Opinion: Racism & Discrimination: The Dilemma of Calling Police for Help

Body in Tall GrassPhoto byThe Brown Report Newspaper

This article is the opinion of Kimberly F. Brown, also known as Brown, on Cleveland. It does not reflect the views of Newsbreak or its affiliates.

Cleveland, OH. I consider myself a fair and impartial person. I call the shots the way I see them. I understand that everything is a situational factor. We must learn to look outside our lens to decide if something is morally right or wrong. At times, we must examine the norm, the social culture, and the isms that affect people daily.

I Had a Scary Moment Yesterday

Yesterday, while working my 9-to-5, I went to a senior highrise building to meet with an older woman. The woman asked me to pick up some donations (clothes) she had gathered for people in a local nursing home. Upon arrival, I parked my vehicle near the rear of the building - in the last spot, checked my surroundings, and proceeded to walk to the entrance door of the apartment building. Once I entered, I rang her doorbell. She let me in - I went to her apartment, greeted her - got the donation, and immediately left. All was well. She told me to have a good day, and I said thank you.

As I headed toward my car, I noticed a backpack and a cane but did not pay much attention. I got in my car. As I backed up the car to make a right, I noticed a hand sticking up from the tall grass. I stopped my car and stared. It was a body. I looked and saw legs (I thought). I said to myself, I pray this is not what I think this is. I hope this is not a dead body in the grass. My cousin, who was on the phone, told me to call 911. At first, I was a bit hesitant. I called, and the dispatcher asked me what city, and I told her Cleveland. The next person asked what she could help me with. "I am looking at a body in tall grass -weeds." She asked if the person was alive. I said I didn't know. I said wait. I parked, got out of the car, and got closer to the body, and I think I saw movement. I couldn't tell if the wind was moving the jacket or the person breathing. She asked, "Do you want the Police or EMS?" With hesitation, I replied EMS. I gave her the location and waited for EMS so they could find the location of the body. During this entire process, my heart was thumping, and anxiety was kicking in.

Body found in Tall GrassPhoto byThe Brown Report Newspaper

Emergency Medical Services and the Aftermath

Upon arrival, the EMS workers were ready to activate their skills. They quickly left their vehicle and approached the location where the body was lying. As they both moved towards the body, the lady worker began to examine the scene. She placed her hands on the body, checked the pulse, and found the person to be alive. She shook him gently several times, and the man jumped. He raised his head from the tall grass. They asked him if he was okay. He replied that he was sleeping. The man appeared to be intoxicated. It looked like he had stumbled, failed, and could not get up - he went to sleep.

EMS workers tried to get him to stand, but each time, he would fall. When they asked him if he needed help, he became belligerent—insulting! They told him that - that lady had called to help him. (As they pointed at me, I asked myself why they told him it was me?) They helped and told him he could not be on private property, taking a nap in the tall grass and near a school. It isn't very comforting, and people will call the police. The man attempted to gather his belongings and began to stumble across the street, almost getting hit by cars. I left, and EMS stayed to monitor the man's activity.

Should I Have Called the Police and Not EMS?

Last evening, I struggled with this question as I asked myself why I did not request the assistance of the Cleveland Police.

Well, I know why. I wanted someone to deal with the body in the tall grass. I prayed that this person was not a victim of violence. I did not know what to expect - not even the situation's outcome. All I know is I wanted this situation to be resolved. I wanted the matter cared for. I asked myself, If I requested the police, especially in this climate, would I make matters worse? I did not want to see cops interact with a black man, a black body. My reasoning got the best of me or the worst of me.

Then I thought. I said this guy became belligerent with the EMS workers. The workers were very patient and compassionate but firm. I wondered if the police would have been the same. For this, I will never know because I ignored the call to have the Cleveland Police come, and instead, I chose EMS.

Honestly, I don't know if I saved a life yesterday or made matters worse by ignoring a life. Let me explain. All I know is the man was alive yesterday - he was a stumbling, belligerent drunk who almost got hit by a car. EMS could not take him. They had to respect his rights, although he appeared to be intoxicated. N'all, forget that he was drunk! If the police had been called, they probably would have arrested him for nuisance, disorderly conduct, trespassing, and public intoxication. And, if an altercation would have arisen, I wondered what would have happened—an incidental shooting - maybe a death. This thing called racism and discrimination got all of us messed up, and the media does not help as many situations are overly polarized and cause us to think certain ways about situations of past experiences that lead to current experiences that impact daily experiences.

In today's world, bad things happen when you try to do the right thing. I don't know if I made the right decision, but I think I made the best decision.

What are your thoughts? Be kind and gentle with me, and I will respond. What would you have done?