fault that allows a substance- such as a liquid, gas, or light- to escape or enter a container or system. As a child growing up in the rural South, I watched my father build his own home. At that time, he installed a tin roof....
Masks and Officer Safety
As a career law enforcement officer, I am perplexed by the recent debate over officers wearing masks. Everything I learned about law enforcement involved honesty, integrity, and, most of all, transparency. The federal government has a duty to present law enforcement...
Bias Understood
As an international speaker, trainer, and consultant, I have been intrigued by the lack of understanding of various terms, with people using them without knowing their meanings or applications. At one of my National Speakers Association conferences, a presenter shared...
Fear and Bias as a Law Enforcement Blind Spot
Fear – an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger real or imagined. Origin - past experiences (0-6) History - nomadic days (fight or flight) Survival function - to protect us, triggered by a significant event, i.e., hot, cold, wet, trauma Source: New...
DEI America’s Biggest Blind Spot
In 2016, I took a course with AARP in defensive driving. Having been driving since I was sixteen, I was curious about what the instructor could teach me. I signed up for the course to get a discount on my car insurance. As the instructor went through his orientation,...
DEI, The Latest Bogeyman
DEI is the latest catchphrase that is the catalyst for the present state of the divided states of America. We raise and salute the flag as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. As patriotic as that sounds, it is far from our day-to-day...
The Reality of Community Policing
Many police executives approached community-oriented policing with a great deal of skepticism because they didn’t realize the critical role that the community plays in their success. Many felt they could do it on their own. Dr. Lee Brown, a former police commissioner...
A Practical Approach to Addressing School Shootings
After Columbine, over four hundred school shootings were reported in America. Every citizen should be outraged that our society has allowed that to happen. Schools should be the safest place in our community for our students, staff, and teachers. It is challenging to...
A Nation Of Cowards
Former Atty. Gen. Eric Holder once said that America is a nation of cowards and he received a great deal of pushback for his statement. As I listened to his pronouncement, I wondered what was the concern about his statement. America has always had an issue with...
Politicians And The Intellectual Black Woman
By Major Ben Brooks
The Constitution states that “all men are created equal”. There was no mention of women by the founding fathers. Ironically, men have taken this as gospel in how they perform and govern. The fact that women were not part of the original drafting of the Constitution, indicates that men saw themselves as the supreme rulers in perpetuity. Unfortunately, the concept of diversity and inclusion was not part of their thought process.
Women were always portrayed in a subservient second-class position in our society. There is no indication that women would ever be considered for inclusion in the power dynamics of the leadership of the country. The Constitution did not spell out any rights for women. It was focused on men only as a ruling class.
It wasn’t until 1920 that women achieved the right to vote. This was a monumental victory for the advancement of women. However, that change only impacted white women. Ironically, it was not until 1964-65 that black women were granted the right to vote as a result of the Civil Rights and Voting Acts.
The Provisions provided a springboard for the ascension of power within our society. With this newly acquired power, the emphasis on higher education became a priority for black women. They immediately recognized that education was their key to power and influence. Thanks to the HBCUs, many black women enjoyed a spectacular rise to positions of power.
This newfound power was fraught with many negative impacts on their character. The attacks are focused on characteristics, such as race, sex, or national origin, instead of intellectual competence.
America must come to grips with the changing demographics impacting the future of this Republic. Shared power must be the order of the day if we are to survive. Otherwise, recalcitrance or stubbornness will be the catalyst for our downfall.