A Conversation with the Police - Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man Ep. 9

Summary

In an episode of 'Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,' the host engages in a candid dialogue with police officers from Petaluma PD, addressing the tension between law enforcement and the black community. They discuss the impact of high-profile cases, officer accountability, and the emotional toll of their job. The conversation also covers the challenges of racial bias, the meaning of 'defund the police,' and the desire for positive interactions to build trust and understanding within communities.

Takeaways

• 🤝 The importance of dialogue: The script emphasizes the necessity of open conversations between police officers and the black community to foster understanding and empathy.
• 👮‍♂️ Police accountability: The discussion highlights the need for accountability within the police force, especially when mistakes or misconduct occur.
• 👥 Proximity breeds care: The script suggests that a lack of proximity between different racial groups can lead to fear and a lack of empathy, emphasizing the importance of community engagement.
• 🏠 Personal interactions: It is noted that personal interactions with black people are infrequent among some officers, indicating a need for more personal connections to build understanding.
• 📺 Media portrayal: The script acknowledges the media's role in shaping perceptions, with negative incidents receiving more attention than positive police-community interactions.
• 🚔 Perception of police: The conversation reveals that the public's perception of police officers, especially in incidents involving black individuals, can be heavily scrutinized and influence community trust.
• 💔 Emotional impact: The script discusses the emotional and psychological toll on officers involved in life-or-death situations on the job.
• 🛡️ Defunding the police: The term 'defund the police' is explored, with some officers expressing that it could mean reallocating resources to better address societal issues like mental health.
• 🌈 Acknowledging systemic issues: The conversation recognizes the existence of systemic racism and the role of police in addressing it, rather than ignoring or exacerbating it.
• 🔄 Changing narratives: The script suggests that changing the narrative around police interactions with the black community requires individual and societal efforts to build positive relationships.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the 'Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man' episode discussed in the transcript?

The main theme is the interaction between white police officers and black people, exploring issues of racial tension, accountability, and the perception of police in the community.

Why did the host of the show feel it was important to have the Petaluma Police Department join the conversation?

The host believed in the importance of addressing the lack of proximity and communication between people of different racial backgrounds to foster care and empathy, and reduce fear and misunderstanding.

How did the police officers in the conversation respond to the question about having black people over for dinner?

One officer admitted that he couldn't recall the last time he had black people over for dinner, indicating a lack of personal interaction that could contribute to racial misunderstandings.

What does the phrase 'proximity breeds care and distance breeds fear' imply in the context of the conversation?

It suggests that close interactions between different racial groups can lead to understanding and empathy, while a lack of such interactions can result in fear and mistrust.

How did the officers in the conversation feel about the accountability within the police force?

The officers acknowledged that there are issues with officer accountability in the country, with one officer mentioning that punishment for officers doesn't necessarily match the crime.

What was the emotional impact on the officers when they saw the video of George Floyd's death?

The officers felt sick and burdened, knowing they are part of a system that is now under scrutiny and facing public backlash.

How do the officers in the conversation view the concept of 'defunding the police'?

The officers expressed that 'defunding the police' could mean reallocating some responsibilities to other professionals, such as social workers, which they would support if it could improve the system.

What challenges do the officers face when dealing with the public's perception of police actions, especially with black suspects?

Officers are aware that their actions with black suspects are under heightened scrutiny and can influence public perception, which adds pressure to their jobs and requires them to be more mindful of their approach.

How did the retired officer feel about his decision to leave the police force?

The retired officer felt relieved and experienced an improvement in his mental health, such as being able to sleep better and return to the gym.

What role does the media play in shaping public perception of police interactions with the community, according to the conversation?

The media tends to focus on negative incidents, which can overshadow the majority of positive interactions between police and the community, creating a skewed perception.

What message would the officers like to convey to black children who might fear the police?

The officers want black children to know that they are there to help and protect them, and they aim to be seen as positive role models in the community.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Initiating Dialogue on Police-Community Relations

The video script opens with an introduction to a series of 'uncomfortable conversations' focusing on the relationship between white police officers and black people in America. The host, a black man, expresses his eagerness and anxiety about engaging with the Petaluma Police Department for the first time. The conversation is set against the backdrop of recent high-profile incidents involving police violence. The participants, including police officers Ryan, Brendan, Garrett, and John, discuss their initial reactions to such incidents and the importance of proximity and empathy in reducing fear and misunderstanding between different racial groups.

05:01

🚔 Police Officers' Personal Perspectives on Accountability and Justice

In this segment, the conversation delves into the personal experiences and perspectives of the police officers involved. They discuss the emotional and psychological impact of witnessing or being involved in life-or-death situations on the job. The dialogue explores the topic of accountability within the police force, with Ryan acknowledging that while there are issues nationally, decisive and equal punishment is necessary for justice. The officers also share their thoughts on the challenges of recovering from traumatic incidents and the potential desensitization that can occur over time.

10:02

🏠 The Impact of Racial Tensions on Policing and Community Trust

The script continues with a discussion on the impact of racial tensions on the work of police officers. Brendan and John, both officers, share their insights on how societal perceptions and the media influence public trust in the police. They address the complexities of dealing with racial bias and the pressure to be 'perfect' in their roles. The conversation highlights the importance of communication and the need for police officers to adapt their approach based on the situation, especially when dealing with black suspects.

15:03

🌐 Public Perception and the Debate on Defunding the Police

This paragraph addresses the public's perception of the 'defund the police' movement and the officers' reactions to it. The officers express their initial feelings of hurt and abandonment, but also their willingness to understand and engage with the idea of reallocating resources to address societal issues more effectively. The dialogue emphasizes the need for better communication and a deeper understanding of the community's needs and expectations from law enforcement.

20:05

👮‍♂️ Rebuilding Trust and the Role of Police in Society

The final paragraph of the script wraps up the conversation by reflecting on the importance of dialogue and understanding in rebuilding trust between the police and the community. The officers share their personal thoughts on the dialogue, expressing a desire for more open conversations and a recognition of the need for change. The host concludes by emphasizing the role of police officers, black men and women, and all members of society in working towards racial reconciliation and a better world.

Keywords

💡Uncomfortable Conversations

This term refers to discussions that address sensitive or difficult topics, often involving issues of race, social justice, or inequality. In the video's theme, it is about having open and honest dialogues between black individuals and police officers to address and understand the complexities of their interactions. The script mentions 'Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man' as the title of the episode, indicating the show's intent to tackle challenging subjects.

💡Proximity and Care

The concept of 'proximity breeds care' suggests that closeness, whether physical or emotional, fosters a sense of empathy and concern for others. In the context of the video, it is used to discuss the lack of close interactions between different racial groups, which may contribute to fear and misunderstanding. The script highlights this idea to emphasize the importance of building relationships to reduce societal divisions.

💡Accountability

Accountability refers to the expectation of being responsible for one's actions and facing consequences if mistakes are made. In the script, it is discussed in the context of police force conduct, questioning whether officers are held responsible for their actions, especially in cases of excessive use of force or misconduct, as seen in incidents involving George Floyd and others.

💡Justice

Justice in this video is portrayed as the fair and equal treatment of individuals, regardless of their status or the nature of their actions. It is tied to the theme of the video by discussing the perceived disparity in how punishments are meted out to police officers versus civilians, especially in cases of violence and misconduct.

💡Defund the Police

The phrase 'defund the police' has become a rallying cry for some who advocate for reallocating resources from traditional policing to other areas such as social services, mental health care, and community programs. In the script, it is presented as a concept that some officers are open to, as long as it means improving community welfare and addressing the root causes of crime.

💡Racial Tension

Racial tension refers to the strained relationships and conflicts that arise from racial discrimination, prejudice, or inequality. The video script discusses the existence of racial tension in America, particularly focusing on the interactions between the police and black communities, and how these tensions impact perceptions and trust.

💡Perception

Perception in this context is how individuals interpret and understand the actions and roles of police officers, especially in relation to race. The script explores how the public's perception of police interactions can be influenced by the race of the individuals involved, and the impact this has on community relations.

💡Desensitization

Desensitization is the reduced emotional response to a situation that one has experienced repeatedly. In the video, it is discussed in the context of police officers potentially becoming desensitized to death or violence due to the nature of their work, and the emotional toll this can take.

💡Community

Community here refers to the collective of people living in a particular area or sharing common interests. The script emphasizes the importance of police officers being part of the community, building trust, and being seen as helpers rather than threats, especially to black children who may live in fear.

💡Dialogue

Dialogue is the process of conversation and exchange of ideas, especially on important issues. The video script underscores the value of dialogue in fostering understanding and addressing racial and social issues between police officers and the communities they serve.

💡Humanization

Humanization is the process of attributing human characteristics or emotions to something or someone. In the context of the video, it refers to the need to see police officers as humans with feelings and emotions, not just as figures in uniform, to break down barriers and improve relations.

Highlights

The podcast episode focuses on the interactions between police officers and black people, aiming to foster understanding and prevent further dissension.

The host, a black man, expresses eagerness and anxiety to engage with the Petaluma Police Department for the first time.

The conversation acknowledges the lack of notorious incidents in Petaluma, highlighting the importance of proactive dialogue.

The panel includes police officers from various ranks, showcasing a diverse range of perspectives within the police force.

The discussion emphasizes the importance of proximity between different racial groups to foster care and reduce fear.

Officers admit to feeling sick and the public's negative perception following incidents like George Floyd's death.

The conversation explores the issue of accountability within the police force and whether officers are held responsible for their actions.

Justice in police-related incidents is discussed, with a call for equal punishment regardless of the officer's status.

The emotional and psychological impact of life-or-death situations on officers is acknowledged.

Retired officers share their experiences and the relief felt upon leaving the force, highlighting the stress of the job.

The dialogue addresses the pressure officers feel to be perfect and the public's unrealistic expectations.

Officers discuss the challenges of approaching black suspects and the public's different perception compared to white suspects.

The conversation touches on the concept of 'defunding the police' and what it means to different people.

Officers express their desire to be part of the solution and to be seen as helpers rather than threats in the community.

The dialogue concludes with a call for more conversations and understanding between police officers and the community.

Transcripts

[Music]

good

we good

oh man

what's happening all is good oh good

gentlemen gentlemen gentlemen

[Music]

welcome to another episode of

uncomfortable conversations with a black

man

so much of the dissension in our world

so much of the dissension in america

is based around the interaction between

police officers white police officers

and black people whether george floyd

brianna taylor

jacob blake jonathan price and so

so many more so i a black man am eager

yet anxious to be joined by the petaluma

police department for the first time

with the live audience of lieutenants

officers and administration now out of

an abundance of caution we have all been

covet tested

within the past 48 hours i know so many

of you are wondering emmanuel why

petaluma

there isn't a notorious black

violence with police white police

officers

and to that i simply submit we weren't

talking about kenosha until

after jacob blake was shot we weren't

talking about

wolf city texas until after jonathan

price lost his life

to a man in uniform i fervently believe

that an ounce of prevention

is better than a pound of cure so that's

why i'm here joining me on stage

is uh ryan mcgreevy brendan mcgovern

garrett glaviano and john antonio

gentlemen

how are you great thanks for having us

of course of course now let's get

uncomfortable ryan when was the last

time you had

black people over at your house for

dinner

well before kovid i'll tell you that

um i don't know i can't i couldn't tell

you

yeah yeah uh and i'd ask you the same

question well like when was the last

time

you sat down just to have a conversation

uh with a group of black people garrett

i can be honest with you i don't know

that i've ever had a conversation with a

group of black people

yeah i would say that proximity breeds

care and distance breeds fear proximity

breeds care and distance breeds fear

and i think one of the issues in our

society is

there's not enough proximity between

people who don't

look like each other and because there's

not enough proximity

there's a lack of care or lack of

empathy

and there is a heightened amount of fear

when

you see the things occurring in our

worlds like

what happened with george floyd a black

man

losing his life to these white police

officers

when you first saw that video what went

through your mind

i mean i felt sick it's difficult to

have to show up and know that we get

paid to do this and then having to see

what people see on tv

and they don't necessarily see uh see

the person they just see the uniform and

they associate that with us so every

time

i see something like that i know that

i'm about to get bombarded by phone

calls and text messages about

why did this happen what's going on ryan

let me go to you is there enough

accountability

in the police force when mistakes happen

are they held responsible

that's tough to answer from a national

standpoint i mean if you look at

george floyd incident that officer was

terminated

arrested charged like immediately which

i think is appropriate

right so in that regard obviously it's a

tragic incident and you hope that that

doesn't happen

i would say just generally speaking yeah

there probably is some

issues with officer accountability

throughout the country

what does justice look like to you in

these situations

i think justice looks like

decisive and

equal punishment

the issue at hand i feel like is that

the

the punishment for officers doesn't

necessarily match the crime

if you are caught in in a doctor's

office and there's malpractice and

someone dies

don't be disbarred there's not like oh

well i gotta i need to know this i need

to know that

it doesn't matter it doesn't fit whereas

instantly especially right now when we

see

so many things going on with excessive

force over black people we're instantly

like

oh look at his criminal history well he

didn't graduate from college

well he lied back in seventh grade it

instantly goes to character defamation

let's see if we can protect the people

in the badge so

justice for me just looks like a

punishment that

fits the crime because there's always

that phrase who's going to police the

police

and right now the answer has been no one

brendan when you see a life or death

situation occurred a death situation

occurred on the job

how hard is that to recover from whether

it's just your knowledge of someone who

may have been

involved or if you've personally been

involved how hard is that to recover

from

emotionally psychologically it is

incredibly difficult to recover from

um even from that standpoint being i've

been doing this for 13 years i've been

in situations not

obviously identical to that but similar

uh that's never

ever going to leave their mind it's

going to change the outcome of

everything they do from this point on

i mean there are situations where we'll

arrest people and they'll die later and

you still

that's your it's your attachment you you

brought them to this point and from my

own personal incidents i don't

it's changed me uh for the duration of

my life i don't ever see it

going back john you retired from the

police force

do you think that you can ever become

desensitized to

death wearing a badge i've thought about

this

and i think you can you feel like you're

in control when you're a police officer

but then you don't have control that's

when it really affects you and obviously

kids

before i had kids i don't think i would

have been affected as bad

but uh no i mean we're human we don't

change and get in our locker at night

and sleep there and then

jump out you know a lot of people think

that you know

so um brendan would you say that

there is a difference especially in a

city like petaluma which is less than

one percent black

in how you or those you know

approach a situation when it is a black

suspect versus a white suspect yes

again we deal with white suspects

frequently we deal with black suspects

frequently as well but

when i show up and i do hear say black

male adult a part of me knows that

the public's perception of what is about

to take place

is going to be much different than if if

he got described

you know saying stealing a beer from a

7-eleven as opposed to you stealing a

beer from a 7-eleven i already know

that twice as many eyes are going to be

on me when i contact you as opposed to

him so does that change how you treat

the situation

because you know that it is a more

delicate situation

yes i have you know the rules that i go

by my morals my ethics it's not going to

change the way that i necessarily talk

to you or

order you around i might choose my words

differently i might choose the way that

i

handle myself or approach you

differently because i don't want to seem

like the

you know the the giant white officer

trying to

you know force myself upon the blackmail

suspect that the public wants to see

because we film ourselves obviously

but i know that someone's going to be

filming the interaction so i'm going to

be

choosing the way i react differently

brendan let me ask you how do you

deal with the pressure of knowing you

have to be perfect

they want us to be perfect i don't

necessarily see

that we can show up and be perfect we

get that domestic violence call we know

that there's a man and a woman

and then we show up and you know the

woman's not wearing clothes and the man

is you know holding a baseball bat we

have to make too many decisions for me

to be able to say that everything we do

will be the perfect way that we do it

john you coach high school football now

yes

but now that you don't have to don the

uniform on a daily basis

do you feel a weight lifted off your

life 100

when i finally was done i was so like

relieved i actually started sleeping

again

um started going to the gym again i mean

i'm so glad to be out of it and i feel

bad because

i feel like i should still be there with

the with your teammates you know and

it's like

going down getting injured in a game and

and not being able to help your

teammates but um

i'm happy about about being out of it

yeah nick if i may

ask you from the audience you are a

traffic officer

is there anything that you would want to

communicate

or feel the need to communicate based

off the fact that racial tension does in

fact exist

currently in america we do things

systematically we do things the same way

every time because it's repeatable and

we can testify to it

so to answer your question no we we

don't approach that differently

or at least the people that i supervise

do not approach that differently but

maybe we should

i've dealt with situations i'm sure

others in the room can can speak to this

as well as we show up on scene with a

person of color

and we're immediately hit with you're

only stopping me because

i'm ex right um and it becomes a barrier

to communication because we may be there

for

you know a legitimate purpose how do we

disarm that how do we get around that

it's a really good question um when you

step onto the scene

as as a black man obviously i'm just

gonna be upset that i'm being stopped in

the first place

but i think it's just a matter of

maintaining the composure maintaining

the calm and continuing to

assert exactly why it is that you are

there

if we could do a better job of disarming

then we wouldn't have to worry about

discharging and

i think that's where we lack there's a

communication

barrier and i always say that's why i'm

so eager to talk to y'all from

petaluma if you don't grow up around

something then you're not really going

to know how to communicate with that

thing and it's not the same

communicating with a white cultured

person versus a black cultured person is

different

i would submit that ninety percent of

black people in the last five months

have gone through a tragic experience

we all have in witnessing the murder of

george floyd

but it is different for black people

because they can literally

see themselves as that person

you can't fix a problem you don't know

exist

i'm letting you know it exists so now

let's just all work to fix it

i have a question do police officers

make you nervous yes

now what if it was a black police

officer nah

it's different so black people often

navigate white spaces as a foreigner

as i sit in this room i'm one of three

black people in here

you sit in this room and you're one of

35 white people in here

it's natural for you yeah you're home

whenever i walk into a room a restaurant

church anywhere i'm looking for black

people

just in case something pops off it's

like okay we're here me and you like

we're together

because so many black people in life

have probably gone through some sort of

struggle

there's an instant connection that makes

you relax a little bit

a little bit more or yeah he's still

dealing with a cop so you're

nervous naturally but it's it's if i can

now be honest

i see he's black before i see he's a cop

right

i see you all are cops first

nick i'll go back to you how do you feel

when you hear the phrase

black lives matter black lives do matter

we need to pay attention to some of the

injustices that have happened

over you know the last hundred years and

beyond

where black lives matter becomes

confusing

is when it becomes very divisive right

now

in the midst of a political election

there's questions on whether black lives

matter is a

social movement or is it a campaign

and i think when we pass the november

elections

i think we need to focus on continuing

it as a movement

so we can create a successful outcome

because if it ends on the election

then it was just a campaign you have

something i know yeah i mean uh

so the blue lives matter flag right the

blue line either on a flag or just black

blue black

um has taken on kind of a life of its

own

politically currently it's obviously

flying on on one side of the political

boundary as opposed to the other so

when you see that what do you see

i feel frustrated

because i feel as though the agenda is

being moved

here's what i mean by that to say any

life matters is to assert

that we thought that life didn't matter

so to say that blue lives matter were to

then assert that historically

we've acted as though cops lives don't

matter

whereas black lives matter historically

we have literally acted as though black

lives don't matter

all men are created equal 17 late 1700s

we don that phrase they weren't talking

about black men

weren't talking about black women

weren't talking about women but we said

all men are created equal

so now it's like wait a second just in

case they're not talking about us this

time let's make sure we specify

that black lives matter ryan earlier you

mentioned

preparation and you talked about funding

and you talked about

preparing as a unit to step onto the

scene

what do you feel when you hear the

phrase defund the police

uh i think it means different things to

different people

people who feel that who want to

literally take some of the

responsibility we have as police

officers and move it to somebody else

i'll be first in line to sign up for

that like go ahead that's great that's a

great idea so we get a lot of calls

with people who have mental health

crisis who's going to go to those calls

if you have somebody that is able and

willing to go to them

that's great the problem is it's not

black and white where it's like oh these

are just mental health calls

if you have a mental health call with

somebody and they have a knife

we the social worker is not going to go

once we make the scene safe

then we call them and say hey uh i got

you know so-and-so down here can you

come down here and talk to them and

um and kind of work through their their

issues but defund the police doesn't

upset you

when you hear it abolish the police

upsets me but defunding us i mean

if other people can handle some of these

calls then that's fine and again

if you're telling me there's a way we

could somebody else can handle some of

this stuff

i'm all for it that's interesting i

hadn't heard it like that before manuel

for a long time i didn't know how to

process it i didn't know how to take it

when i hear the defunding i

feel like some of our communities are

abandoning us prior to may 2020 and

george floyd

uh we're in the midst of a pandemic we

were doing the best we can for our

community people were showing up the

station bringing us treats

we were heroes after that they want to

defund us it hurts

why does it hurt because i feel like for

for 15 years

we've made and i can speak to you know

all my partners in the room

we've made a lot of sacrifices to be a

part of the community to try to help

people

and it felt like people were turning

their backs on us we're not perfect

but i don't think we're at a point where

we can just abandon what we've built

we want to be a part of the solution we

want we understand that relationships

are important

and inherently it's about trust nick can

you speak to that because you

are actively in the field how it makes

you feel knowing you're sacrificing

every day in the field

but then you might come home and see on

the news or see on social media

that defund the police is being chanted

around the world how does that make you

feel

so my initial response was visceral and

it made me upset

moving forward looking into what

actually defunding the police

is defunding the police is not

abolishing the police or getting rid of

the police it's

restructuring policing in america two

weeks ago

i was doing traffic control for a

women's rally

protest in march in the city of petaluma

many of the occupants of the rally had

signs defund the police

the interesting thing with our community

is while they're holding signs

chanting defund the police they're

walking over and saying thank you for

your services

and thank you for being out here that's

kind of a paradigm shift

and threw me for a loop when somebody is

coming and thanking me

while they're holding a sign that i'm

supposed to be offended by

again it comes down to communication and

dialogue

and creating that opportunity but it's

not a scary term anymore

now on a more broad scale if you could

communicate a more public message to

black children who live in fear of the

police

what would you brandon mcgovern say

that's incredibly difficult for me to

say because all all communities are

different but from a

umbrella standpoint um we're here for

you

right look at it look we we look at us

like a teacher look at us like a

counselor like we want to be the person

that you

you call the person that we show up you

run to us it's like we're not there to

be

mean we're there because we're here to

help and uh i want all of the kids to

know i mean it's a

black kids in particular pertaining to

this is like we're we're there we're

here to help you and

i'm i'm sorry that this is currently

what you see us as

you think we'll ever get to that point

where black children look to cops is

helpers as opposed to as is the enemy

in my lifetime no it has come in waves

and it has disappeared

and now it's back right it hides and it

only takes a george floyd or something

else to to bring it back

i don't know how we can get rid of it

how do we abolish racism how do we

abolish

you know violent police tendencies it's

i i don't know

garrett you seem like more of an

optimist how would you answer that

question do you think we can ever

get rid of the notion that

black children are growing up in america

viewing police officers

as threats and as the enemy i do you

know and

i am an optimist we're completely

bombarded in the media with some of

these

these incidents that are happening are

terrible but that's not the overwhelming

majority of the police contacts that we

have throughout the community for

example

last year we had 60 000 calls for

service 2000 arrests and only 48 of them

resulted in a use of force

so what the reality is is that we're

having a lot of positive interactions

with people

every day it's just how do we portray

that how do we get it out there to let

people know that that is in fact the

case

there is going to be unfortunate

incidents i don't think we're going to

get away from that it's just how we deal

with those when they come up

that's good i think people underestimate

the fact of just because you all are in

uniform does not mean that y'all are not

human

yes y'all are held to a higher standard

because you all are the front-facing

aspects of the government but you all

are not exempt

you brought up a question earlier about

the blackhead

running up to the white police officer

right i want to be the person that

somebody comes running up to

high fives looks forward to guidance and

so forth

how does a white officer in america

make that bridge that gap so that a

black

juvenile will look to them as a role

model as a person that

is positive in the community that's a

really good question

i think first you do it on an individual

level that has to permeate society

there's a reason whenever you see a cop

playing a sport with somebody in the

neighborhood the video goes viral

because it's like a far-fetched idea bad

news sales

way better than good news we don't do a

good enough job

collectively as a country as letting the

good news resonate so

you do it on an individual level until

it be

begins to become a societal thing

because all it takes is one george floyd

situation

to undermine the entire situation john

what would you say

this dialogue has done for you

i think it's opened up a different

perspective

of maybe what certain people might feel

or the way they look at

police officers really i think that they

will see that we're human

but i also think that it's opened our

eyes to say hey look

um there is this major problem in this

country i think back about colin

kaepernick

taking a knee and how when that started

i was i was pissed i was like are you

kidding me right here like

this felt like a shot to us and then as

things progressed and you started seeing

things

in the country it wasn't until i just

watched a movie it's called chicago

seven i don't know if you've seen it

that it clicked in my mind that that's

not a shot at me

that's a shot at the system

brennan what would you say the

conversation is done for you the

dialogue

i wish we could have this conversation

with anybody who wants to and i hope

that

obviously in this venue that people see

it and they realize that hey if they

want to come talk to us they can

we can't be part of the solution if

we're part of the problem so you

bringing us on here

has at least you know opened the door

garrett how would you say it's uh if it

all opened your eyes yeah i think

gaining some situational awareness and

when you

talk about how we're perceived by black

people when we show up on scene

having an understanding of the

difference there is very important

can can lead us to removing some

barriers to communication which

ultimately

we want to have gentlemen all i have to

say is thank you

thank you all for your service thank you

for the dialogue thank you for the

conversation thank you all

men and women alike for for listening i

think

that this is what we need more of and

thank you all for tuning in to another

episode of uncomfortable conversations

with the black man if we are going to

achieve

racial reconciliation in our world it

starts with our police officers

it starts with our black men and women

it starts with white people black people

having conversations

and coming together for the betterment

of the world around us

we'll see you next time