Justin Barrett's Racist Comments Not Unnoticed
The Boston Police Officer's Vicious, Hateful E-mail Makes Headlines
Jul 31, 2009
36-year old Boston Police Officer Justin Barrett was fired up about the arrest of Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., just as much of the nation is. But Barrett's issue was with the comments by President Barack Obama, who stated the Cambridge Police acted "stupidly" when they arrested Gates in his own home after a neighbor called 911 because she thought someone was breaking into his home. Barrett was also enraged by an article that journalist Yvonne Abraham published in the Boston Globe on July 22, criticizing the actions of the Cambridge Police Department for arresting a 58-year old African-American man in his own home.
He decided to write an e-mail.
Barrett's Racist E-mail
Barrett sent the e-mail to fellow police officers, friends and dozens of others in his e-mail address book. The e-mail stated "if I was the officer he verbally assaulted like a banana eating jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC deserving of his belligerent non-compliance." ("OC" is short for pepper spray.) Barrett also directed his racist rant to Abraham, calling her "a hot little bird with minimal experiences in a harsh field. You are a fool. An infidel. You should serve me coffee and donuts on Sunday morning." Barrett finished his e-mail by saying, "Gates is a [censored] fool and you the article writer simply a poor follower and maybe worse, a poor writer. Your article title should read CONDUCT UNBECOMING A JUNGLE MONKEY-BACK TO ONE´S ROOTS" ("Like a banana eating jungle, what...???" by Elliot Francis. American Chronicle, July 31, 2009).
Fallout from Barrett's E-mail
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis immediately suspended Officer Justin Barrett after learning of the e-mail. Barrett faces termination for his conduct and there is a current investigation to look closely at his arrests of racial minorities during his two years on the force. Commissioner Davis is speaking openly about his disapproval of Barrett's remarks and, in fact, Barrett's e-mail was turned over to authorities by his fellow police officers.
Barrett has apologized for his remarks several times, including on a local Boston television statement and on Larry King Live. Barrett stated on King's show:
"I would like to take this opportunity to offer fellow police officers, soldiers and citizens my sincerest apology over the controversial e-mail I authored. I am not a racist. I did not intend any racial bigotry, harm or prejudice in my words. I sincerely apologize that these words have been received as such. I truly apologize to all."
Racial Slurs Nothing New
Unfortunately for him, Barrett's apology isn't winning him any defenders or fans today. Barrett stating that his words are being "received" as racist are an indication to many that he is not accepting responsibility for his hateful words. The term "jungle monkey" has been used in the past as a racial slur; a hateful description used by racists intentionally to hurt African Americans. According to the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang, "jungle bunny" is a used exclusively to describe black people and not in a kind-hearted way. Comparing African Americans to animals is nothing new; in fact, a study conducted by Phillip Atiba Goff at The University of Pennsylvania, proved that the image of African Americans as apes is rooted in the mind of many white Americans. Even more disturbing, the findings showed that the white study subjects who associated blacks with apes were also more likely to find police brutality justifiable ("Studies Expose 'Ape-Like' Stereotype Among Whites" by Tom Jacobs. Miller-McCune, March 21, 2008). It's doubtful that Barrett was unaware of the racist impact of his words when he wrote them.
In a nation that is finally discussing race openly, there are going to be some pitfalls, some hurt feelings and some gross missteps. But if things are going to change, those missteps need to be owned. Sincere apologies and a commitment to one's self--as well as the nation--to do and be better is what can move the discussion and the relationships forward.
 |
