Aaron Rose A GUIDE, A SYLLABUS, A CONVERSATION, A PROCESS
This is a living document. Last Updated: July 15, 2018.
We’ve all been there. Your neighbor is setting off fireworks at 3am. Or there’s a couple fighting outside your window and it’s getting physical. Or you see someone hit their child in public. What do you do? Your first instinct might be: call 911. That’s what many people are trained to do in the United States when we see something dangerous or threatening happening.
At this point, most of us understand that, in the U.S., the police often reinforce a system of racialized violence and white supremacy, in which black people are at least three times more likely to be killed by the police. For years now, we’ve heard the nearly daily news of another unarmed person of color being shot by the police. When the police get involved, black people, Latinx people, Native Americans, people of color, LGBTQ people, sex workers, women, undocumented immigrants, and people living with disabilities and mental health diagnoses are usually in more danger, even if they are the victims of the crime being reported. Police frequently violently escalate peaceful interactions, often without repercussions. In 2017, the police killed over 1,100 people in the U.S.
So what do you do? When you see harm being done, when you worry for your safety, when you feel your rights are being violated? What do you do instead of calling the police? How do you keep yourself safe without seeking protection from a system whose default is still surveillance and erasure of others?
We start by shifting our perspective. We start by learning about the racist history of the police. We start by saying, an alternative to this system should exist. We start by pausing before we dial 911. We start by making different choices where we can. We start by getting to know our neighbors and asking them to be a part of this process.
The following is an in-process list of resources on alternatives to policing, which range from the theoretical to practical. It starts with a series of best practices and guiding questions I have developed in the last two years of nurturing this document in conversation with many people.
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A FEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Who is this document for? This document is for anyone who wants to build a world where we have safe, strong communities. Where we know and trust our neighbors. Where our response to emergencies of all kinds leads to peace and connection rather than escalated violence and disconnection. This document was originally written to expand white people’s understanding of police violence and to equip them with the tools to be better community members, and the best practices and guiding questions reflect that. However, the resources and tools are here for people of all races and backgrounds.
Who are you? I’m Aaron Rose: a white, middle-class, life-long New Yorker and south Brooklynite, now living in Hawaii. I’m an educator, a writer, and spent most of my working life as a diversity & inclusion consultant and coach. I’m a human being committed to both changing and enjoying the world at the same time.
How can I recommend an edit, report a broken link, contribute a resource, or share my perspective? Email me at hello@aaronxrose.com. I welcome any and all feedback given in service of building a safer world.
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WHERE TO START: GUIDELINES FOR WHITE ALLIES
1. GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
Many situations in which you might feel compelled to call the police can be resolved by knowing your neighbors. Knock on people’s doors or leave a note with your number. Open up a conversation. Agree to reach out to each other if you have an issue before calling 911. This is particularly helpful for things like loud music, smoke, and mental health issues.
Ideally, you’re connected to many people in your building / on your block / in your neighborhood. This is particularly important for white people who are moving into historically black or Latinx neighborhoods. Your new neighbors likely already have deep history with one another. They know who is having relationship issues and who’s trusted to intervene. They know who is struggling with their mental health and who calms them down. They know the unofficial way to reach the building’s super if something’s wrong. Honor their history together and demonstrate a commitment to learning. Invest in your relationships and in your collective safety.
2. REWRITE YOUR INTERNAL SCRIPT ABOUT THE POLICE.
White people: most of us have been taught, however subconsciously, that the police keep us safe. And the thing is, they usually do. But that often comes at the expense of people of color. We are called to rewrite our story about the police, so that we define safety as including not only ourselves but also our whole community.
This can be painful and deep work. Our cultural autopilot reinforces the idea that standing in true solidarity with people of color puts us at risk in some way – socially, psychologically, economically, or physically.
As it arises, notice the instinct, however subtle, to prioritize your safety at the expense of another. From which old pattern does this originate? Is it an autopilot belief that it’s not your job to protect people of color? Is it a fear of getting close to people who are different from yourself? Is it the pain of past experiences where your needs and boundaries were violated? Say to yourself, as often as you need: In service of a safer world for myself and others, I am willing to see this differently. I invite a new perspective.
If you’re looking for additional support, explore these meditations for white people who are releasing their investments in whiteness and healing their relationships with people of color. Healing the world starts with healing ourselves, and many of us still need support in releasing our dependence on old power structures and welcoming a new way of relating and living. You can stream a preview of the Mediation for Redefining Safety below:
